REDUCING THE WALK RISKS

[brothermagrew]

Word is that a new approach by Royal Mail will help to keep postmen and women safe. Nothing is more important to the business than keeping postmen and women safe (yes the standard Royal Mail line but we shall see how managers implement it throughout the business and hold them to their words).

An improved way of assessing walk risks is being introduced to help employees avoid the hazards they come across every day delivering the post. The Blue Shirts footsloggers who walk the walk on a daily basis day in day out, should look out for the new Walk Risk Assessment folder in their office (providing managers have been sent it) which apparently includes Work Time Listening and Learning packs, posters and films, which will help to explain the process and highlight why it is so important. These will be supported by regional events this month for collection and delivery sector managers.

"We want to control risks, and keep our postman and women safe," says Lucie Howe, safety training and comms manager. "The face-to-face meetings will help us to identify how we can support managers in making the new way of working a success." The events will cover the improvements being made, including the electronic hazard logging system, the Walk Risk Assessment Platform (WRAP). We'll show the new films we have made on risk assessment, dog attacks and pouch weights, and discuss the 'barriers and nudges required for us to succeed", says Lucia.

The events are scheduled to take place on 21st May - Bristol, 24th May - London and 28th May - Manchester.

Watch out
Three films highlight the main risks. 'Know your weights' looks predominantly at pouch weights, and explains the new, simpler standard for weighing pouches. Bags that are too heavy can cause accidents, especially when lifting and handling (something that CWU health and Safety Reps are well aware of). The film also talks about some of the long-term effects of carrying overweight pouches or other items on the back or shoulders, and provides advice on how to make sure items are the correct weight.

'Dog Attacks' features postman and dog attack victim CWU member Paul Coleman (remember what happened to him), and highlights how postmen and women can best avoid being attacked. It's crucial that Royal Mail employees are vigilant at all times, and log every dangerous dog on their walk. Paul Coleman reportedly on film has said, "I know it's tempting to get through your round as quickly as possible, but paying attention and avoiding any hazards will keep you safer. It's easy to say it won't happen - but it can and it does - just look at me."

'Check, Walk, Talk' highlights how important it is to record risks and report them to managers. It's a WRAP - To make it easier to log hazards, an electronic system - the Walk Risk Assessment Platform (WRAP) is being introduced. Created by former delivery office manager Anthony Taylor WRAP makes the Royal Mail approach consistent across the business.

Log it
Postmen and women note down any hazards on their walk in the new hazard card holder that slips into the pocket of the new uniform trousers; to be issued shortly. These should then be discussed with line managers. Significant hazards are entered onto WRAP. The system then prints off mini hazard cards for postmen and women to use out on their walk. Hazard cards can also be printed for the walk logs on individual sorting frames. This will remind people of the hazards they face and ensure they take the necessary steps to avoid them. "Hazards used to be logged on paper, which was quite inefficient, and there was no standard way of tracking dangers," explains Anthony. "This way takes less time for managers, can be tracked on the system and clearly shows the various hazards on a walk."

As a further reminder, at addresses where there is a dangerous dog, the first letter to the property must be marked with a 'D' in the top left-hand corner. Yellow stickers for frames and end of frame hazard packs are also available where there is a significant dog hazard, either on an individual walk or area. "By following the new approach to assessing walk hazards we can help to ensure Royal Mail employees are fully aware of the hazards they may come across and keep them safe."

[estelle]

all this talk of dangerous dogs, what about dangerous cats?

seriously - there are two at least in my office that'll have your whole hand quicker than you get your digits near the letterbox.

[brothermagrew]

all this talk of dangerous dogs, what about dangerous cats?

seriously - there are two at least in my office that'll have your whole hand quicker than you get your digits near the letterbox.

Then may I suggest Estelle that you fully familiarise yourself with the contents of the Royal Mail Dealing with Dog Attacks - Good Practice Guide as the Royal Mail policy is quite clear with regards to ferocious animals. No member of staff is expected to deliver to premises where there is a good reason to suppose there is a risk of attack and injury from an animal, whether it be a dog, goat, cat or goose. And clearly if what you say is true then report it to your manager for them to action.

[estelle]

that being the same boss who fails to undertalk walk assessments when told about increasing concerns about personal safety?

We are all responsible for our own actions and our own welfare at the end of the day.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Significant hazards are entered onto WRAP. The system then prints off mini hazard cards for postmen and women to use out on." which all assumes that your office has a computer and printer, which is NOT the case in most if not all of the thousand or so SPDOs.

[BELIAL]

But you and I know ,Blah blah blah ,just deliver the s**t and don't make waves.......

[brothermagrew]

"Significant hazards are entered onto WRAP. The system then prints off mini hazard cards for postmen and women to use out on." which all assumes that your office has a computer and printer, which is NOT the case in most if not all of the thousand or so SPDOs.

Granted LL but surely most if not all of the thousand or so SPDOs will come under the auspice of one larger or main delivery office and therefore shouldn't be used as an excuse for not having a computer or printer for getting significant hazards entered onto WRAP. Managers may duck but they can't hide their responsibilities to their employees who operate from SPDOs and in which they presumably have overall control of.

[clashcityrocker]

[quote="estelle"]all this talk of dangerous dogs, what about dangerous cats?
We used to have one in our office. We simply adapted the "Dog" warning card to read "Cat".
Think a fox got it in the end......

[clashcityrocker]

Three films highlight the main risks. 'Know your weights' looks predominantly at pouch weights, and explains the new, simpler standard for weighing pouches. Bags that are too heavy can cause accidents, especially when lifting and handling (something that CWU health and Safety Reps are well aware of). The film also talks about some of the long-term effects of carrying overweight pouches or other items on the back or shoulders, and provides advice on how to make sure items are the correct weight.

Do you think it would be possible to have a copy sent to my DOM?
He actually said something along the lines of - "if we did everything properly we wouldn't get anything done at all" and "if we follow H&S we may as well lock up, go home and everyone will be unemployed".
In one office not too far from me they have a set of bathroom scales to weigh all the bags on. And they're not very accurate.

[Stormproof]

At our WTL this week we were told not to enter premises with front doors open if they are known to have a dog. We are to take the mail back to the office and LM's will send a letter to the owners.
One of my mates who got badly bitten by a stray dog a few months ago was given a RM Dog Bite Compensation Form yesterday by one of the Reps, apparently RM managers are meant to hand these out within 4 days of the incident but our LM's have never seen them before.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

At our WTL this week we were told not to enter premises with front doors open if they are known to have a dog. We are to take the mail back to the office and LM's will send a letter to the owners.
One of my mates who got badly bitten by a stray dog a few months ago was given a RM Dog Bite Compensation Form yesterday by one of the Reps, apparently RM managers are meant to hand these out within 4 days of the incident but our LM's have never seen them before.

One of Royal Mails biggest problems is that there is no official training course for Managers held at a central location where the same information is passed on in the same manner. A standardized course with a set syllabus and an examination on completion, and perhaps a guidance pack would improve the managerial situation in RM at all levels almost immediately.

After all Ben asking Bob, who asks Fred, who passes it to Steve what he should do in such and such a situation is hardly commensurate to promoting a standard approach to all situations, and neither is the scatter gun approach of 1 day seminars. How many acting managers have gone away for 3 or 4 weeks on a course to get a basic grounding at your office, I would hazard the answer would be none or very few.

[brothermagrew]

At our WTL this week we were told not to enter premises with front doors open if they are known to have a dog. We are to take the mail back to the office and LM's will send a letter to the owners.
One of my mates who got badly bitten by a stray dog a few months ago was given a RM Dog Bite Compensation Form yesterday by one of the Reps, apparently RM managers are meant to hand these out within 4 days of the incident but our LM's have never seen them before.

Sister Stormproof request that you view my posting at:

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... me#p130236" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Me thinks your LM's are being very economical with the truth as contained in the Dealing with Dog Attacks - Good Practice Guide at Section 5 - Appendices is the following:

Example Risk Assessment Form WP2 Appendix A
Example Dog Incident Recording Sheet B
Example Dog Warning Card C
Example Unable to Deliver Stickers D
Dog Attack Compensation Scheme - Claim Form E

And as a Guide it was all specifically geared so that As a line manager, this material will enable you to brief your teams on how to deal with a potential attack, or in cases where an attack has occurred, the correct procedures to follow.

And of course the aim of the Guide is to help reduce the number of attacks and prevent our employees from further injuries. As to our LM's have never seen them before I personally don't think so but in the interests of fairness a very debateable point. You should of course be aware that there is changes being made to the current RM Policy on Dogs and this will take effect in the summer.

[themaze617]

Surely the best way to reduce dog attacks is to just not deliver to any property with a loose dog?
If the owner gets gobby about it or think's your joking it only takes a few days of not getting any post before they start playing ball and either shut the dog in or get a post box on the gate.

[DGP1]

The longer you're on a duty the more you know the dogs and what they will do to you, there's something to be said about being on a set duty.

[brothermagrew]

Can't argue with that brother