Poll : Is social distancing still happening?

[Cucumber]

People taking their cars to delivery point - are they governed by the same same 1 person per vehicle rules?

No, in line with ‘social distancing’ guidelines from Public Health, the business has moved to one person in a vehicle at one time until further notice.

Sorry, I'm confused. Is it only RM branded vehicles that are 1 person per vehicle? People using their cars to get to delivery point should be doing so on their own, and NOT (for example) offering those who are walking to bus stop a lift to delivery point?

Thanks.

Are you aware of the law...

The only people you do not have to distance yourself from are those you live with and those you have linked to in a support bubble.
People from different households must maintain social distancing throughout.

I'm fully aware of the law/rules. I'm just concerned that others I need to work beside are flouting them during working hours.

Ok, contact coronavirus.advice@royalmail.com and info@cwu.org and see this thread where you may accidently find the email address of someone at HSE...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=96666" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for that. Sorry to be a pain, but are there any physical postal addresses I could contact these departments on?

Royal Mail:
100 Victoria Embankment London EC4Y 0HQ
CWU:
150 The Broadway Wimbledon, SW19 1RX
HSE:
Various depending on location, search 'HSE address' in Google.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Appreciate that

[PostmanBitesDog]

However managers and staff alike working within 1ft of each other should be happening, like it does at the Masterick ofiice in Aberdeen.

Yeah, our office has become insouciant lately. The managers no longer feel obligated in caring for their staff's or their own well-being anymore.

This was how bad the social-distancing was in our office this morning:

Mail Sorting.jpg

[SpacePhoenix]

Social distancing can be difficult due to office layouts, but there is no excuse for no insisting on everyone wearing a face covering. Anyone with proven medical conditions that face covering are problematic could be exempt. However managers and staff alike working within 1ft of each other should be happening, like it does at the Masterick ofiice in Aberdeen.

Face masks are required from Monday:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-your-own" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For members of the public, from 8 August the places where you will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include:

funeral directors
premises providing professional, legal or financial services
cinemas
theatres
bingo halls
concert halls
museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos or visitor farms, or other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites.
nail, beauty, hair salons and barbers - other than where necessary to remove for treatments
massage centres
public areas in hotels and hostels
place of worship
libraries and public reading rooms
community centres
social clubs
tattoo and piercing parlours
indoor entertainment venues (amusement arcades, funfairs, adventure activities e.g. laser quest, go-karting, escape rooms, heritage sites etc)
storage and distribution facilities <----
veterinary services.
auction houses

We recommend face coverings are worn in these settings now but this will not be mandatory until 8 August. Further information will be available soon.

Fairly sure that'll cover all DOs, MCs and RDCs

Even exempt people should al least wear a visor, which would be better than nothing. Masks don't stop you from catching covid, they stop you from spreading it. It only needs 1 asymptomatic person not wearing a mask (exempt or not) and then you've got covid being spread around an office

[yellowbelly]

Social distancing can be difficult due to office layouts, but there is no excuse for no insisting on everyone wearing a face covering. Anyone with proven medical conditions that face covering are problematic could be exempt. However managers and staff alike working within 1ft of each other should be happening, like it does at the Masterick ofiice in Aberdeen.

Face masks are required from Monday:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-your-own" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For members of the public, from 8 August the places where you will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include:

funeral directors
premises providing professional, legal or financial services
cinemas
theatres
bingo halls
concert halls
museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos or visitor farms, or other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites.
nail, beauty, hair salons and barbers - other than where necessary to remove for treatments
massage centres
public areas in hotels and hostels
place of worship
libraries and public reading rooms
community centres
social clubs
tattoo and piercing parlours
indoor entertainment venues (amusement arcades, funfairs, adventure activities e.g. laser quest, go-karting, escape rooms, heritage sites etc)
storage and distribution facilities <----
veterinary services.
auction houses

We recommend face coverings are worn in these settings now but this will not be mandatory until 8 August. Further information will be available soon.

Fairly sure that'll cover all DOs, MCs and RDCs

Even exempt people should al least wear a visor, which would be better than nothing. Masks don't stop you from catching covid, they stop you from spreading it. It only needs 1 asymptomatic person not wearing a mask (exempt or not) and then you've got covid being spread around an office

But if you read further down in section 6 "Face coverings at work", the current advice is we won't have to:

Staff in indoor settings

Face coverings are not required for employees in indoor settings set out in section 2 where face coverings have to be worn by members of the public This also applies to banks, building societies and post office staff.

This is because employees should continue to follow guidance from their employer based on a workplace health and safety assessment.

There will also be times when screens or visors are in use, or when a staff member is not in close proximity to people they do not normally meet, and so it will not be necessary for staff to wear a face covering.

[davecc5]

Hey come on guys who really gives a flying f//k what other people think. Are you one of the thousands of Brits who quietly go off to a Restaurant toilet to choke to death because in the good old British tradition you didn't want to 'cause a commotion'. It's your health we are talking about here. You might not die, probably wouldn't, but who wants to end up with some bloody breathing issue for the rest of their life. Man up take precautions. Was watching a Manager bite his nails at work the other day, Minger.

[SpacePhoenix]

Hey come on guys who really gives a flying f//k what other people think. Are you one of the thousands of Brits who quietly go off to a Restaurant toilet to choke to death because in the good old British tradition you didn't want to 'cause a commotion'. It's your health we are talking about here. You might not die, probably wouldn't, but who wants to end up with some bloody breathing issue for the rest of their life. Man up take precautions. Was watching a Manager bite his nails at work the other day, Minger.

With hardly anyone wearing a mask,social distancing gone out the window and hardly anyone using hand sanitiser, it's only a matter of time before we get outbreaks all around the country

[rogersh]

No. 411/2020
4 August 2020
Our Ref: EX5/20
To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,
Reporting Workplace Safety Concerns Related to Coronavirus/COVID-19 to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Following an outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) identified in parts of Greater Manchester,
East Lancashire, and West Yorkshire, the government and relevant local authorities are acting
together to control the spread of the virus. Social distancing is a key public health measure
introduced by Public Health England to reduce the spread of infection. Most employers and
managers are following the guidance to ensure social distancing wherever possible.

The HSE has reiterated the message that if it comes to the HSE’s attention that
employers/managers are not complying with the relevant Public Health England guidance
(including enabling social distancing), the HSE will consider a range of actions ranging from
providing specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement notices, including
prohibition notices.

Where workers or trade union safety reps have genuine concerns about health and safety
which cannot be resolved through speaking with their employer/manager or trade union, using
established escalation processes, they can contact the relevant enforcement agency – either
their local authority, or the HSE through this link: https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The HSE advises concerned workers and safety reps to report using an online form at the
above link. It also says that they don’t have to fill in their name and contact details.
Alternatively, they can call 0300 003 1647 and a HSE officer will take them through the form
over the phone – but again they do not have to disclose their name and contact details. Lines
are open Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm.
The HSE has said it will respect the anonymity of those reporting issues.

Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[SpacePhoenix]

15+ cases at Oldham Road, Manchester DO

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/b ... l-22479805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nutcracker]

15+ cases at Oldham Road, Manchester DO

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/b ... l-22479805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Space is that site at the same location as the mail centre in Manchester, because there’s a whole separate other thread about that place too

[SpacePhoenix]

15+ cases at Oldham Road, Manchester DO

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/b ... l-22479805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Space is that site at the same location as the mail centre in Manchester, because there’s a whole separate other thread about that place too

No idea. I do wonder if it could be linked to the cluster in the MC though. If a driver doing runs between the MC and DO was asymptomatic, they could have unknowingly spread it to the DO. Locally very few staff wear masks, which would stop people from spreading it if they caught it

[POSTMAN]

Bump, if you haven't voted please do.

[POSTMAN]

What is the company’s position on social distancing?

Royal Mail supports Public Health England’s social distancing guidance. We have introduced and communicated temporary changes to operational processes. They include staggered meal breaks, cancellation of WTLLs and changes to doorstep deliveries. You can get more detail at PHE and NHS websites. Social distancing is everyone’s responsibility so please do all you can to follow the PHE guidance.

2nd post PDF in the Global Announcement...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=94715" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POSTMAN]

Really need more people to fill this in, even if you only vote in the 1st section.

[POSTMAN]

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of the company, there is evidence of a colleague’s disregard for public health guidance, which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail sick pay will not be paid.

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 2&p=915406" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nutcracker]

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of the company, there is evidence of a colleague’s disregard for public health guidance, which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail sick pay will not be paid.

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 2&p=915406" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The front on these idiots is something else. The negligence of this company to its employees is breathtaking at times.