LTB 1049/10 - Parcelforce – “Severe Weather” Winter Safety B

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 1049/10 - Parcelforce – “Severe Weather” Winter Safety Briefing
No. 1049/10
Ref E4
Date: 29 November 2010


To: All Branches



Dear Colleagues

Parcelforce – “Severe Weather” Winter Safety Briefing





Parcelforce World-wide’s National Health & Safety Manager has issued the following Severe Weather Safety Briefing :-








Briefing for Managers
Last year severe winter weather caused havoc with the country’s roads and infrastructure network. Our services to customers were inevitably affected and some of our people were seriously injured as a result of accidents either whist driving vehicles or when walking to and from delivery points.
Our objective again this year to deliver a great peak for our customers, but to do this safely so that our people have a great festive season too.


FOR ACTION:
Ensure that gritting arrangements on site are in place.
Keep indoor floor surfaces as dry as possible.
Ensure that your drivers are aware that when they are on their routes, their decisions really matter.
Ensure that drivers know that you trust their judgement about whether it is safe for them to progress.
Ensure that drivers are aware that they need to actively assess risks along their routes and decide whether it is safe for them to continue and what precautions to take.
Check weather forecasts throughout the day, and if the weather is likely to deteriorate ensure that your drivers are aware of this risk.
Conduct daily briefings with drivers to discuss the weather conditions and the forecast and the likely affect on road surfaces for driving.
Seek early feedback from drivers on difficult locations when they go out on the road as to the road conditions and the accessibility of parts of the routes and where necessary encourage drivers to provide updates throughout the day.
Ensure that drivers plan their routes effectively assessing risks on route eg rural area.
Ensure that work load is evenly balanced particularly in relation to timed deliveries to remove the need for drivers to be tempted to rush.
Ensure that indoor colleagues are briefed about the progress on each route so they can advise customers who phone in relation to expected deliveries.
Use the attached briefing to speak to colleagues about their work this time of the year, the increased risks when driving and walking in ice and snow and the sensible precautions to take in adverse weather conditions.














Briefing for Staff
Last year severe winter weather caused havoc with the country’s roads.
Our people battled the conditions admirably to ensure that the impact of the weather on our customers was minimised customers, however several of our people were injured in the snow and ice.
Our objective is still to deliver another great peak for our customers, but to do this safely so you can have a great festive season too.
Here are the things you can do to keep safe this festive period:



· Check your vehicle: lights for visibility, tyre treads and pressures can affect braking distance - Ice in cold conditions on the road presents obvious risks but it is not always visible.
· When you are on the road either in a vehicle or on foot approaching a delivery point, you are in charge and your decisions matter.
· Assess the conditions around you. Do not put yourself or others at risk.
· Keep your speed down and keep a much greater distance between you and the vehicle in front.
· Think about weather forecasts when planning your route. If the weather changes you may get stuck in rural locations or if the weather clears or if temperatures rise then it might make rural or hilly locations more accessible.
· When getting in and out of vehicles – keep 3 points of contact when stepping down, support your weight and watch where you put your feet. Do not rush.
· Keep warm clothing, waterproofs, dry clothes or a blanket and something to eat and a drink just in case you get stranded.
· When on foot, slow down!
· Watch where you are walking to avoid ice, tread carefully. Snow may be covering an obstacle or hazard.
· Be wary of carrying items, use sack barrows as much as possible even if items are light.








Yours Sincerely






Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[Lounge Lizard]

So that's Parcelforce. What about the rest of us ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

So that's Parcelforce. What about the rest of us ?

I got a BT one as well so far no RML one -

still checking inbox though it is only 4:45am