Working in snow

Cmcf96 · Post by **Cmcf96** » 07 Dec 2017, 16:54

Any posties got any advice for working in the snow, first Christmas with Royal and not sure what to expect weather wise, I'm on a rural mixed with town walk, What happens when you can't deliver a parcel due to weather.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Dec 2017, 16:59

Cmcf96 wrote:Any posties got any advice for working in the snow, first Christmas with Royal and not sure what to expect weather wise, I'm on a rural mixed with town walk, What happens when you can't deliver a parcel due to weather.

H&S

You, dynamically risk assess each delivery point and road, and if you think its unsafe you don't deliver. Endorse the parcel/mail as such - "Unsafe to deliver - Ice" etc, and if required use the PDA to scan it.

However, the DOM and the H&S rep will (or perhaps should) activate the severe weather tool and assess the impact on deliveries. If required deliveries will be suspended or stopped from going out.

Personal.

Order some ice grips on Uniform website, but until then annoy the managers so they get a batch of them.

Wear layers, but not too much, when its really cold sweating excessively can cause problems. If you are in a van get a flask of hot coffee or soup to sustain you.

crazyshrew · Post by **crazyshrew** » 07 Dec 2017, 20:03

Snow itself isn't too bad, (saying this as s southerner who has never had to tackle more than an inch of the stuff!) it will slow you down a fair bit, but half of that is because DOM and Rep have gone in to painc stations and spend 2 hours faffing about trying to decide if it's safe to go out.

It's the days after a snowfall that you have to watch out for,when it's been compacted and melted and refrozen. That ice is what will take you down, but for some reason I have never experienced the people who are responsible for our H&S worry about that, just concerned about clearing what we couldn't do on when it was just snow.

Fully appreciate that northerners will more than likley have, a different opinion on the white fluffy stuff.

ted_e_bear · Post by **ted_e_bear** » 07 Dec 2017, 20:13

As per Tbt's informative reply but whatever you do, if its yellow snow, don't eat it !

Post by **Judgee** » 07 Dec 2017, 21:09

Just keep safe. Assess each drop/part of the walk and if at anytime you feel it is unsafe just take it back to the office! Other than that, wrap up warm, put on chains on your boots and just use your common sense!

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 07 Dec 2017, 21:26

Yup, snow has never been a problem, ice on the other hand really slows you down. As mentioned, get some slip on grips for your shoes.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 07 Dec 2017, 21:43

Every RM manager has a different idea regarding snow. The last time we had a lot of snow in the south of England was due to increased dust in the atmosphere from the Icelandic volcanic eruption. Don't ask me to spell the name of it.

Anyway at that time we had a lot of snow and the responsibility was dumped on us and we were expected to go out with our bikes and vans and deliver. I remember it being very difficult and time consuming. As usual we didn't get paid for the excess time it took to deliver the mail. Then one day when we had a tiny amount of snow some a*******from up above in RM decided we couldn't go out when there was no problem.

Back to present day and our current manager is the best manager we have had. Our manager told us the other day if we get snow the only walk being delivered will be our single town walk. All the other walks we have are rivals and will just be prepped but not delivered.

Cmcf96 · Post by **Cmcf96** » 08 Dec 2017, 13:24

And...we got called back from delivery at 10am might not be out tomorrow either. Next week is going to be madness.

ripio · Post by **ripio** » 08 Dec 2017, 23:40

Cmcf96 wrote:And...we got called back from delivery at 10am might not be out tomorrow either. Next week is going to be madness.

How much snow have you got?!
We don't have any just now but in past years we've been out in snow plenty of times, six inches deep and we've still been out delivering.
Only once in my 10 years have we been kept in then sent home due to snow and that was before 'park & loop'.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 09 Dec 2017, 07:33

SSOW for RML Delivery HCT For Use on Delivery
In adverse weather conditions (ice, snow, and slippery conditions) the HCT must only be used on cleared surfaces and with extra care.

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 09 Dec 2017, 08:38

ripio wrote:
Cmcf96 wrote:And...we got called back from delivery at 10am might not be out tomorrow either. Next week is going to be madness.
How much snow have you got?!
We don't have any just now but in past years we've been out in snow plenty of times, six inches deep and we've still been out delivering.
Only once in my 10 years have we been kept in then sent home due to snow and that was before 'park & loop'.

February 2001.
Our only failure to leave the office due to adverse weather in 30 years.
And only because they couldn't get the mail through to us.
I think they considered sending us out with D2D.
It snows here a lot, If you wear thick socks they call you a wimp.