Petition to follow the European Standard regarding letterbox

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Petition to:
follow the European Standard (EN 13724) regarding letterbox height

http://www.hmg.gov.uk/epetition-respons ... =Letterbox" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to follow the European Standard (EN 13724) regarding letterbox height. More details

Submitted by David Campbell of Royal Mail – Deadline to sign up by: 18 November 2009 – Signatures: 609
More details from petition creator

There's no legal requirement in the UK to follow the specifications set out in current European Standard (EN 13724) covering Private Letter Boxes which for ergonomic and safety reasons specifies the height, positioning and design of "letter boxes" in order that the safe delivery of Mail can be made without the risk of injury. The standard sets down that the centreline of the Letter Box aperture should be at a height between 700 mm (2 ft 3.5 inches) and 1700 mm (5 ft 7 inches). Postmen and Women need the support of the Government to protect the Health & Safety of Royal Mail employees.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Letterbox/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Government response

Thank you for your e-petition regarding Royal Mail’s postmen and women needing the support of Government to protect the health and safety of its employees in respect of letterbox height.

Since Royal Mail’s transfer to a plc company the Government has adopted an arms length relationship as shareholder, leaving the management directly responsible for operational matters, such as ensuring the health and safety of its employees.

Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its employees very seriously and is committed to providing a safe working environment for its people. The company are aware that low level letter-boxes have the potential to be a hazard for their postmen and women and it advises its people to set their delivery pouch down on the ground before bending to deliver mail to these types of apertures, in order to minimise any risk of injury. However, Royal mail has advised us that it is not always possible to establish if low level letter-boxes are definitely the cause of a particular injury and it can be difficult to quantify how big of an issue this is, as it can depend on individual areas and delivery rounds nationwide and how any given injury or complaint is recorded.

If the company or others have sufficient evidence to show that there is a significant issue here that requires a national legislative solution (because it has not been addressed by developers or manufacturers on a voluntary basis), then they should approach the relevant national authorities to set out the case for change. UK building regulations are a devolved matter and it would then be for the relevant Departments and Administrations to consider the merits of making changes to the regulations in light of any case made and supporting evidence.

Royal Mail does already seek to influence the design of new developments. For example, when the company is made aware of such developments at a local level, they speak to developers and/or local authorities when the opportunity arises, to highlight any concerns they may have about any design aspects of the development.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

[POSTMAN]

What a crock of f***ing s**t!

[Wiggins79]

Amazing how they followed the European parliment ruling on opening up the letters market to "competition" without a second thought. But when it comes to something that might have actually benefitted thousands of people (as opposed to the liberiralisation of the market which only benefits a few high-paid execs) they just merrily ignore it.

[chelseachris]

I once said to a builder on building development would you put a bell at the bottom of a door he replied "no" i said why put a letter box at the bottom then,

[johnnyp]

I once said to a builder on building development would you put a bell at the bottom of a door he replied "no" i said why put a letter box at the bottom then,