Dog Bite Today

[thevardinator]

Got nipped by a dog today when posting through a letterbox, it pis*ed with blood. Two very nasty teeth marks too!

I told management (firstly by phoning them). I went back to the office after completing my round, they didn't seem to bothered really, I was told it wasn't being put down as an accident on duty either (sounds a bit iffy to me), although frankly due to my relationship with management I was in no mood to challenge anything said at the time and just wanted to get home to sort my finger out.

They did ask me whether I was using the "red ruler shaped things they've given us that are supposed to protect our fingers! I was using it however you've still got to put the mail in the box, an unknown to me, the other side of the box didn't have a flap so the dog had easy access to my finger!

Do I go anywhere from here? Could I make a claim against the owner as my finger is killing me(not that I'm really that way inclined as in taking money off people), she is a nice woman, or should I question anything that has been done.

[Lincox]

Happened to me last year. Reported it to management who went round to the house and insisted on certain safety standards by the householder, or they would have to withdraw mail deliveries. Householder was very good and brought me in to sort out the wound. They now have notices on the door, and a cage inside the letterbox. As for RM, they provided me with the red spatula thing to push mail through the door. Never seen one before, but thats usually the case with RM Health and Safety. Wait until an event has occurred. Wonder if the Geo-Route Planning Tool allows time for use of red spatula, and what hand does Moya expect me to carry that in.

[krussel]

Letter box bite equals a GREY AREA

I got scratched and bitten by a cat at a letterbox a few years back so i know how you feel.

Firstly was the address recorded in the walklog as a hazard, was there a orange dog hazard card on the frame perhaps with the redirections ? Have you had a tetnus jab in the last 8 years, if not go sick tom and get one asap

As for claiming its a grey area as the dog did not come out and attack you. It should be reported and the owners need to fit a cage or better still an outside box.

If it was me i would prob go sicktill the new year and let my finger heal. Best of luck

[thevardinator]

Yeah I've had a tetanus within the last few years, I'm gonna keep an eye on the cut though, quite a deep one.

The owner was VERY helpful though (LUCKILY she is a nurse), I knocked on her door, showed her my wound and asked her if she had a plaster or five, due to my hand being quite red coloured!

She invited me inside and got an few antiseptic wipes and cleaned the wound for me. Then put quite a few plasters on for me. It was a very weird sensation as I'm guessing due to the blood loss, I lost all sensation in the finger! I wasn't going to refuse treatment because at that stage due or I'd have been a right mess.

[smokerjim]

Got nipped by a dog today when posting through a letterbox, it pis*ed with blood. Two very nasty teeth marks too!

I told management (firstly by phoning them). I went back to the office after completing my round, they didn't seem to bothered really, I was told it wasn't being put down as an accident on duty either (sounds a bit iffy to me), although frankly due to my relationship with management I was in no mood to challenge anything said at the time and just wanted to get home to sort my finger out.

They did ask me whether I was using the "red ruler shaped things they've given us that are supposed to protect our fingers! I was using it however you've still got to put the mail in the box, an unknown to me, the other side of the box didn't have a flap so the dog had easy access to my finger!

Do I go anywhere from here? Could I make a claim against the owner as my finger is killing me(not that I'm really that way inclined as in taking money off people), she is a nice woman, or should I question anything that has been done.

First, get down to A&E & get it checked ( doubt you'll have problems, but just to be sure about your tetanus, and it's nice to do it all official, like ), call in sick for tomorrow ( I always take at least one day off for a bite ), and also say that you will expect to fill out an ERICA report when you get back ( you MUST get that done ), and if there's any bollocks about it "not being an accident on duty" tell them to get stuffed, then get onto your H&S rep and get his advice, or check the H&S forum ( or if you see Brother McGrew online, fire off a PM directing him to this thread, and ask his opinion ), and your H&S rep should also offer you a CWU claim form ( for a dog bite compo scheme they have ). Let us know what happens - especially your managers' inability to understand "duty of care"...at the least they need to write a letter to the householder to officially inform them of the incident.

*In edit* GET IT CHECKED OUT AT THE HOSPITAL - the householder might well be medically trained, but she would not be able to add your treatment to your medical records, and any further action taken should not ruin your relationship with her.

[baleout]

Make sure they "Log" it

Plastic thing ???

[thevardinator]

Thanks for the advice Jim. I'll try to keep you informed with any developments.

[Sippin40oz]

That should definitely go down as an accident. Sounds like the managers are just trying to protect their accident records! Make sure it goes down in the book mate or if something goes wrong with it in the future you wont be able to claim etc. Get onto your CWU rep and if no one wants to listen to you speak to the Health and safety executive (HSE) as RM are blatantly breaking H&S law!

[Wessex]

Definitely must be recorded within 24 hours.You may need a tetanus booster jab so I would get to see a doctor,also bites need checking out anyway as they can become infected or it may have caused damage affecting your ability to perform your duty.Also a record of the injury will exist with your doctor.

[thevardinator]

My rep already knows about it, although he's off at the minute, if there are any issues he'll help me sort them. He's a good man!