Van sharing must stop : UPDATE 23March Guidance is being sent to managers on how to introduce social distancing in our operations, including moving to one person per van

nuisance · Post by **nuisance** » 22 Mar 2020, 19:21

ssdd wrote:
sindba wrote:
daveyeff wrote:
Acca Dacca wrote:
ssdd wrote:There's no point going on about van sharing if you can't distance within an office...
Im a part timer and can distance myself just fine in the office
you still have to touch letters/packets PDAs that have all been handled by someone else. you still use toilet facilities. its also an airbourne virus that is spread when someone coughs or sneezes. are you going to dodge the droplets?
You're missihg the point.

There will always be some risk. What we are asking is for RM to take drastic measures to *minimise* that risk.

At the moment they are not doing so, and it could be lethal.
Well it should be starting within the office environment, not vans.

I think the vans are the worst, most intense risk of exposure. Rotating users is just as bad as sharing. The handles, steering wheel, gear stick, etc, could all be contaminated by someone who could well be carrying the virus who has been in it for hours where you're going to be sitting. It's my day off tomorrow (I normally always work it) and one of the spare's covering is just returning from a sick absence. The management must really not care that we're all going to catch it. I don't fall into any of the vulnerable groups and live alone. I'm resigned to considering myself virus food with not much I can do about it. What they don't seem to grasp is that this virus will be potentially horrible and dangerous for EVERYONE. Just because statistically we're not one of the people most likely to die doesn't mean they don't have to at least try to protect us as we try to protect ourselves.

Schiff · Post by **Schiff** » 22 Mar 2020, 19:26

The vans that we use are a disgrace. It makes you wonder how some of our colleagues live at home.

RM should have every van professionally valeted then provide wipes to clean steering wheel, gear stick, door handles etc before and after use. Make it a gross misconduct offence to not leave the vans immaculate at the end of each shift, even if you think that you will be the next one to use the van.

PostmanBitesDog · Post by **PostmanBitesDog** » 22 Mar 2020, 19:35

Schiff wrote:The vans that we use are a disgrace. It makes you wonder how some of our colleagues live at home. RM should have every van professionally valeted then provide wipes to clean steering wheel, gear stick, door handles etc before and after use. Make it a gross misconduct offence to not leave the vans immaculate at the end of each shift, even if you think that you will be the next one to use the van.

Too right. As a Cover/Reserve OPG I use different vans almost every day, so I don't have the privilege of taking care of my own van. That means that the vans I do use are in shocking conditions. What gets my goat is the excuses the drivers and their regular partners use to get away with such behavior. The most common excuse is a lack of time to clean the vans. Sure, plenty of time on a Tuesday when the mail is often light. I mean, c'mon. Wear some protective kitchen gloves, grab a bin bag, a packet off wipes, a roll of paper towel, a bucket of soapy water and a brush and just spend 30 minutes to give the vehicle a decent clean.
Or at least bin the trash left in the vans.

warren.n.ward · Post by **warren.n.ward** » 23 Mar 2020, 18:59

Where do we stand on shared vans and the 2 meter min distance. We have had no info on what to do and government guide lines state we should be 7ft apart!

sindba · Post by **sindba** » 23 Mar 2020, 19:15

warren.n.ward wrote:Where do we stand on shared vans and the 2 meter min distance. We have had no info on what to do and government guide lines state we should be 7ft apart!

Hopefully there will be new procedures tomorrow.

If not, then point blank refuse to do it. If they threaten you, stand your ground as much as you can.

If they still force you, tell them you will put your health concerns in writing and will cc Royal Mail HR. Then don't go in the next day.

bowie · Post by **bowie** » 23 Mar 2020, 19:18

Just spoke to my rep there are new things comeing in tomorrow as in the way we work and delivery

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 23 Mar 2020, 19:20

bowie wrote:Just spoke to my rep there are new things comeing in tomorrow as in the way we work and delivery

It would be nice if they could share them with members. Not expecting much is it.

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 23 Mar 2020, 20:05

Coronavirus Q & A just updated, this about van shares: https://www.myroyalmail.com/node/14595" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How are we implementing social distancing practices in the operation?
Guidance is being sent to managers on how to introduce social distancing in our operations, including moving to one person per van. Practices will need to meet the specific requirements of each unit and we are therefore giving managers a number of options.

So basically it's a secret and the manager will try and do what he/she wants........

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 23 Mar 2020, 20:22

our DOM mentioned the union meeting with management today and said it IS going to happen(stop van sharing). i asked what are the thousands of non-driver posties going to do then. he said they were looking at us working from home. as in.....having duties prepped and dropped off at your home....now i am all ears on how they are going to swing this one???

Acca Dacca · Post by **Acca Dacca** » 23 Mar 2020, 20:27

daveyeff wrote:our DOM mentioned the union meeting with management today and said it IS going to happen(stop van sharing). i asked what are the thousands of non-driver posties going to do then. he said they were looking at us working from home. as in.....having duties prepped and dropped off at your home....now i am all ears on how they are going to swing this one???

Only problem being.......they dont drive

What use is giving a non driver a fully prepped duty to their door if they have no way of getting to the duty with it and no where to store it?

And thats if they even stay in the same area as the office

Post by **POSTMAN** » 23 Mar 2020, 20:48

How are we implementing social distancing practices in the operation?
Guidance is being sent to managers on how to introduce social distancing in our operations, including moving to one person per van. Practices will need to meet the specific requirements of each unit and we are therefore giving managers a number of options.

Royal Mail brief to managers : New ways of working in delivery, processing and distribution

nuisance · Post by **nuisance** » 23 Mar 2020, 21:14

OMG, I just tried reading the questions and answers. I gave up once I read that you can't get hand gel but you can get emotional support for your anxieties. WTF? You can't prevent killer viruses with mental health counselling. Help to psychologically adjust to plodding on towards sickness and potential death. Cheers RM

mr hil. · Post by **mr hil.** » 23 Mar 2020, 23:30

Health and safety is everybody's responsibility, not just managers. I personally raised the two meter rule today with my DOM and he immediately issued instructions that resolved the problem of too many people on the DBFs. We all have to take responsibility for our own and everybody else's safety. If you feel that something is not right bring it to the attention of your line manager, DOM and union rep if necessary so that solutions can be found, you don't have to take excuses where safety is concerned, if you saw a york blocking a fire escape would you just ignore it ,I know I wouldn't.

When we get our mini huddles tomorrow come up with solutions that you feel comfortable with, don't just accept that things are bad, do something to change it and don't accept anything that compromises yours or anybody else's safety. We need to work together on this for all our sakes.

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 24 Mar 2020, 08:16

viking1488 · Post by **viking1488** » 24 Mar 2020, 08:19

themailman wrote:
daveyeff wrote:our DOM mentioned the union meeting with management today and said it IS going to happen(stop van sharing). i asked what are the thousands of non-driver posties going to do then. he said they were looking at us working from home. as in.....having duties prepped and dropped off at your home....now i am all ears on how they are going to swing this one???
Nice, so what if non driver is full time?

Driver goes into DO, adheres to 2-3m spacing, preps duty, loads van, gets keys specials etc, drives to partners house (we are now 2-3 hours into shift at this point), toots the horn to wake them up, allow them to take 14 loops of mail (30 mins a loop) out the back of van - passenger shouts - "what do you mean I've to do 7 hours on delivery?!?" Driver does a few loops plus ALL packets big or small, RD's, post boxes and specials (remember they have already been working for 3 hours). At finish the passenger should have nothing left as they are letters only, don't even need a PDA. Repeat the next day.

In reality though, I can see drivers getting absolutely shafted here.

our DOM mentioned the union meeting with management thats crap the meeting got cancelled by rm

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