Anger at mail ban over bitten postman

[brothermagrew]

I know that RM have a duty of care to us, and I would never condone taking unneccessary risks with ANYONE'S safety. Whether they be Collegues, or members of the Public.

The sad fact is, that the decision they took, has simply exchanged the threat to 1 person (whoever is covering that Duty), for a threat to the safety of dozens of people. The VERY LEAST they should be doing, is offering to phone residents, if there is any mail for them. That way, they would only have to go to the DO, if there was actually something to collect.

People are still people, whether they are our Collegues, or other members of Society. We all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are!

But in my opinion: RM should have insisted that the Police take the dog off the streets (and away from the owner), as a matter of urgency. And the residents should have done the same.

Ultimate responsibility for the actions of the dog, which has clearly shown that it has a dangerous propensity to attack and bite, lies with the owner of the dog for allowing it to be roaming free in a neighbouring street and dangerously out of control in the first place and not with any decision that Royal Mail has took in defence of their employees health and safety interests. I agree most certainly with your summation that we all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are. There is nothing to say regardless of mail suspension that this dog wouldn't have attacked any of the residents had they been going to the local shop.

I do understand where you are coming from, but I can't see RM offering to phone residents. On the other foot, what's to stop the residents phoning the delivery office and asking if they have any mail thereby saving them a trip. I do share your opinion in your final sentences.

[carpbarbel]

the manager could always deliver the mail

[andy2007]

I know that RM have a duty of care to us, and I would never condone taking unneccessary risks with ANYONE'S safety. Whether they be Collegues, or members of the Public.

The sad fact is, that the decision they took, has simply exchanged the threat to 1 person (whoever is covering that Duty), for a threat to the safety of dozens of people. The VERY LEAST they should be doing, is offering to phone residents, if there is any mail for them. That way, they would only have to go to the DO, if there was actually something to collect.

People are still people, whether they are our Collegues, or other members of Society. We all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are!

But in my opinion: RM should have insisted that the Police take the dog off the streets (and away from the owner), as a matter of urgency. And the residents should have done the same.

Ultimate responsibility for the actions of the dog, which has clearly shown that it has a dangerous propensity to attack and bite, lies with the owner of the dog for allowing it to be roaming free in a neighbouring street and dangerously out of control in the first place and not with any decision that Royal Mail has took in defence of their employees health and safety interests. I agree most certainly with your summation that we all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are. There is nothing to say regardless of mail suspension that this dog wouldn't have attacked any of the residents had they been going to the local shop.

I do understand where you are coming from, but I can't see RM offering to phone residents. On the other foot, what's to stop the residents phoning the delivery office and asking if they have any mail thereby saving them a trip. I do share your opinion in your final sentences.

I see your point about the residents having the same risks, going to the local shop. I hadn't thought of it like that.

Do the letters that they recieved, include the number for the DO. So they have the chance to phone up, and check if there is any mail for them?
If not. It would be a good thing to include it, along with the suggestion of phoning, before setting off.

[brothermagrew]

I know that RM have a duty of care to us, and I would never condone taking unneccessary risks with ANYONE'S safety. Whether they be Collegues, or members of the Public.

The sad fact is, that the decision they took, has simply exchanged the threat to 1 person (whoever is covering that Duty), for a threat to the safety of dozens of people. The VERY LEAST they should be doing, is offering to phone residents, if there is any mail for them. That way, they would only have to go to the DO, if there was actually something to collect.

People are still people, whether they are our Collegues, or other members of Society. We all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are!

But in my opinion: RM should have insisted that the Police take the dog off the streets (and away from the owner), as a matter of urgency. And the residents should have done the same.

Ultimate responsibility for the actions of the dog, which has clearly shown that it has a dangerous propensity to attack and bite, lies with the owner of the dog for allowing it to be roaming free in a neighbouring street and dangerously out of control in the first place and not with any decision that Royal Mail has took in defence of their employees health and safety interests. I agree most certainly with your summation that we all need to have our safety taken seriously, regardless of who we are. There is nothing to say regardless of mail suspension that this dog wouldn't have attacked any of the residents had they been going to the local shop.

I do understand where you are coming from, but I can't see RM offering to phone residents. On the other foot, what's to stop the residents phoning the delivery office and asking if they have any mail thereby saving them a trip. I do share your opinion in your final sentences.

I see your point about the residents having the same risks, going to the local shop. I hadn't thought of it like that.

Do the letters that they recieved, include the number for the DO. So they have the chance to phone up, and check if there is any mail for them?
If not. It would be a good thing to include it, along with the suggestion of phoning, before setting off.

Brother Andy2007 in answer to your query do the letters that they received, include the number for the DO? I can only speak for my own DO for which I am the CWU Health and Safety Rep, and on checking that fact for you, the answer is YES along with the Royal Mail DO address and postcode. I would presume that throughout the business it is standard practice to include this information in the letters that are sent out, but would add, that I can't be 100% sure of how other DO's head their paperwork.

Carpbarel's suggestion that the manager could always deliver the mail is plausible, but in the past managers have attempted this, as brother linkinpark has intimated, only to find that they to are on the receiving end of an overtly aggressive dog and been either chased, bitten or both. As has been said before Royal Mail have a duty of care to their employees (this includes) managers health and safety well-being.

Brother belial's suggestion raised a smile, but how can one give all the mail to the dog when it's got it's teeth sunk into your body.

[andy2007]

In that case, why wasn't that reported in the article?
Why are the residents turning up on spec., and moaning about it. Instead of phoning first?

And above all: I'm sorry about my earlier comments, about simply transfering the risk to a larger group. I was under the impression that they didn't have a safer option, for finding out if there was anything to collect.

[heapsy]

But of course he's also breaking the law by alowing a dog to roam on the streets we all know that dogs should not be out in the streets unless on a lead ...... the police are a disgrace in this country

I lost a claim for compo against a couple who had their dog off a lead. It came around the corner, with them, into the cul-de-sac when they were coming off the field and went straight for me. The coppers didn't do anything, even though I had 8 puncture marks to the back of my hand.

[brothermagrew]

In that case, why wasn't that reported in the article?
Why are the residents turning up on spec., and moaning about it. Instead of phoning first?

And above all: I'm sorry about my earlier comments, about simply transfering the risk to a larger group. I was under the impression that they didn't have a safer option, for finding out if there was anything to collect.

Brother andy2007, I'd put it down to bad or incomplete journalism. Regardless of that, surely the residents of the street that have had their mail deliveries suspended due to the dog fiasco, could also quite possibly if it is listed, find their local DO telephone number in the phone book. For clarity in my previous post, I am not the CWU h&S rep for the DO in question just want to make that clear, incase you thought that I was.

No need for apologies about your earlier comments. That's why it is good to debate these issues in a calm and forthright manner on this forum giving each others points of view and reasoning.

Brother Teebs is quite correct in identifying, talk the talk and debate the issues, and maybe we will all learn something positive from each other. Instead of getting into the NEGATIVE name calling and slanging matches.