Postmen's bikes banned over health and safety fears -Croydon

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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

POSTMEN on bikes will become a thing of the past as pedal-powered rounds are axed due to "health and safety" concerns.

Royal Mail's move to ban bikes, used for deliveries for decades, will be phased in across Croydon within the next 18 months.

The plans are part of wide-sweeping reforms which will eventually see the ban extended across the whole of the UK.

One postman at Purley delivery office, Brighton Road, whom the Advertiser agreed not to name, said: "They haven't told us yet when they're bringing it in but we have been told there is a health and safety issue.

"One of the guys about six months ago was offloading the bikes from the vans and ended up doing his back in. Because of that we had to make sure two people were always offloading them from the van at the same time."

He added: "If I'm honest it probably is a bit over the top. The vans will probably get snowed-in during the winter and then we might not be able to go anywhere."

The bikes will be replaced with lightweight and high-capacity trolleys and shared van drop-offs – where postmen pair up on drives to complete their rounds.

The change aims to modernise the service and prevent workers developing musculoskeletal disorders after carrying heavy bags, according to the Communication Workers Union.

A spokesman said: "This is gradually being brought in over 18 months because there is a safety element in that a lot of postmen have been developing disorders which force them to retire early. It takes its toll having to carry heavy bags day after day."

"People are ordering more big packages and parcels online and those kind of deliveries make the traditional bicycle no longer practical."

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: "As we deliver fewer letters but more packets and parcels than we did in the past, the switch to vans and trolleys will enable us to take the weight off staff's backs."

Asked if delivery times would be affected, the spokesman added: "The time customers receive mail will depend on where they live on the new delivery route. This may be later or possibly earlier than current delivery times."

[DGP1]

It's not H&S it's about money/savings/modernisation - because we can carry more and stay out longer in vans than on bikes

[POSTMAN]

A spokesman said: "This is gradually being brought in over 18 months because there is a safety element in that a lot of postmen have been developing disorders which force them to retire early. It takes its toll having to carry heavy bags day after day."

Well my body aches,i have ligament problems,can I sue then?

Has this spokesman opened RM up to a mass of sueings?

[fishtank]

A spokesman said: "This is gradually being brought in over 18 months because there is a safety element in that a lot of postmen have been developing disorders which force them to retire early. It takes its toll having to carry heavy bags day after day."

Well my body aches,i have ligament problems,can I sue then?

Has this spokesman opened RM up to a mass of sueings?

How stupid does that statement look with managers ignoring the trolleys and encouraging people out the door with bags?

[POSTMAN]

A spokesman said: "This is gradually being brought in over 18 months because there is a safety element in that a lot of postmen have been developing disorders which force them to retire early. It takes its toll having to carry heavy bags day after day."

Well my body aches,i have ligament problems,can I sue then?

Has this spokesman opened RM up to a mass of sueings?

How stupid does that statement look with managers ignoring the trolleys and encouraging people out the door with bags?

Did you clock it was a CWU spokesman,word is Simpson Miller have contacted Angard for extra staff.

[scoobydo79]

Err Yes Mr Royal Mail spokesman. It also takes its toll forcing postmen to walk solidly for long distances over the course of a week with HCT or park n loop. If I remember rightly riding a bike in poor weather conditions and carrying 16 kgs in a bag was a condition of employment which I agreed to when I started.What Royal Mail are doing now was not.I look forward to My large amount of compensation when the health problems kick in