Do they send you out on delivery in the snow???

Chewster · Post by **Chewster** » 10 Jan 2017, 00:17

I've only been here two years and we haven't had what I'd call PROPER snow in that time, just a few inches here and there and I was always fine with my HCT. A few of the old timers in the office say the only times they've not worked due to adverse weather has only happened when lorries couldn't get to the office, and I can remember some really heavy winters with near a foot of snow even up the high street and others with a few inches of ICE so that must have been fun for them!

Although in my personal experience, I find that SNOW is actually fine to walk and drive in, it's just after a few days when it starts to get compacted it begins to become hazardous (as someone up there has mentioned). I prefer delivering in the snow than the rain, at least if it's cold enough and the snow doesn't melt then you don't get wet!

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 10 Jan 2017, 04:34

doorstepped wrote:
if your Dom asks you if you want to go home, say no. He could ask you to work extra during the next 7 days to cover for your hours that you lost by deciding to go home.

thats fine advice, but if hes sending everyone home youd be pretty silly to stay there, its very unlikely that hes going to make the whole office make up the time. What i mean is dont just stay behind automatically, you have to know how your DOM is, and if hes the type of person who would try to claw back the time or not.

goldy · Post by **goldy** » 10 Jan 2017, 12:51

meercat wrote:
Zicomurphy wrote:If past experience is anything to go on they will probably not send you out the first day it snows when the snow is fresh and not that slippery but send you out the next day when it's been compacted down, frozen, turned to ice and slippery as hell.

Ha ha ha ha very true.

They will also tell you if you fall over it will be your own fault.

No they will wait 5 days then start panicing and send you out with massive bags there will not be enough vans generally so you will end up finishing in the dark on the ice and your lucky if you survived welcome to RM in the snow .

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 10 Jan 2017, 15:09

DB1100 · Post by **DB1100** » 10 Jan 2017, 17:06

Postie45 wrote:
doorstepped wrote:
if your Dom asks you if you want to go home, say no. He could ask you to work extra during the next 7 days to cover for your hours that you lost by deciding to go home.

thats fine advice, but if hes sending everyone home youd be pretty silly to stay there, its very unlikely that hes going to make the whole office make up the time. What i mean is dont just stay behind automatically, you have to know how your DOM is, and if hes the type of person who would try to claw back the time or not.

I stay,even if I'm the only 1 because our DOM's are the sort to make you do 2 or 3 hours a day till they get the time back,it has happened before,so they usually get me clearing the yard and gritting it.

nickbsmooth · Post by **nickbsmooth** » 10 Jan 2017, 18:58

I couldn't get into the DO for a week so worked at a local DO. In that week no effort was made to deliver any mail on my duty.
I was finally able to get into my DO to discover packet bags of mail that had been sorted into fitting then pulled out put in bundles to clear the frame for next lot.
I had one person to help me for 2days to catch up with a weeks worth of mail and the pavements were still thick with snow and ice.
We had to back to back bundles just to make a dent it.
That was like 6yrs ago, I wouldn't do that again now I'm wiser.

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 10 Jan 2017, 23:03

Never once in nr 20 yrs bin told not to deliver in bad snow conditions , and theres bin some horrendous days !

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 11 Jan 2017, 10:37

Attempted to get to my DO, a few years ago, found the road blocked by someone that had slid and hit a telegraph pole. Went home and turned up at my local DO. We went out 2 in a van (pre P&L days) and had a pleasant day delivering the local mail, and throwing snowballs at each other!

We didn't deliver the whole duty completely, but it just made sure there wasn't too much mail piled up for when it cleared. At the end of the day IF you do get out Royal Mail will inevitably wash their hands of any responsibility, and just tell you to make your own H&S decisions as you go along. This works pretty well for me and any roads that look dodgy just get thrown back in the tray!

WOBBLY · Post by **WOBBLY** » 11 Jan 2017, 16:17

18 years and only once (for 1 day) have we not gone out - that was only because we had heavy snow on top of ice!!

Nigel1505 · Post by **Nigel1505** » 11 Jan 2017, 17:14

Anybody from the beautiful Highlands want to respond to this,; ie Aviemore area.

Zicomurphy · Post by **Zicomurphy** » 13 Jan 2017, 15:26

We got sent out this morning. We Just got told to "manage yourself" In other words use your own judgement which parts of your walk would be safe to deliver to. It was very icy and slippery at first but improved as the morning went on. Ended up just bringing one bag back and that was due to running out of time rather than not being safe.

kookoo32 · Post by **kookoo32** » 13 Jan 2017, 16:14

Nigel1505 wrote:Anybody from the beautiful Highlands want to respond to this,; ie Aviemore area.

Not quite Aviemore but in the IV postcode area. Sent out in all conditions as I'm sure the rest of you are. We get the usual management spiel of "take care out there and don't take any unnecessary risks" which means 'for God sake don't damage the van and don't go injuring yourself as I'll never get your duty covered'

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 13 Jan 2017, 23:05

the same one as ,,what a great fantastic job you have done this christmas, The following week we are s hit and underperforming ! The patronising is embarrasing.

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 14 Jan 2017, 17:50

How can they send us out on icy roads in vans with summer tyres is what I'd like to know?

This morning I got about a half a mile away from the office before turning back because the roads were like an ice rink in places, with summer tyres you have next to zero control.

hampshireman · Post by **hampshireman** » 14 Jan 2017, 18:18

Chelseablue wrote:the same one as ,,what a great fantastic job you have done this christmas, The following week we are s hit and underperforming ! The patronising is embarrasing.

Funnily enough we had that from our DOM...followed by threats of performance issue probs and conduct ...

Don't you just love RM.