Postmen given shoe chains to make deliveries in the weather

[POSTMAN]

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Royal Mail have issued their postmen with metal chains to wear on their feet during the icy weather, because the health and safety department feared they could slip.



Delivery workers across Britain were offered the chains to pull over their shoes after it was feared they could fall on the ice and snow, causing themselves serious injuries.

That could potentially land the state-owned limited company with large compensation bills, if injured staff decided to launch "no win, no fee" claims against their employers.


Postal bosses also hope that, by wearing the chains, staff will be able to deliver letters and parcels in good time.

The chains were handed out over the last week as snow covered much of the country.

They are clipped over the front and back of the boots of a worker so the metal links of the chain cover the whole of the sole.

This has the effect of creating traction, with the links biting into the snow and ice to give the user a much firmer footing, similar to the way car drivers use wheel chains in treacherous weather conditions.

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martins said: "The chains are available to any staff who want them.

"We don't issue them in a blanket fashion, but they are available to anyone wants them.

"We are constantly looking at way of making deliveries safer and more effective."

Postman Bob Roberts, 36, who works in Dartford, Kent, said: "When I first put got the chains and put them on, I thought they looked a bit stupid and that it might look a bit foolish.

"But in actual fact, they've proved to be very useful. I haven't slipped once.

"Usually during the cold weather it can take twice or three times as long to delivery everything I have to.

"But with the chains, I can complete the round in the same time that I usually would."

[POSTMAN]

[Ahebban]

[chunk]

I welcome any safety device .
but you got to ask if you cant "walk" a street without skis and salopettes then maybe that delivery should be questioned
and you suggest its deferment to another day!

[General Mannerheim]

But with the chains, I can complete the round in the same time that I usually would."

Feck me,I bet he will be a Star performer in The Courier when they do the usual the mail still got through bullcrap!

[Pat Ostman]

"But with the chains, I can complete the round in the same time that I usually would."

[lazyjack]

Well our office certainly aint aware of any chains, And its also took them this long in dishing them out, ABSOLUTE DISCRACE

[jaja]

"But with the chains, I can complete the round in the same time that I usually would."

Thats RM's answer to their problems, lets all get chains then we can all complete in time. Bollox

[lekker]

"But with the chains, I can complete the round in the same time that I usually would."

Thats RM's answer to their problems, lets all get chains then we can all complete in time. Bollox

And just think - if we wear them when there's no snow we can go TWICE as fast as normal and solve all RM's delivery problems

[Wiggins79]

What complete and utter drivel. Is the RM press office able to give out any story that isn't made up of 99% fabrication and lies?
We asked for shoe chains in our sub-office 2 weeks ago. Our wonderful line manager said they had plenty, but that they were all for size 3-5 shoes. Now, apart from one woman in the office (and maybe a few pixies living behind the sorting frames) these tiny chains were next to useless. When we asked our manager when we would be issued with some larger chains she said "You won't" as, apparently RM don't have any more. Instead, Royal Mails solution was to send out an edict, telling us all about how it was our resposability to decide whether it was safe or not to deliver, to ensure we had the right equipment (which basically means you have to buy it yourself) and to ensure all equipment was working safely. Then you had to sign this document, which basically made sure if you had an accident they could say it was of your own doing and that they weren't liable. To be honest, even by RM standards, I found this utterly disgusting. We are in a rural area and all of the rounds are a fair distnace from the office. There is no shed to keep the bikes in so they were all frozen up - gears, brakes, everything. Even pouring boiling water did no good as mintues later they froze up again. Managements answer to this? Push your bike instead. With no chains on your feet. With 16 kilos of weight in top of the bike. And don't slip and break anything as you won't be paid as it was your own fault.
By some stroke of luck, I'm on holiday next week, and Saturday is my day off. So on Friday, having already reached my contracted hours by 10AM, I decided enough was enough (especially after the frankly ridiculous amount of mail, flats, and packets that had been sent out for delivery),and at 13.30 phoned up the post mistress and told her I'd had enough and I was cutting off as I thought it wasn't safe to deliver anymore and I was bringing back a bag and a half of mail undelivered. My feet were freezing and soaked through thanks to complete uselesness of the Magnums, which had been the same for all 4 days of snow. I'm now just waiting for either a phonecall or letter to tell me I'm in trouble for cutting without giving enough notice, but I'm ready to simply claim I made the decision to stop as I thought it was unsafe, which there pathetic missive apparently gave me the power to do.
I'm so glad I'm not at work next week, but I feel very sorry for all my colleagues that are and just hope that there is some improvement soon in the weather.
And to the person who says they are giving snow chains out to male deliveries safer- I say you are a liar.

[johnsouthwales]

ermmm, how come that had size 3-5 in the first place?

[flaminmoses]

ermmm, how come that had size 3-5 in the first place?

just icase the dom had to go out!!
you know what they say small feet.......

[mailroyaly]

What a caring company!

:cfo :mfo

[dados]

i've had the chains since last winter,they are good to a point,but my thighs can still crack walnuts after finishing my round (usually over my time by 30 mins when wearing),feck all use on ice tho,as i got maximum points for a pike with a double twist today with them on

[coxie]

our office is aware of the chains but they have run out and didnt think to order any more, you have the right to refuse to deliver without them in our office a health and safety union rep said today in our office.