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Occupational health

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Occupational health

Post by Fed »

I am waiting for a double knee replacement on the NHS 18 month waiting list. :Boo hoo! I am currently duty holder on a rural. The rural is just about manageable for me on a daily basis with my knees. However I would have no chance on a town round as can only walk in short bursts 100m at a time before my knees buckle. When the new way of working comes in we will have a re-pick and fear I may lose my duty. There is currently one person in my office who has exactly the same but with one knee only and they have their duty "ring fenced" for a re-pick. Is there a way I can contact occupational health to speak to them regarding "ring fencing" my duty? Or does it need to be referred via line manager?
Thanks in advance
iHateD2Ds
Posts: 538
Joined: 16 Apr 2008, 16:33

Re: Occupational health

Post by iHateD2Ds »

Your manager has to do a referral.
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Fed »

Thanks for the reply :thumbup
manboss
Posts: 110
Joined: 20 Feb 2013, 15:55
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by manboss »

If your in the Union, get in contact with them and discuss your options. You will have to fill one of the Royal Mail Passports out and then have a meeting with the management and the union and you will be able to discuss what adjustments you need.
Surprised your not under occupational health already but its a good idea to get a letter of support from you consultant and GP.
Barnacle
Posts: 2732
Joined: 13 Dec 2022, 16:58
Gender: Female
Location: Earth

Re: Occupational health

Post by Barnacle »

Fed wrote:
24 Jun 2025, 18:21
I am waiting for a double knee replacement on the NHS 18 month waiting list. :Boo hoo! I am currently duty holder on a rural. The rural is just about manageable for me on a daily basis with my knees. However I would have no chance on a town round as can only walk in short bursts 100m at a time before my knees buckle. When the new way of working comes in we will have a re-pick and fear I may lose my duty. There is currently one person in my office who has exactly the same but with one knee only and they have their duty "ring fenced" for a re-pick. Is there a way I can contact occupational health to speak to them regarding "ring fencing" my duty? Or does it need to be referred via line manager?
Thanks in advance
You can refer yourself to OH.

Make sure that your idea of ring fencing is the same as the dom of your office’s idea of ring fencing.

Our dom thinks of OH as something he knows about, but will include you and your walk in the repick and in the new hell walk groupings and only then will your walk be his version of ring fenced. If unhappy you will be able to pick, in competition with everyone else, from a group of HTC jobs.

None of what I’ve just written is a joke.

So check that he means what you mean, when discussing ‘ring fenced’.
’You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new.’
Sean06
Posts: 2167
Joined: 20 Nov 2023, 16:50
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Sean06 »

Don't think you can refer yourself to oh.
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Fed »

manboss wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 11:45
If your in the Union, get in contact with them and discuss your options. You will have to fill one of the Royal Mail Passports out and then have a meeting with the management and the union and you will be able to discuss what adjustments you need.
Surprised your not under occupational health already but its a good idea to get a letter of support from you consultant and GP.
I left the union after the last groundbreaking deal!!! I have never gone through OH as I've always been left alone in a rural I can complete daily, apart from when double mail! My consultant has said he will give me a letter as he's amazed I can still do a rural delivery even.
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Fed »

Barnacle wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 13:19
Fed wrote:
24 Jun 2025, 18:21
I am waiting for a double knee replacement on the NHS 18 month waiting list. :Boo hoo! I am currently duty holder on a rural. The rural is just about manageable for me on a daily basis with my knees. However I would have no chance on a town round as can only walk in short bursts 100m at a time before my knees buckle. When the new way of working comes in we will have a re-pick and fear I may lose my duty. There is currently one person in my office who has exactly the same but with one knee only and they have their duty "ring fenced" for a re-pick. Is there a way I can contact occupational health to speak to them regarding "ring fencing" my duty? Or does it need to be referred via line manager?
Thanks in advance
You can refer yourself to OH.

Make sure that your idea of ring fencing is the same as the dom of your office’s idea of ring fencing.

Our dom thinks of OH as something he knows about, but will include you and your walk in the repick and in the new hell walk groupings and only then will your walk be his version of ring fenced. If unhappy you will be able to pick, in competition with everyone else, from a group of HTC jobs.

None of what I’ve just written is a joke.

So check that he means what you mean, when discussing ‘ring fenced’.
100% you can't refer yourself to OH having spoken to them. It has to go through your DOM/COM. Also the manager has no say in overruling the decision of OH. The duty will be ring fenced before the re-pick.
Barnacle
Posts: 2732
Joined: 13 Dec 2022, 16:58
Gender: Female
Location: Earth

Re: Occupational health

Post by Barnacle »

Fed wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 16:04
Barnacle wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 13:19
Fed wrote:
24 Jun 2025, 18:21
I am waiting for a double knee replacement on the NHS 18 month waiting list. :Boo hoo! I am currently duty holder on a rural. The rural is just about manageable for me on a daily basis with my knees. However I would have no chance on a town round as can only walk in short bursts 100m at a time before my knees buckle. When the new way of working comes in we will have a re-pick and fear I may lose my duty. There is currently one person in my office who has exactly the same but with one knee only and they have their duty "ring fenced" for a re-pick. Is there a way I can contact occupational health to speak to them regarding "ring fencing" my duty? Or does it need to be referred via line manager?
Thanks in advance
You can refer yourself to OH.

Make sure that your idea of ring fencing is the same as the dom of your office’s idea of ring fencing.

Our dom thinks of OH as something he knows about, but will include you and your walk in the repick and in the new hell walk groupings and only then will your walk be his version of ring fenced. If unhappy you will be able to pick, in competition with everyone else, from a group of HTC jobs.

None of what I’ve just written is a joke.

So check that he means what you mean, when discussing ‘ring fenced’.
100% you can't refer yourself to OH having spoken to them. It has to go through your DOM/COM. Also the manager has no say in overruling the decision of OH. The duty will be ring fenced before the re-pick.
I stand corrected. Thought you could do it by going via HR.

However what I wrote about a dom not ring fencing a walk etc etc, is something that is happening despite objections.

So make sure it is definitely ring fenced off from the process before they start doing their plan because they will just include it in the mix.
’You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new.’
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Fed »

Barnacle wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 16:21
Fed wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 16:04
Barnacle wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 13:19
Fed wrote:
24 Jun 2025, 18:21
I am waiting for a double knee replacement on the NHS 18 month waiting list. :Boo hoo! I am currently duty holder on a rural. The rural is just about manageable for me on a daily basis with my knees. However I would have no chance on a town round as can only walk in short bursts 100m at a time before my knees buckle. When the new way of working comes in we will have a re-pick and fear I may lose my duty. There is currently one person in my office who has exactly the same but with one knee only and they have their duty "ring fenced" for a re-pick. Is there a way I can contact occupational health to speak to them regarding "ring fencing" my duty? Or does it need to be referred via line manager?
Thanks in advance
You can refer yourself to OH.

Make sure that your idea of ring fencing is the same as the dom of your office’s idea of ring fencing.

Our dom thinks of OH as something he knows about, but will include you and your walk in the repick and in the new hell walk groupings and only then will your walk be his version of ring fenced. If unhappy you will be able to pick, in competition with everyone else, from a group of HTC jobs.

None of what I’ve just written is a joke.

So check that he means what you mean, when discussing ‘ring fenced’.
100% you can't refer yourself to OH having spoken to them. It has to go through your DOM/COM. Also the manager has no say in overruling the decision of OH. The duty will be ring fenced before the re-pick.
I stand corrected. Thought you could do it by going via HR.

However what I wrote about a dom not ring fencing a walk etc etc, is something that is happening despite objections.

So make sure it is definitely ring fenced off from the process before they start doing their plan because they will just include it in the mix.
Thanks for the advice Barnacle 👍
manboss
Posts: 110
Joined: 20 Feb 2013, 15:55
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by manboss »

Fed wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 16:01
manboss wrote:
29 Jun 2025, 11:45
If your in the Union, get in contact with them and discuss your options. You will have to fill one of the Royal Mail Passports out and then have a meeting with the management and the union and you will be able to discuss what adjustments you need.
Surprised your not under occupational health already but its a good idea to get a letter of support from you consultant and GP.
I left the union after the last groundbreaking deal!!! I have never gone through OH as I've always been left alone in a rural I can complete daily, apart from when double mail! My consultant has said he will give me a letter as he's amazed I can still do a rural delivery even.
I left the Union myself but my manager actually recommended i did join back up and they have been really helpful for me, ive had adjustments to my working day and moving foward with the USO changes will get protection. At this point, unless Royal Mail want to refer you to OH, a letter from your consultant would trump them anyway but OH are really good, they are there for you, not for Royal Mail.
Fed
Posts: 23
Joined: 16 Dec 2019, 17:57
Gender: Male

Re: Occupational health

Post by Fed »

I have e mailed my consultants secretary this morning to see if he would be willing to send me a letter to help out.
Thanks for the advice 👍