Weighing Pouches?

Mr Blonde · Post by **Mr Blonde** » 23 Jan 2008, 17:07

This week's big thing in our office is the compulsory weighing of pouches.

Am I niave to weigh my bags, all five of them and then put the actual weight down whilst another delivery which is well under the 3 1/2 hour delivery span just writes in weights between 11 and 15kgs in five of the "boxes", even though that delivery never goes out with more than four bags?

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 23 Jan 2008, 18:57

Mr Blonde wrote:This week's big thing in our office is the compulsory weighing of pouches.

Am I niave to weigh my bags, all five of them and then put the actual weight down whilst another delivery which is well under the 3 1/2 hour delivery span just writes in weights between 11 and 15kgs in five of the "boxes", even though that delivery never goes out with more than four bags?

No mate you ain't you are correctly following health and safety procedure.

POUCH WEIGHTS

Must be monitored and adequatelt controlled - the maximum pouch weight is 16kg first pouch, 2nd pouch must not weigh more than 16kg, 3rd pouch 12kg, 4th pouch 10kg, 5th pouch 10kg and 6th and any subsequent pouches 8kg. However, the Max Pouch weights must be reduced if walking up slopes greater than 1 in 12 to 8kg and reduced to a Max of 5kg if walking up slopes greater than 1 in 8 or the delivery walk is one that predominantly goes up and down stairs etc. For young people under 18 the maximum weight of a pouch must not exceed 10kg. Cycles can only carry one pouch of 16kg max. Cycle panniers can only carry 8kg max each side. REMEMBER Follow the pouch weighing procedures and only carry one pouch at a time.
"Note: Some Areas have introduced an alternative, simplified Pouch Weight arrangement as follows: (The maximum pouch weight is 16kg first pouch and the maximum weight of all following pouches must not weigh more than 11kg and such arrangements can continue with the same monitored and adequate controls to avoid excess weight being carried).
REMEMBER/IMPORTANT: All weights are 'Maximum Weights' not 'Target Weights'. Additionally, individual capability may also need to be considered in certain cases when carrying out a Walk Risk Assessment.

If you are in the CWU you should have received the Lighten The Load CWU Safe Working on Delivery Guide issued by the Union's Health & Safety Department.

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 23 Jan 2008, 19:00

I have started using trolley to give my shoulder and hip a rest. Do this weight stuff apply for trolleys.

hooniebagoonie · Post by **hooniebagoonie** » 23 Jan 2008, 19:37

as the deputy CWU rep and the health and safety rep at my office it has been told to me and said in work time learning that it is now mandatory to weigh all bags daily to comply with the health and safety regulations
if workers fail to comply with the request they are to be counselled and if a failure to adhere to the rules continues then it will be considered a conduct issue
this also includes the weighing of high capacity trollies
at the moment royal mail are on a major H&S purge including the wearing of high visibility jackets at all times out of the office inviroment and the wearing of cycle helmets
i would advise no matter how tedious it is to weigh bags to show how much we are taking out on a daily basis and to prove we need the equipent ie pouch boxes, cycles and drivers to accelerate the bags etc out to the 25% overworked and 40% undepaid postmen and women of this once great company
lets just do our job properly and show it cant be done the way leighabout and dozier want us to do it

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 23 Jan 2008, 20:11

I've only got one bag, but I fill it up 3 or 4 times while I'm out. How am I going to weigh it out on the streets?

not me · Post by **not me** » 23 Jan 2008, 20:33

the weights are for the pouch bags you are filling you red bag from

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 23 Jan 2008, 20:36

NewPostieUK wrote:I've only got one bag, but I fill it up 3 or 4 times while I'm out. How am I going to weigh it out on the streets?

You a surposed to weigh the bloodly things before you go out!.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 23 Jan 2008, 20:39

HCT= 105 kg max

pinstripe · Post by **pinstripe** » 23 Jan 2008, 20:40

Carew wrote:I have started using trolley to give my shoulder and hip a rest. Do this weight stuff apply for trolleys.

Yes, (I checked this out with my rep a few months ago as I've started using a trolley as well) the weight matrix is not only for your own H&S but also your driver's. He has to carry them as well, albeit only from the van to your collection point. It was pointed out before that some drivers were then carrying 2 or 3 bags at a time, but as long as your bags are not overweight and either yourself or your driver injure yourselves, you're covered. By the way, make sure that you not only accurately weigh your bags, but it must be recorded.

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 23 Jan 2008, 23:22

Carew wrote:I have started using trolley to give my shoulder and hip a rest. Do this weight stuff apply for trolleys.

Give me a break!

TROLLEYS
Before the introduction of a trolley on a delivery walk, a 'terrain assessment' must be carried out as part of the walk risk assessment process to ensure that the terrain is suitable in particular for High Capacity Trolley (HCT) use. The correct lifting and handling techniques must be used and they must not be overloaded. The Safe System of Work for Trolleys must be followed at all times. The local walk risk assessment must be completed including consultations with security and the local authority before deployment. The HCT is intended to be used on level or undulating surfaces where small inclines do not cause any additional force to be exerted.

Use of HCT's in all circumstances will in any case be subject to local risk and safety assessments undertaken by the manager in consultation with the local Safety Representative. If accelerating HCT's then they must be loaded / unloaded either using a vehicle with a tail lift or via the approved ramp following the Safe System of Work (SSOW) for HCT ramps. The weights below are maximum subject to a local terrain assessment.

These are the only trolleys currently authorised for use:
Three pannier trolley (being phased out), max load 54kg and max gross weight is 80kg with 18kg per pannier.
Lightweight golf trolley - max load 32kg and max gross weight is 38.6kg with 16kg per pannier.
High Capacity Trolley - on flat / undulating terrain the max load is 70kg and the max gross weight 105kg. On steep terrain the max load is 40kg and max gross weight is 75kg. When using a HCT you must load the front section with light / bulky items and mail to be delivered first. The rear section should be loaded with most of the bundles of mail. When approaching steep hills, ensure that only the rear section is loaded with letter mail in order to restrict the load to below 40kg.

Your Delivery Trolley should be in good condition - if not report defective or faulty equipment immediately.

All of the above information and much more as pointed out in a previous posting can be found in the CWU issued Lighten The Load pamphlet or booklet entitled CWU Safe Working on Delivery Guide. If you did not receive a copy then I would suggest that you write to Dave Joyce National Health & Safety Officer c/o CWU Health & Safety Department.

Above all else please remember that your rights as an employee to work in a safe and healthy workplace are given to you by law, and can't be changed or removed by your manager - having said that some of course will try it on.

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 23 Jan 2008, 23:32

RESPONSIBILITIES

YOUR MANAGER'S LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
The management has a legal duty to ensure your health and safety while you're at work, providing you with a safe workplace, safe working practices, safe equipment, carry out risk assessments, first aid facilities, give you safety information about hazards, provide instructions, training and supervision where required and consult with the Union's Safety Representatives.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
You must take reasonable care of your own health and safety and take care not to put other workers and members of the public at risk by what you do or do not do at work. You must follow the employees health and safety policies and safe systems of work. You must report any safety shortcomings and faulty equipment etc.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 24 Jan 2008, 15:04

Sometimes i can not believe the questions asked on this site,no fault of the poster,i'm not having a go,but f**k me!!
What is this f***ing company coming to.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 24 Jan 2008, 15:07

I weigh my bags each and every day and have done since this site started - thanks RMC

Mr Blonde · Post by **Mr Blonde** » 24 Jan 2008, 18:35

POSTMAN wrote:Sometimes i can not believe the questions asked on this site,no fault of the poster,i'm not having a go,but f**k me!!
What is this f***ing company coming to.

Not sure if that was aimed at me but my point was more to do with the fact that this other person is fabricating the weight and adding extra pouches to make it look that his job, which he does in just over two hours is much bigger than it actually is. Surely falsifyling information like that is a one way ticket to the conduct code?

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 24 Jan 2008, 18:38

k979aaa wrote:
NewPostieUK wrote:I've only got one bag, but I fill it up 3 or 4 times while I'm out. How am I going to weigh it out on the streets?
You a surposed to weigh the bloodly things before you go out!.

LOL! I see. The woven plasticky white and grey sacks are supposed to get weighed, then I fill my red bag from them? I'm going to ask about that when I get a chance. It was mentioned on my day's induction, sacks 11kg and red bags 16kg, but it's never been mentioned since I started at the DO. In fact, if what I think is the weighing machine is, then I have yet to see anybody weigh anything.

ROYALMAILCHAT

Weighing Pouches?

Weighing Pouches?

Re: Weighing Pouches?

Responsibilities