Was I right?

[Viewfindergeneral]

I went out on a bike delivery today but after a short while I decided that due to the fact that the roads and pavements were like ice rinks and I was constantly slipping about that I could not continue on. Therefore I returned to my office and informed the DOM that in my opinion it was too dangerous to continue because there was imminent risk of injury to myself and I was not prepared to risk it. He replied to me that I had two choices:

1 - Continue on my delivery until my finish time and then return with undelivered mail.
2 - I could go home BUT I would lose my WHOLE days pay.

I repeated that as I considered it too dangerous underfoot and there was a real risk of injury I had no choice but to go home.

Have I done the right thing and is it right that my whole days pay will be forfeited?

[woofwoof]

I went out on a bike delivery today but after a short while I decided that due to the fact that the roads and pavements were like ice rinks and I was constantly slipping about that I could not continue on. Therefore I returned to my office and informed the DOM that in my opinion it was too dangerous to continue because there was imminent risk of injury to myself and I was not prepared to risk it. He replied to me that I had two choices:

1 - Continue on my delivery until my finish time and then return with undelivered mail.
2 - I could go home BUT I would lose my WHOLE days pay.

I repeated that as I considered it too dangerous underfoot and there was a real risk of injury I had no choice but to go home.

Have I done the right thing and is it right that my whole days pay will be forfeited?

yes ask to speak to the health and safty rep

[norbert]

I went out on a bike delivery today but after a short while I decided that due to the fact that the roads and pavements were like ice rinks and I was constantly slipping about that I could not continue on. Therefore I returned to my office and informed the DOM that in my opinion it was too dangerous to continue because there was imminent risk of injury to myself and I was not prepared to risk it. He replied to me that I had two choices:

1 - Continue on my delivery until my finish time and then return with undelivered mail.
2 - I could go home BUT I would lose my WHOLE days pay.

I repeated that as I considered it too dangerous underfoot and there was a real risk of injury I had no choice but to go home.

Have I done the right thing and is it right that my whole days pay will be forfeited?

yes ask to speak to the health and safty rep

WTF ! - it's offence to apply detriment against staff for valid H&S grounds , it's also punishable in a Industrial Tribunal . Discreetly tip the HSE off or the Council Environmental Health .

The DIM DUM would soon change his tune if your sick pay was coming out of his budget while you were in hospital / convalescing .

[brothermagrew]

I went out on a bike delivery today but after a short while I decided that due to the fact that the roads and pavements were like ice rinks and I was constantly slipping about that I could not continue on. Therefore I returned to my office and informed the DOM that in my opinion it was too dangerous to continue because there was imminent risk of injury to myself and I was not prepared to risk it. He replied to me that I had two choices:

1 - Continue on my delivery until my finish time and then return with undelivered mail.
2 - I could go home BUT I would lose my WHOLE days pay.

I repeated that as I considered it too dangerous underfoot and there was a real risk of injury I had no choice but to go home.

Have I done the right thing and is it right that my whole days pay will be forfeited?

Considering that in 2007/8 there were 2,147 slip and trip accidents in Royal Mail, and that this accounts for two thirds of all major accidents reported by the business. Nearly 90% of these injuries occurred on delivery duties, and two in every three were tripping accidents.

Many employers do not give slips and trips the priority they deserve. They treat them as being outside their control, inevitable or simply the employee’s fault.
Employers can, and should, create a work environment and culture where slips & trips are much less likely to happen. Often the measures needed are simple and low-cost, but they will bring about significant reductions both in human suffering and costs.

Slipping and tripping are the most common causes of major injuries within UK workplaces. Each year about 11,000 major injuries, (which amount to 36% of the total of all occupational major injury accidents), are caused by slipping and tripping. In 90% of these accidents the injuries involve broken bones and 42% of work related fracture injuries result in absences from work of between 1 - 3 months. Half of reported injuries to members of the public are slips and trips. In addition, slips and trips are often the initiators of accidents attributed to other causes, such as some machinery accidents, scaldings and probably over one third of falls from height.

Inspectors should take action on slips and trips where a significant risk of in-jury to persons as a result of a slip or trip could be present.

A nice bedtime read for brother Viewfindergeneral - http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/f ... /slips.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The snow and ice that has been affecting the UK’s roads this winter may well have caused you significant problems, both while driving and when on foot.
The majority of ice and snow related accidents happen on public roads or pavements, and generally fall under the responsibility of the local council’s highway authority. There is considerable debate about how far a council’s duty of care extends as far as gritting and salting is concerned.

It would be an impossible task for any council to make every highway, pavement and public area entirely safe during icy conditions. However, in theory if a council fails to grit a road or public area during busy times of the day when the weather is exceptionally cold and someone suffers an injury because of this, the injured party may be able to make an accident compensation claim. In practice, it is extremely difficult to succeed in such claims, as the council will probably defend all the way to a trial, and the Courts are increasingly reluctant to find against public authorities except in the very worst cases of neglect.

Article in full: http://www.hinchliffes.co.uk/news/slip- ... accidents/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thunderthighs]

Tell you what, get THEM to go out on the ride themselves!
As a keen cyclist, I've been in and seen dozens of cycling accidents.
Mate of mine, Top Class Mtb rider, got new £2,000 Carbon Fibre full-suspension bike last year. Rode it in trail centre, fell off and broke his wrist in the first corner! Ice was to blame...

[norbert]

it's arguably more dangerous on a bike as you could come off and you'd fall into traffic , secondly at least on a pavement there may be snow to cushion your fall but not necessarily at the side of the road and you might have to go into the middle for junctions .

Idiot that DIM DUM - wants to switch the telly on and see the roads & accidents and all those damaged cars put on wagons . Stupid firm - want to look if they get round the RM " manual " instead of throwing it at staff .

[Viewfindergeneral]

Thanks for the replies. Do you think it is right that I'm not getting paid for the hours that I did work? I would have thought that would be illegal. After all I did indoor work for 3.5 hours.

[norbert]

Thanks for the replies. Do you think it is right that I'm not getting paid for the hours that I did work? I would have thought that would be illegal. After all I did indoor work for 3.5 hours.

definitely - the DIM DUM is trying to fit you up for possible unofficial industrial action for being " awkward " and /or not working flexibly and taking you off pay as a punishment . If he wants to do that , he's got to make it stick or stand up - I'm not sure if he could in the circumstances .

Illegal Witholding of wages under the Wages Act 1992 - RM may be on thin ice