Minor Repairs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches






To: All Branches with Postal Members




Dear Colleague,

Minor Repairs

Branches will be aware of LTB 88/13 issued in February 2013 stating we had reached an agreement with Royal Mail on Minor Repairs (MR) and were looking to jointly roll this initiative out nationally subject to a successful pilot of the agreed processes and procedures.

Following feedback from Safety Reps, IR Reps and managers in the pilot offices it was necessary to extensively amend the documentation, processes and procedures to ensure they were fit for purpose. The amended processes and procedures (see attached) were all re-examined and tested and are now ready for national deployment.

Minor Repairs was agreed as part of BT2010 and is a process where drivers of the light fleet can volunteer to be trained to undertake limited minor vehicle repairs - Changing Wheels, Wiper Blades, Bulbs and Stick on Mirrors.

The Gateway to Minor Repairs
The key part of the process and the one that enables the introduction of Minor Repairs into a office is the requirement for the manager and Area Safety Rep (ASR) to jointly complete and sign off a site assessment that is aimed at identifying a ‘Safe Working Area’ where Minor Repairs can be undertaken. We have agreed with the business that this will act as a ‘Gateway’ and only after a copy of the jointly signed off Site assessment has been received by the coordinator will training be organised. On this particular aspect we would urge ASRs and ADRs to attend the Minor Repairs training in order to familiarise themselves with the Minor Repairs processes.

Minor Repair Training
The training is provided by trained technicians from Fleet & Maintenance Services (F&MS) who have undergone a Train the Trainer programme. All the training courses are supported by Risk Assessments, Safe Systems of work and individual Repair Instruction Sheets providing a step by step guide for all relevant repairs.

Compliance to Safety
To ensure continued compliance with the agreed processes, and in particular post deployment, as well as coming under the scrutiny of ASRs at their quarterly inspections, the process will also be subject to regular management audit. It should be noted that if serious failings are found at any office then Minor Repairs will be suspended or revoked completely.

Offices Currently Undertaking Minor Repairs
Prior to the deployment of this agreement and its associated processes, a number of units had been trained in Minor Repairs over a period of years and by various means. However to ensure the safety of our driving members, all those units will now have to be brought into compliance with the new agreed procedures. Therefore until such time as drivers from those units/offices have attended and passed the new training course the business has accepted and agreed that Minor Repairs will cease at those sites until such time as they become compliant with the new procedures, including an agreed safe working area.

For the avoidance of doubt, the offices trained during 2013 are shown in the attached Excel document (Minor Repair Stats) and if your office is not on this list then no Minor Repairs should be undertaken until compliance and training is completed. 

There will also be a quarterly national joint review to ensure Minor Repairs is working as envisaged which will consider data/statistics and resolve any associated issues.

Any further updates on this subject will be reported in due course. In the meantime any queries should be raised with Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300.


Email address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours sincerely


Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary

[5plusbonusball]

can anyone clarify if we are allowed to change punctured tyres? mine happened at 10:20 on a saturday and because no-one would answer the phone in the office , we had to do it ourselves

[Lounge Lizard]

can anyone clarify if we are allowed to change punctured tyres? mine happened at 10:20 on a saturday and because no-one would answer the phone in the office , we had to do it ourselves

Yes, if you've had appropriate training.

[UnhappyGremlin]

can anyone clarify if we are allowed to change punctured tyres? mine happened at 10:20 on a saturday and because no-one would answer the phone in the office , we had to do it ourselves

Yes, if you've had appropriate training.

You are not supposed to touch them unless you have been trained to do so.
If you do, you can be held liable for any resulting damages to you, the vehicle, members of the public or any other property.
Ring the RAC and let them do it.

Inform the manager on Monday, with the Rep, and ask why there was no one in the office/answering the phone to offer advice.
It forced you to make a decision and take action, neither of which is in your field of authority/training.
Ask for written clarification of what you should do if this happens again in the future.
Including contingencies, like no one answering the phone.

[spiderj]

Definite no no unless trained
Totally understand why you did it though
But I. Future check front page of log book
Call the number and they'll refer you to a local tyre fitter

[maisymoo04]

Am not changing a fekin tyre with a transit full of mail the jacks crap as well

[Alfreton]

Does anyone know how I can get one of our members on this course?

[Celgar]

Does anyone know how I can get one of our members on this course?

You can ask you DOM to arrange for a person to come along and do a training session at your DO. We are having one next week for those posties who wish to do it. It lasts two hours apparently.

[Celgar]

I have changed the bulbs quite a few times on my van without training. It's alright if you can access them using a screwdriver but if it requires hexagonal keys or special tools then you are up the creek.