Posties get new 'push sticks' to stop dog attacks

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Posti ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BRENTWOOD postmen and women are being issued with special sticks to protect them from vicious dog attacks.

The bright red "push sticks" have been made available to all Royal Mail staff delivering across the borough, where there have been eight bite attacks already this year, one of which was to the groin and required hospital treatment.

The lightweight device grips letters at one end and the postal worker holds the other as they push it through the letterbox.

They are not intended to be used by postal workers to fight off vicious dogs.

Postman Danny Attfield, who is assistant area representative for the Communication Workers Union, said his colleagues had been bitten outside homes in Hutton, Kelvedon Hatch, Doddinghurst, Herongate and the centre of Brentwood.

He said: "All of these attacks have required time off work and at least four of them needed hospital treatment.

"Postmen in Brentwood have just started using the sticks and some on the rural deliveries have been given sonic dog alarms but they seem to aggravate the dogs more than make them go away.

"I have never been bitten but if a dog is loose I will not go through.

"That is what postmen are told, if they don't feel safe they don't go there.

"We do write to some homes to say your dog has bitten a postman so we won't be delivering your mail any more. We don't want postmen with horrific injuries."

Mr Attfield said a majority of the attacks happened when dogs were left untethered in front yards and gardens.

He said one of the attacks in Brentwood this year was through a letterbox.

He said posties want to send a clear message to owners to keep pets locked away during their rounds, however well-behaved they think they might be.

Mr Attfield said they are also calling for a change in the law to finally allow prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for attacks on private property.

Mr Attfield added: "We want people to keep them secure and just be aware."

One of the many Brentwood postmen to have been attacked, Ben Binding, 26, said the experience can leave a lasting fear.

Mr Binding was delivering a parcel to a Hutton home when he was bitten by a dog as the customer headed inside for a pen.

He said: "I am more concerned now. You hear a dog barking and take a step back first. I will never deliver to that house again, I will not even do the letters."

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martens said: "The safety of our employees is of paramount importance to Royal Mail. Unfortunately, dog attacks are a hazard faced by our postmen and women every working day.

"There are around 4,000 dog attacks a year on Royal Mail people. These attacks cause great distress and in too many cases serious injuries.

"Our main aim is to prevent attacks. If we feel that there is a risk from a dog, or any other animal, at an individual address, we are committed to working with the customer to agree simple steps to ensure that we can deliver the mail safely.

"We always welcome the co-operation of our customers for taking responsibility for keeping their pets under control.

"We also regularly communicate with our people about the dangers of dog attacks and provide advice to postmen and women on techniques to minimise harm in the event of an attack."

[jockstrapp]

What chance a TAZER

[brothermagrew]

As ever sloppy journalism 'push sticks' indeed, they are known throughout Royal Mail as "post it pegs".

The only hardware control which gave some level of assurance and usability was the "Post it Peg", which provides a specific protection for posting mail through a letter box behind which is a biting dog. Some of the feedback was not supportive, but this did not relate to effectiveness but rather the carrying of the tool.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As ever sloppy journalism 'push sticks' indeed, they are known throughout Royal Mail as "post it pegs".

The only hardware control which gave some level of assurance and usability was the "Post it Peg", which provides a specific protection for posting mail through a letter box behind which is a biting dog. Some of the feedback was not supportive, but this did not relate to effectiveness but rather the carrying of the tool.

I'll be honest my feedback was most definitely about the effectiveness - They slow you down, they don't work in hard bristle areas and they are awkward to use. However, for known dogs that lurk behind the letterbox, I would much rather struggle with a "post-it-peg" than run the risk of being bitten.

[DB1100]

TBT,you summed it up nicely unfortunatley the first indication is usually the dog grabbing hold of the mail or your fingers,I have just been attacked by a dog today,I was walking past a house,Iwas on the pavement and the dog was on a lead,it dragged the onwer about 3 yards and bit me twice on the arm,drawing blood and causing a fair bit of bruising.Nothing could have stopped this attack this makes it the third time I have been bitten the first time required micro surgery to repair my fingers this could have been avoided by the post it peg if I had been aware of the dog,It had never bitten any other postie so wasn't considered a risk,are Royal mail saying we should use this post it peg all the time?

[PhilthyPhil]

I don't really see the point in these. I never put my fingers inside the letterbox anyway. The only time I have been attacked through a letterbox was by a cat which was able to reach through and get my hand even though it was some distance from the box. I have been bitten by dogs more times than I can count and it has almost always been loose dogs in the garden/driveway.

[Thunderthighs]

The "push sticks" we need for farm dogs around here, are 12 Bore...

[templepilot]

We've been issued them this morning in our do. They're quite sturdy metal things so pushing thru letterboxes shouldn't be a problem. They have the peg effect at the end to jam the mail in for pushing thru. Not sure how the mail is released once it's gone thru tho. Might have to stick your hand thru as well to release the mail

[jessicarabbit]

You should have received training to use said 'peg' and I think you'll find its plastic.....You push mail through then when the mail is clear the other end you turn the 'peg' through 90 degrees and remove the 'peg'. If there was a nasty dog behind chances are it would rip the mail to pieces and if I was in any doubt I would have no qualms about leaving the 'peg' behind.

[brothermagrew]

You should have received training to use said 'peg' and I think you'll find its plastic.....You push mail through then when the mail is clear the other end you turn the 'peg' through 90 degrees and remove the 'peg'. If there was a nasty dog behind chances are it would rip the mail to pieces and if I was in any doubt I would have no qualms about leaving the 'peg' behind.

The sister is quite correct and cards on the table the post it peg or posting pegs (heard them referred to as dog pegs as well) are an aid which are available to delivery employees to help them post safely through letter boxes without injury, and furthermore Royal Mail managers should continually remind their delivery staff whether it be via a daily team huddle or weekly WTLL brief that the RM procedure is not to put fingers and/or hands into letter boxes.

As the sister intimated above with regards to the usage of the post it peg or posting peg. Feed your envelope(s) into the end of the peg, push through the letter box, rotate the mail ninety degrees (then let it drop) and pull the peg out of the letter box. If the peg gets jammed or is grabbed by a dog, or it cannot be pulled back out, leave it behind. You can always ask the manager for another one.

[templepilot]

It's a good job I mentioned it then. I just got handed it this morning by one of the trainers but not told how to use it.

[NWpostie]

I just let the dogs rip the letters to bits, in no time there will be a basket behind the door in another word fvck em, if they don't give a sh1t about my fingers, I don't give a sh1t about their precious letters.

[DB1100]

We all know not to put fingers thru letterboxes but sometimes when your pushing against the really bristly ones they just suddenly give and your finger(s) just pop thru thats what happened to me,and when our Dom said "you shouldn't stick your fingers thru the letterbox" I wanted to stick my biro in his eye I'm not stupid.

[fishtank]

Not to knock these things and they do have their place but without a complete change in mindset of both managers and members they are only any use..when used.
Pressure causes carelessness and carelessness causes accidents,remove the pressure both self-inflicted and otherwise and these things will suddenly be 100 times more effective.

[dblad]

"We do write to some homes to say your dog has bitten a postman so we won't be delivering your mail any more"
Who posts it then.