Gas boxes:Weight limit?

[POSTMAN]

Got a query from my PHG today regarding the gas boxes,she's had some weigh up to 30kg,she shifted through the tickets she keeps and some were 23kg.
Also the way they are put in the yorks (sideways) makes them hard to take out especially if they are heavy.

Any guidlines on this?

[k979aaa]

Got a query from my PHG today regarding the gas boxes,she's had some weigh up to 30kg,she shifted through the tickets she keeps and some were 23kg.
Also the way they are put in the yorks (sideways) makes them hard to take out especially if they are heavy.

Any guidlines on this?

Royalmail policy is 20kg max if you carry it expect no favours from ROYALMAIL they will conduct you and anyone else who handled the item!.

[Stormproof]

In the past I've constantly asked a LM to contact British Gas and ask them not to overload the boxes, nothing ever happened! We've also had complete Combi Boilers turn up instead of being sent to the site, no chance of lifting them, can only just about drag them. I twisted my back lifting one of the boxes, basically it was 'my fault' according to a LM, I should break the boxes down

[TrueBlueTerrier]

, I should break the boxes down

How - you have to get them out of the Yorky first before you can open them, especially if they put them in 2 side by side. .

Good to see the LM knows the jobs of the people working for him that well - Not.

[andy2007]

We've always been told, that if we suspect that anything (including Gas Boxes) is overweight. We must get help to move the item to an RSC, or move the entire York (if neccessary), to Mails Verification (MV). They check it, and if we're right. They contact the Customer to complain, and break it down. I'm not sure what they do about single overweight items (I personaly, haven't come across one yet). But it's their responsibility to sort it out. I know that you don't have your own MV Section, in the DOs. But there must be some scales somewhere. Your DOM, should be able to take it from there. If not, get your H&S Rep to find the appropriate SSOW. So the item(s) can be made safe.

Above all, NEVER attempt to move a suspected overweight item by yourself. If you get hurt. You don't have a leg to stand on!

If your mistaken, and the item isn't overweight. It doesn't matter. If you take chances, it'll be you who will end up with the injury. It's just not worth it.

[POSTMAN]

Royalmail policy is 20kg max

Thanks for the replies,but any conformation on the above,where's brothermagrew.

[andy2007]

I'm afraid I can't find any official confirmation of the weight limit for Gas Boxes. Either under Gas Boxes, or Parts Express. In fact, the ONLY references to either, I could find on the Internet. Were on the Postcomm Website!

However, this paragraph from the Lighten the Load Booklet. Backs up what I said about not moving suspected overweight items:
Any bags over 11kg should be moved by two people. If moving bags a long distance
use a container or trolley.

I've got this week off, so I can't ask my H&S Rep to look it up for me, 'till Monday. Sorry.

[brothermagrew]

Royalmail policy is 20kg max

Thanks for the replies,but any conformation on the above,where's brothermagrew.

So much for the information on the CWU website, been looking for a couple days for any info on weights of British Gas boxes, and afraid to report couldn't find 'diddly' squat, although did find this, which I suppose in away relates to more or less the same sort of thing:

New Call and Collect Trial - Avery Berkel
The Union has been advised that a trial is being undertaken to provide a Call and Collection service for Avery Berkel, similar to the service provided to Dyson engineers. Avery Berkel sell/service weighing equipment and are based in Smethwick. They have about 500 engineers nationwide and wish to trial this new service from January (13th) to March 2003 with 27 of their engineers. If this initial phase of the trial is successful, they will wish to roll-out to the rest of their engineers in two further phases (March - June).

There will be 13 areas and 26 separate Delivery Offices involved with the trial. The trial locations are published as an attachment* to this BOB paragraph. Obviously the RDCs that feed the attached Mail Centres will also be included in the trial, as will be the Parcelforce depots.
The final details of the service have not yet been fully agreed, but as stated above the service will be very similar to that of Dyson Call and Collect. The containers carrying the spare parts will be in their own sealed box and there will not be any loose items. There will only be three totes per engineer per week and these boxes will be transported via the RDC Network to Mail Centres in the 1st class network and then transferred to Delivery Offices via the normal network. Avery Berkel engineers will collect the items from the Delivery Offices and will be required to produce their ID and sign for the item. A return system will also operate, with sealed boxes accepted in Delivery Offices for onward transfer back to the customer's premises via the MC and RDC Network. All boxes will have a maximum weight of 14 kg and all of the contents will be inert. (Note box weight only refers to above paragraph and not British Gas boxes).

Now as a suggestion for anyone who has health and safety concerns for weights of these boxes, I would at the first opportunity march in to the DOMs office and politely ask if they could check on the Royal Mail Intranet site for any Safe System of Work (SSoW) that exists for the handling of these British Gas boxes and more specifically is there a defined maximum weight for said boxes.

It really beats me as why our union has so far yet failed to publish so helpful an item such as all the Safe Systems of Work that relate to various working practices on the CWU website. It would be such a valuable aid to all safety reps let alone individual CWU members who have health and safety concerns.

[k979aaa]

Standard parcels are 20kg max and as such can be moved by one postalworker!. However first class has no weight limit but that does not mean it is a one man job it would almost certainly be a job for two to carry anything over 20kg!. It is your health and safety dont take risks get the manager to deploy more staff to get the job done safely!.

[brothermagrew]

Royalmail policy is 20kg max

Thanks for the replies,but any conformation on the above,where's brothermagrew.

Yo POSTMAN in answer to your query further research has found the following:

British Gas Call & Collect Service:

Boxes sent by British Gas - boxes with yellow tags up to 14kgs - one person lift.
Boxes sent by British Gas - boxes with red tags 14-24kgs - two person lift.

Boxes to be returned to British Gas up to 14kgs seal with blue tags - one person lift.
Boxes to be returned to British Gas 14-24kgs seal with red tags - 2 person lift.

Call Royal Mail helpline 0788951868 to report - suspect late or missing boxes - missing barcodes - out of course boxes - overweight boxes.

[andy2007]

Royalmail policy is 20kg max

Thanks for the replies,but any conformation on the above,where's brothermagrew.

Yo POSTMAN in answer to your query further research has found the following:

British Gas Call & Collect Service:

Boxes sent by British Gas - boxes with yellow tags up to 14kgs - one person lift.
Boxes sent by British Gas - boxes with red tags 14-24kgs - two person lift.

Boxes to be returned to British Gas up to 14kgs seal with blue tags - one person lift.
Boxes to be returned to British Gas 14-24kgs seal with red tags - 2 person lift.

Call Royal Mail helpline 0788951868 to report - suspect late or missing boxes - missing barcodes - out of course boxes - overweight boxes.

Thanks Brothermagrew.

[POSTMAN]

Many thanks for this,and my humble apologies for the late,late reply.
brothermagrew,if there was a h&s needle in a h&s haystack we can count on you to find it.
Nice one.

[brothermagrew]

Many thanks for this,and my humble apologies for the late,late reply.
brothermagrew,if there was a h&s needle in a h&s haystack we can count on you to find it.
Nice one.

Es nada bro, put it down to my magnetic personality

[woofwoof]

ive got the agreement off royal mail intrenet if its any good

[brothermagrew]

ive got the agreement off royal mail intrenet if its any good

Let us have it then brother woofwoof Brother Teebs will kindly then put it in the downloads section