Parcelforce New Hand Held PDA Device - Elasticated Stylus Pe

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 1154/10
Ref PF1
Date: 23 December 2010


To: All Branches


Dear Colleagues

Parcelforce New Hand Held PDA Device - Elasticated Stylus Pen Cord Hazard.

Earlier this year Parcelforce rolled out the new type Hand Held PDA Device. These new podium replacements are smaller and are identical to the PDA's used in Royal Mail Letters.

A safety issue has been brought to the attention of the PFW National Safety Manager David Butler regarding the PDA's fabric holster that our members are mandatorily required to use when delivering and collecting parcels.

Attached to the holster is a stylus pen on an elasticated cord. This cord is long and can be stretched a considerable length. With the cord extended, if it is released in an uncontrolled manner, the elastic recoil of the cord can generate a large force with the potential to cause a severe injury to the users body, particularly to the face and eyes. When this risk was initially raised the Parcelforce Safety Management Team provided advice for the elasticated Stylus cords to be removed and a communication went out to this effect.

Recently a number of accidents have occurred causing members to sustain such injuries, including eye injuries when using the device. In one case a member required stitches to his face after the pen recoiled into his face.

This hazard can easily be removed by replacing the elasticated cord with a non elasticated cord. The stylus pen actually attached to the device itself is attached by a
non elasticated cord and presents no such risk at all. It is the stylus attached to the Holster that presents the hazard.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department requested and was promised urgent action and a solution was reported to the National Strategic Health & Safety
meeting that the elastic should be replaced by a static non-stretch cord. 

It has come to light that the Solution agreed earlier this year has not been nationally deployed and therefore Instructions have now been issued by Parcelforce National Safety Manager David Butler, with the original safety brief being re-issued. (Copy attached).

In addition Parcelforce have agreed a process with the supplier that as they receive PDAs back for maintenance, refurbishment and software upgrades, they will remove the elasticated cord and replace them with static alternatives. This should ensure that over a period of time any offending styluses that have not been removed at depots will
be replaced by the supplier.




Would Area and local Reps please ensure the modification has been carried out ASAP.



Yours sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

______________________________________________________________________




This message was sent out to all Ops Managers and Area General Managers on 21/12/10




Sent: Tue Dec 21 14:12:21 2010
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE- IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED- CN3 INTERMEC STYLUS CORDS
All, please ensure that the following instructions are implemented immediately
 
ACTION NEEDED: CN3 Intermec device stylus cords.
 
With immediate effect, please advise all users of the CN3 handheld intermec device to action the following:
 
REMOVE the straight stylus cord (attached to grey stylus) provided on the CN3 case and discard.
 
Only use the CURLY stylus cord (attached to blue stylus) which is attached to the CN3 handheld device. 
 
 

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[Sippin40oz]

Seriously???