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test kit posted in postbox

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
centenaryman
Posts: 512
Joined: 12 Jan 2010, 20:31
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by centenaryman »

hi empting a post box yesterday i found a cv19 test kit in there.....are we meant to collect them or not
each person i asked said the opposite of the next person....
yes we do have designated boxes but this kit was just posted in a normal postbox...

thanks for any info
theotherone
Posts: 430
Joined: 04 Jun 2020, 21:58
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by theotherone »

Should have training on correct procedure in handling CV-19 test kits.Simple answer if you feel un-safe don't do it.
worthings
Posts: 12
Joined: 08 Jun 2014, 21:18
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by worthings »

In our office where your put your mail you have emptied from your box there are plastic bags that you turn inside out and pick up the kit and seal it and put it in separate bag
postieblueshirt
Posts: 1241
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 22:05
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by postieblueshirt »

I had the same thing the other day I hadn't seen one before so just picked it up and put it in the pouch wasnt till I got to the office someone told me what it was cheers to whoever's just shoved it in the first box they found.
Janet Brum
Posts: 886
Joined: 28 Sep 2016, 19:52
Gender: Female

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Janet Brum »

I thought this is known by all delivery offices but as usual, RM and managers failed to inform people about the correct procedure.

All posties should have with them gloves and bags to use when they find a test in a box. Few of those in one pocket would do, if you see a Covid test, take a glove on and bag it, seal the bag and drop it in the office in a tray next to the colod barcode, that way the evening collection driver will see it and take it.

You can also use a bag as a glove, just avoid touching the tests and wash your hand or use hand gel straight after handling them.
Munchboii
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 261
Joined: 15 Oct 2019, 21:25
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Munchboii »

Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus
derricksmyth
Posts: 353
Joined: 13 Sep 2012, 17:58
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by derricksmyth »

Munchboii wrote:Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus

Is this a too simple solution? Why don't the kits have a clear bag so that the user can put them in , seal, and post them anywhere! Still i thought they were running out of kits??
twoloops
Posts: 2036
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

test kit posted in postbox

Post by twoloops »

The letterbox should be cleaned & disinfected & which ever postman handled the test kit & anyone he had been in contact with should isolate for 14 days, life & death not worth it.
Zicomurphy
Posts: 579
Joined: 24 Oct 2014, 06:40
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Zicomurphy »

Having taken a home COVID test a few weeks ago I can certainly confirm it’s made extremely clear when you register the test that it’s only to be posted back in designated post boxes and the time and day it should be posted. It even lists the 3 nearest boxes to your location it can be posted in. You would have to be pretty stupid to inadvertently post it back in an incorrect box.

As others have said if you haven’t been trained how to handle them or not got the right equipment on you to handle them I would leave the collection and inform your line manager either by phone or on return to the office.
greengiant
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1268
Joined: 24 Mar 2014, 19:40
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by greengiant »

derricksmyth wrote:
Munchboii wrote:Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus

Is this a too simple solution? Why don't the kits have a clear bag so that the user can put them in , seal, and post them anywhere! Still i thought they were running out of kits??
And then the clear bag is potentially contaminated if handled by someone with Covid19
Deadly
Posts: 703
Joined: 12 Jul 2014, 21:38
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Deadly »

Try doing a collection, there are loads of the things! Some boxes can have twenty plus in them.
twoloops
Posts: 2036
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

test kit posted in postbox

Post by twoloops »

Zicomurphy wrote: inform your line manager either by phone or on return to the office.
I could get back an hour early & still find all our managers gone home :wave
Schiff
Posts: 544
Joined: 01 Nov 2016, 22:02
Gender: Male

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Schiff »

greengiant wrote:
derricksmyth wrote:
Munchboii wrote:Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus

Is this a too simple solution? Why don't the kits have a clear bag so that the user can put them in , seal, and post them anywhere! Still i thought they were running out of kits??
And then the clear bag is potentially contaminated if handled by someone with Covid19
Its lucky that the only things that people who might have Covid post are the test kits isn't it. Imagine if they posted ordinary letters as well and you didn't know which ones might be contaminated.

You should treat every bit of post that you handle as if someone with Covid has licked the envelope. Use gloves where possible or good hand hygiene when you aren't using gloves.

Seriously, people are scared of something like this but are then happy to stand right next to their colleagues ignoring social distancing. Some idiots even want to go back to sharing vans. Other people are far more of a risk to you than these test kits.
Janet Brum
Posts: 886
Joined: 28 Sep 2016, 19:52
Gender: Female

test kit posted in postbox

Post by Janet Brum »

Munchboii wrote:Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus

Not idiots, we have dedicated post boxes for public to post their covid tests.

These boxes have a priority box white sticker on them.

We also collect these tests from people homes, some offices have dedicated drivers for them.

When CWU made us key workers, we also got this job to help Nhs and the country.
k979aaa
Posts: 12578
Joined: 03 Sep 2007, 19:14
Gender: Male
Location: THE NORTH

test kit posted in postbox

Post by k979aaa »

Janet Brum wrote:
Munchboii wrote:Idiots

So they put the kits into letterboxes and potentially contaminate all the letters around them

Also if its a main street box which are always full to the brim if im emptying into the sack and find one im risking getting the virus

Not idiots, we have dedicated post boxes for public to post their covid tests.

These boxes have a priority box white sticker on them.

We also collect these tests from people homes, some offices have dedicated drivers for them.

When CWU made us key workers, we also got this job to help Nhs and the country.
Well most joe public cannot read so most go in any box it is the the managers to clearly communicate how these packages are to be handled once again we have managers who clearly cannot communicate with their own staff! You can now go online and find your post box with these priority post boxes yet the same fools turn up day after day when our callers office has long since closed I pity these fools but I pity the environment more as they take off in a huff and discard their mask laden germs down the street!