Transporting 'Perstorp' Letter Trays.......

[POSTMAN]

To: All Postal Branches

Dear Colleagues,

CTFEE; Transporting 'Perstorp' Letter Trays of Mail in Smaller, Car Derived Vehicle (CDV) - (Ford Connect - Ford Transit - LDV Maxus High Top – LDV Maxus Bi-Purpose Vehicle Personnel Carrier) - Safe System Of Work (SSOW):

A number of enquiries have been received over the last week by the Health, Safety & Environment Department and the Outdoor Department regarding the above. This has been specifically in relation to transporting trayed mail and direct customer trayed collections of mail in smaller vehicles, and concerns raised regarding the SSOW and related safety documentation, which is attached for ease of reference.


The SSOW issued by the RML Operations Support Centre Collection Traying Manager to Royal Mail Letters Areas has not been cleared by CWU HQ as the proper consultation and involvement process has not been completed. This is due to the fact that CWU input has not as yet been taken fully into account and there are a number of CWU concerns still to be addressed.



CWU/HQ assisted by the Walk Design Group did not have sufficient time to bottom out all of the safety issues previously as Royal Mails final position was not provided until 18 December 2008. As a consequence CWU HQ asked the manager concerned to postpone the introduction of the new process and SSOW in order that CWU input could be completed, which we believe would have enabled CWU HQ to "support" the safety issues and avoid potential conflict as there is no in principle objection to the concept providing it is safe and sufficient time is allocated to enable the process to be carried out accordingly.


However a message was received from the Project Manager just before Xmas stating "I have attached the revised SSOW of which has now been signed off by Ian Stockdale [Head of Corporate Social Responsibilities]. It is therefore my intention to now launch the SSOW on the Intranet and delete all previous SSOW re trays in vans to avoid any confusion in the Ops environment. This will also be shared to all areas via the area programme managers. In addition there will be a communication going out this week re the immediate withdrawal of Anti-slip mats [with the exception of the Brighton site]. Could you please pass this on."

At previous meetings concerns were raised by the CWU regarding the existing SSOW [re loose trays in OMV's] that has been on the Royal Mail intranet site since 1997,and which appears to have no basis in risk assessment as well as a lack of any supporting documentation. The CWU requested completion of a full new risk assessment not only on transporting trays in the back of vehicles but the whole concept of Direct Customer Traying. This assessment was carried out in October 2008 at the Chippenham delivery office and during this assessment it was highlighted that a supplementary ergonomic review should also be carried out on how to carry trays up and down stairs, as well as dealing with the practicalities of multi-occupancy collection premises and the collection of multiple trays.


This was referred to a Consultant Ergonomist, and the ergonomic report is attached. The completion of a new SC1 (Safety Concurrence) was also requested and completed, but the issue of multi-occupancy premises and multiple trays has not as yet been addressed.


Royal Mail is insistent that an agreement is not required for them to proceed with this activity. We have reminded them of their obligations and have emphasised that discussions on the safety documentation and processes have not been completed, and the advice to our members will be consistent with that position.


However, as this LTB was about to be issued we have received contact from Royal Mail who have now indicated that they are prepared to meet ASAP and agree a SSOW. Further information will be published to Branches in due course.


In the meantime, Branches are reminded that the safety of our members is of paramount importance and the SSOW currently in the field is not agreed with CWUHQ.


We do hope to be in a position sometime next week to be able to issue an agreed document and when that situation occurs all generic documents should, as a matter of course, be reviewed locally as well as subject to local consultation with the CWU before they are introduced.


For future reference, it is important that all risk reduction measures contained in any agreed documentation are carried out and implemented and that there is evidence that they will be managed effectively.

Yours Sincerely




Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Bob Gibson

Assistant Secretary Outdoor