LTB 116/2022 – Royal Mail Group (RMG) – Contractors Health, Safety & Environmental Guide

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-116-2022-ro ... tal-guide/

LTB 116/2022 – Royal Mail Group (RMG) – Contractors Health, Safety & Environmental Guide
No. 116/2022

14 March 2022

Our Ref: C1/22

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Group (RMG) – Contractors Health, Safety & Environmental Guide

Following discussions and consultation with Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions (RMP&FS), a new RMG Contractor Health, Safety and Environment Guide has been produced and published W/C 7 March which has been distributed throughout Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RM SHE, RMP&FS, RM Engineering, RM Fleet, RMSS, RMCE etc.) via various communication channels.

This is an important publication providing concise, brief but comprehensive and important guidance to help ensure the safety of Royal Mail Group workers and the contractors’ workers whilst contractors are working on Royal Mail Group sites, in and around the operation and staff.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department has had to deal with a number of complaints in the past where contractors have failed to follow site rules and safe working methods whilst on Royal Mail, and Parcelforce sites and this new guidance communicates a clear message and instructions to all concerned about what is required of contractors and what PiCs, managers and Union Reps need to do in the event of health, safety or environmental issues arising.

Any company, as with RMG, engaging contractors has legal health and safety responsibilities, both for the contractors and anyone else that could be affected by their activities. The contractors themselves also have legal health and safety responsibilities they must comply with. It’s important for the PiCs (Persons in Charge) of RMG offices and sites to ensure that everyone understands the part they need to play in ensuring and complying with health and safety.

Use of contractors in itself does not result in poor health and safety standards, but poor management and poor compliance with safe working methods can lead to dangerous occurrences, accidents, injuries, ill health, plus damage, costs and delays. Working closely with contractors will reduce the risks to Royal Mail employees and the contractors themselves.

It’s always important to remember that contractors may be at particular risk – they may be strangers to the workplace and therefore unfamiliar with Royal Mail Group’s organisation and procedures, rules, hazards and risks. Even regular contractors may need reminding. The level of control needed will, of course, be proportionate to the complexity of the tasks and work being undertaken, especially if high numbers of contractors come on-site to complete work over a period of time.

Read more at the link.