Have accidents increased since revision.?

[skull]

I'm just wondering if there as been any substantial increase in accidents and days lost to sickness nationally since revision was introduced ? . The sickness levels at our office have been very high and accident wise we currently have two posties in plaster , two suffering from whiplash after a collision and one who nearly lost a finger to a dog . Our office employs about 110 staff and it sometimes feels we have just returned from war .

I know when people travel further and faster under pressure it's inevitable that injuries will increase but as there been anything briefed down to the front line or is it something that will be brushed under the carpet . Maybe the sickness and accident rate as dropped due to the vans and trolleys being introduced ?.

[stokes11eg]

Not in the least bit surprised at this. and it would be interesting if this was studied in more detail.

[Lincox]

Seen 3 posties today on day off. Two PUSHING trolleys and not pulling. Cant blame them as I am still suffering shoulder and arm strains from pulling the bloody things through the snow, and one younger lady carrying a handful of mail around without any bag at all. By my reckoning ATOS will need to engage more telephone nurses to deal with all the problems storing up for Royal Mail as they impose delivery method changes.

[stokes11eg]

Surely pushing a trolly is easier on the body than pulling? Reminds me of those hospital wheelchairs available at visiting times, ---

[skull]

I might try pushing tomorrow but that increases the risk of not seeing piles of dog crap .

[Himaggen]

Pushing may seem easier to you but you are not the person who is entitled to make that decision. First of all the LWT's are designed, (and instructed in training), to be pulled. Secondly experts in ergonomics etc. will inform you that on appropriate terrain pushing a LWT in a straight line is considerably more difficult and results in far greater stresses on the wrist than any stresses caused through pulling.

[Lincox]

I would beg to disagree. If you are pushing a trolley with two hands, then the weight of the trolley is distributed across the whole of the body. It is not easy to drag a trolley with two arms, and therefore the weight of the trolley is pulled by one half of the body, causing extreme stress on the collarbone, shoulders, arms and wrists

[BT2010]

i think there are crossed wires here.....

LWT = pull

HCT = push

right back to my green dutch tobacco

[Lincox]

There is less stress on the body pushing either method. The reason they suggest pulling a LWT is because it avoids the bottom front end digging into the ground and the user impaling themself on the handle.

[Himaggen]

You are wrong, one of the dangers of pushing the LWT is that the 'foot' is out of sight of the user and if struck can cause impact damage. The reason why the LWT is pushed however is because it was designed to be so. The machine when loaded and used correctly is engineered according to a set of criteria resulting from in depth studies from experts in their fields.

If it were designed to be pushed it would almost certainly have required at least one wheel at the front as do push chairs, prams, shopping trolleys, wheel chairs and every other wheeled device I can think of which are also designed to be pushed.

[Stormproof]

There is less stress on the body pushing either method. The reason they suggest pulling a LWT is because it avoids the bottom front end digging into the ground and the user impaling themself on the handle.

I've done that and can say it hurts......alot. Had a nice bruise for a few weeks.

[Lincox]

There is absolutely no reason why Royal Mail could not have provided lightweight trolleys with a front wheel if this is the case. The facts are that by pulling these trolleys there has and will be many of our workmates suffering with severe problems with shoulder, arm and hip problems as pulling these trolleys with any sort of weight creates unnatural posture. I have been undergoing chiropractic treatment to rectify muscle and posture problems following use of the LWT during the pre=christmas weather problems as it was not possible to use cycles. My chiropractor told me that he has seen at least four postman suffering with similar conditions. Why do you think golfers are now using electrically propelled golf carts with three wheels, and now there are non electric golf buggies with three wheels.

[stokes11eg]

There is absolutely no reason why Royal Mail could not have provided lightweight trolleys with a front wheel if this is the case. The facts are that by pulling these trolleys there has and will be many of our workmates suffering with severe problems with shoulder, arm and hip problems as pulling these trolleys with any sort of weight creates unnatural posture. I have been undergoing chiropractic treatment to rectify muscle and posture problems following use of the LWT during the pre=christmas weather problems as it was not possible to use cycles. My chiropractor told me that he has seen at least four postman suffering with similar conditions. Why do you think golfers are now using electrically propelled golf carts with three wheels, and now there are non electric golf buggies with three wheels.

Yes, to pull these contraptions causes undue stresses and strains on the body.

[cyclemech1]

But RM are replacing bikes with these trolleys because there were SOOO many accidents on bikes!

[fishtank]

If you were to do a stress analysis on pushing or pulling the difference would be negligible.
These LWT's are single handle trolley's and are not designed to be pushed or pulled by both hands,so either way the stresses are through one arm and one shoulder.
It is,however easier to pull these trolleys than push because...they have been designed for pulling.
I have seen a few people pulling them incorrectly though with their arm pulled behind them,this will definitely cause shoulder pain,your arm should be at your side.