New PFW/Pristine Condition Manual Handling Training Program

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LTB 786/10 - New PFW/Pristine Condition Manual Handling Training Programme- Roll Out:

No. 786/10
Ref PF1
Date: 14 September 2010


To: All Postal Branches


Dear Colleagues


Re: New PFW/Pristine Condition Manual Handling Training Programme- Roll Out:

pff traing prog.doc

Introduction:
This is to report to CWU Branches, Representatives and Members in Parcelforce on the new PFW/Pristine Condition Manual Handling Training Programme- Roll Out which we fully support and endorse.


Manual Handling:
Manual handling means more than simply lifting or carrying something. The term is used to describe activities including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, holding or restraining an object.


It also covers activities that require the use of force or effort such as pulling a lever or operating power tools. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common workplace injuries. Over 30 per cent of all accidents reported to the HSE are connected with manual handling. Every year 300,000 people are forced to endure the agony of back pain resulting from a manual handling incident. Manual handling injuries mostly affect the back, but can also cause severe problems to the limbs, muscles, tendons and the heart and because these injuries tend to take longer to heal they have a more profound effect on longer term health.


Legal Obligations for Employers and Workers:
All employers have a legal obligation to reduce the risk of injuries to their employees. There are strict laws designed to ensure that employers take action to prevent injury as a result of manual handling.

The main laws are the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to provide arrangements for ensuring safe means of manual handling and to provide adequate, suitable information, instruction, training and supervision. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers must avoid the need for their workers to undertake any manual handling operations which involve a risk of their being injured, make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of manual handling operations and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling operations to the lowest level reasonably practicable.


Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act places a duty on every worker to take reasonable care for their health and safety and to co-operate with the employer to enable them to comply with any Health and Safety legal requirements or duties. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Regulation 4 requires all workers to make full and proper use of any safe system of work provided for his/her use by the employer.


Manual Handling Training Programme Overview:
An effective manual handling training programme is therefore a crucial component in any overall risk reduction strategy. The risk of injury, pain, suffering and disability to the individual and the risk of costly prosecution by the HSE, loss of skilled workers productivity, increased sickness absence and litigation costs to the employer means that the manual handling programme has to be of the highest quality.


All employees should receive manual handling training at the beginning and during their employment period, plus periodic refresher training. Regular training reviews can also be used to refresh staff knowledge on correct lifting and handling methods. Formal training should be provided every two to three years.


Pristine Condition - Other Employers and Unions:
Pristine Condition have provided bespoke Manual Handling training solutions to countless major UK companies, organisations and employers in a wide variety of industries. They have trained members of many Trade Unions including colleagues in Unite, RMT, GMB and USDAW to name but a few.


Parcelforce/CWU Consultation and Involvement:
The CWU HQ Health, Safety & Environment Department and CWU Parcelforce ASRs have been fully consulted and involved from Day 1 of the inception, planning and design of this new Manual Handling training programme and Mathew Burchnall ASR was nominated as the CWU member of a small CWU/PFW/Pristine Condition Joint Working Group which we set up to undertake the detailed design and modelling work of the package, reporting back to CWU HQ Health Safety & Environment Department and Parcelforce Worldwide HQ.


Parcelforce, in conjunction with CWU, Unite/CMA and members have worked with a new training provider, Pristine Condition, to develop a manual handling training package, tailored to fit for the Parcelforce business operations and tasks, making it as relevant as possible.


Both Parcelforce or Pristine Condition have fully involved and consulted the CWU from day one, taking our input fully in to account.


It was agreed that the MH training would be delivered with the aim of supporting and encouraging the workforce with new Manual Handling Training and equipment to reduce Manual Handling, Musculoskeletal accidents, injuries and ill health, in a 'blame-free' culture with a collective aim of sustainable mutual benefits for workforce and employer.


The new Manual Handling (2-Part) training programme:
The new Manual Handling training programme consists of two parts.


First, the initial training session, facilitated by a manager who has been trained to Pristine Condition, supported by a specially filmed DVD. The DVD, filmed in Parcelforce depots and in the Parcelforce hubs, shows Parcelforce's tasks and activities, equipment and vehicles and our customers' products. The DVD is designed to be as real as possible and it introduces some simple principles that our members can all adopt when lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling that can help members avoid injury and stay in good physical condition. The principles known as the "Essential 4" are designed to reduce the physical pressure on weaker parts of the body, the back, shoulders and arms, by using the stronger muscles in the legs. Following these principles along with ensuring that our members never attempt to lift or shift anything that can't be safely handled, will massively reduce the likelihood of injury and pain ultimately caused by repetitive use of poor techniques.


Second part of the programme is probably the most critical element and is called "TRACA". This stands for "Training Risk Assessment and Corrective Action". The best way to describe it is as continuous coaching. All managers and by agreement all CWU and Unite/CMA Area H&S representatives were Trained on the Management Trainers Course and trained as 'TRACA' coaches. 'TRACA' coaches role in this programme is to watch manual handling techniques that people use day to day and coach staff on adopting the positive techniques that are being trained. As the MH Training Programme rolls out in the coming months the aim to train all staff in these simple but effective MH techniques so that staff will feel the benefit of this programme both at work and at home. Everyone will be 'TRACA'' trained once a quarter so that everyone is coached. Additional 'TRACA' sessions will take place after accidents or following a relevant return to work. Senior managers may also use 'TRACA' when they visit depots.
Through simple but effective messages, members will be trained to follow "BALANCE" which stands for:-
Base.....one foot forward make a good base
Assess.....the load
Legs.....use your big engines - leg muscles
Alignment.....don't twist - always turn
Natural.....keep your back in its natural curvature
Control.....all movements
Everybody.....look after yours


How long is the Training:
Initial training sessions should take approximately 90mins in total, although this depends on which people are being trained, their roles and therefore which DVD is being shown. The number of people being trained at one time and therefore how many practical demonstrations required will also affect the duration of the training session.
Each training session will last long enough to ensure that:
a) the "Essential 4" principles are introduced and briefly explained (1. Big Engines, 2. Dip'N'Drive, 3. Inside Base, 4. Turn Not Twist.)
b) the relevant part of the DVD is shown and where necessary any issues arising are discussed
c) the Trainer demonstrates the techniques for the chosen examples and
d) the delegates demonstrate back the same techniques.


Accident Investigation and the "Blame-Free" Approach:
If accidents do occur they will be taken seriously because member's safety is a priority. There will be a thorough Accident Investigation. The CWU Area H&S Rep will be notified and involved. The aim being to look at the root cause or causes; e.g. equipment, conditions, workplace or techniques etc. The information gathered from the Accident Investigation will be discussed with the CWU Area Safety Rep and used, to identify what can be done to stop similar accidents from happening again. This will be conducted in a supportive, corrective manner and if needed, refresher MH training will be given. This will be done in a 'blame-free' approach.


PFW Intranet Page, Pristine Condition Website, PFW News and FAQs:
There is a PFW intranet page dedicated to the programme or alternatively the Pristine Condition company website is available plus an article will appear in the next edition of PFW News. 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) and responses will also be provided.


Coventry Hubs Pilot a Success:
It was agreed that the new MH Training Programme would be piloted at the PFW Coventry Hubs where it was received very well and with exemplary feedback from members and CWU Reps alike. We've not heard a bad word about it. The revamped Parcelforce/Pristine Condition Manual Handling training was delivered at the national and international hubs in Coventry in September last year and positive results to date are reflected in a 50% reduction in MH accidents to staff. Given the type of work that is done there, the results are remarkable. Full credit to Mathew Burchnall ASR who has dedicated a lot of time to the project and spent a great deal of time at the Hubs monitoring the delivery of the training package and our members response and reception to it, working closely with CWU Hub Reps, Members and PFW Management.


Roll Out To The Depots:
Parcelforce Worldwide and the CWU jointly want to build on that success by introducing the package into depots as the next phase of the project. Subsequent to the completion of the MH Training in the Coventry Hubs, some further joint work was undertaken by the Joint Working Group (Pristine Condition/PFW/CWU) to reshape the package slightly to ensure it was fully appropriate for the Depots and Drivers. On completion we visited Pristine Condition's HQ to view the DVD footage and training materials prior to finalisation.


The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and CWU Parcelforce ASRs have been impressed with the results and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department are happy to endorse the MH Training Package and support the national roll out to the Depots. We are of the opinion that this MH Training Package is excellent and the best MH Training programme that Parcelforce has ever had. It's clearly an MH training programme that will benefit our membership and the business with the prospect of a long term sustainable reduction in MH accidents, injuries, pain suffering and ill health for CWU members as well as cost benefits for Parcelforce Worldwide.


Training Courses - CWU Area Safety Rep Involvement:
Following further discussions prior to the roll out it was agreed that CWU's 4 ASRs plus the Hubs Engineers Safety Rep would be included in the Manager Trainers, training sessions which has now been completed. CWU ASRs have also have been given, by agreement a free hand to sit in on the Depot training sessions as required to carry out their own safety inspections/monitoring of the training and feed back any issues or performance problems should they occur and feedback to the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and Parcelforce National Safety Manager David Butler.


Attachments:
1. WTL: Revised PFW Manual Handling Training Programme.
2. Manual Handling Training Briefing for managers.
3. Parcelforce Worldwide/CWU Joint Statement.


Review:
The Programme will be kept under constant review and any feedback is welcome


Other Businesses:
The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department will be approaching Royal Mail Letters, Royal Mail Logistics, F&MS and POL to investigate the commissioning of similar MH Training Packages for our members with Pristine Condition.


Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer