The postie protector: New gadget saves them from dogs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The postie protector: New gadget saves them from dogs with a taste for fingers

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ngers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have been the bane of postmen’s lives for generations.

But now experts have found a way of dealing with the threat of over-exuberant pet dogs – in the shape of an 8in plastic stick.

Britain’s 70,000 postmen and women are being offered the special gadget in a bid to reduce the 5,000 attacks by dogs they suffer each year.

The implements, known as ‘Posting Pegs’, resemble folding rulers.

They enable delivery staff to push post through letterboxes without exposing their hands or fingers to the risk of being bitten by a dog inside the house.

Postmen insert letters into the peg, which they push through the letterbox. They then twist the stick and the letters drop out of the peg.

Posting Pegs are not intended to control unruly dogs in gardens. In these circumstances staff are advised to avoid any confrontation and return the post to the sorting office.

The Royal Mail offered Posting Pegs to depots across the country before the summer.

Royal Mail spokesman James Eadie said: ‘The safety of employees is of paramount importance. Posting Pegs were made available to our staff nationally in May and are provided on request following a risk assessment.

‘Our main aim is to prevent attacks. Dog attacks cause great distress and, in too many cases, serious injuries.’

Postmen’s use of the Posting Peg, however, has so far been sporadic around the country.

Dave Joyce, national health and safety officer for the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU), said many workers did not even know the stick was available.

The simple device could leave previously aggressive dogs bemused on the other side of the letter box

He said: ‘It really has depended on whether managers have told their staff. But we now intend to run a campaign to promote the stick and we will hand out leaflets and organise some training sessions.

‘There are some difficulties using the sticks with certain mailboxes that have brushes, bars and mousetrap springs and these can crush the mail.
But it is very simple and, where they work, we are keen that every postman and woman should use one.’

Postman Andy Berge, 49, from Tooting, South London, who has been off work for a month since a Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed savaged his hand and fingers, says he was unaware of the Posting Pegs.

He said: ‘I did not know these sticks were on offer. But when I go back to work I will certainly ask for one.’

'Our main aim is to prevent attacks. Dog attacks can cause great distress and, in too many cases, serious injuries.'

Mr Berge, who is still at risk of losing two fingers despite two operations on his hand, added: ‘I don’t think it will work in all cases because you have to know a problem dog is there.

‘In my case I put my hand in a vertical box and in a split second my hand was locked.

‘The pain was excruciating. I did not know the dog was there – it did not make a sound.

‘When he let go, I fell to the ground, my hand was covered in blood and the dog did not even bark.’

Danny Attfield, a postman in Brentwood, Essex, where eight of his colleagues have been attacked by dogs already this year, said postmen have just started to use the sticks but it was too early to say if they would work.

Besides the use of Posting Pegs, the CWU also wants households with aggressive dogs to fit letterbox cages on the inside of front doors.

The union is also campaigning for a change to the dangerous dogs laws.

At present, in England and Wales, if a person is injured by a dog its owners can be prosecuted only if the attack occurred in a public place.

The union wants this law to extend to private gardens and properties to protect the safety of visiting workers.

The Posting Pegs, which cost 30p each, are made by Hull firm Lexiprint.

A spokesman for the company declined to discuss the details of its contract with the Royal Mail.

[brothermagrew]

Should be read in conjunction with http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=38918" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[arnold cheshire]

has it been on dragons den cause it sounds like a load of utter c r @@

[Straight4ward]

We've not beeen told about them and I doubt if we ever will.

Can you imagine the amount of additional time that this would add to a delivery?
No way will RM want this (nor will the fliers )

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

As per normal in my depot, PTers are not officially kept in the loop with such topics, yet the FTers are pulled away from their indoor work for WTL sessions before the PTers start!

Unofficially, I have seen an A4 sheet regarding "posting pegs," but there has been no official briefing by any depot managers on the subject...

I do not understand why WTL sessions are always done early at our place. The training is going to take the same period of time at whatever time it is done, so why not let the FTers do indoor work until after all the PTers have started at 0930 and then hold the training session? After all, nobody should be officially leaving the depot until 1010 according to our sign in/out sheet!

[scooby]

that will make deliver even slower messing about with that dam thing

[DGP1]

I have one sitting on top of my frame but without anywhere to store it on my person I can't take it out, maybe we need a hi-viz with pockets

[Stormproof]

I think we are more likely to be in need of one of these

so many irate customers now

[DGP1]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... 0542574539" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Getawaydriver]

Hi there, does anyone know where I can purchase the dog bite post it peg devices?

[montana banana]

been around for at least 8/9 years hardly a ground breaking article

[clashcityrocker]

been around for at least 8/9 years hardly a ground breaking article

You are right.
That is why the article is from 2011.

[twoloops]

I would say your DOM would have draw full just ask, I found the peg good for giving the dog a few good pokes & jabs through the letterbox hoping they grabbed it & took it back to their box, hopefully to choke on

[k979aaa]

Same plastic stick as years ago with even more plastic management and plastic dictator too boot!

[Celgar]

They have been around for years. I have one but have never used it. I'm not sure it is that effective to be honest. Occasionally as with the identity cards the DOM checks to see we still have them.