RM Health and Safety culture Questionnaire

[fedup postie]

I would like your help in filling out a questionnaire about Health and Safety culture within Royal Mail.
I would appreciate it if you could complete the following questions by saying which you agree with. Also, if you could ask your work colleagues as well as I would like as many answers back as possible.

I am currently doing a course at college and this will form part of my final project.

You can either answer by replying to this post i.e. if you agree with question 1. Then simply put 1=yes. Or you can PM me with your answers.

Many thanks for your help.

THE QUESTIONS:-

1. Managers regularly visit the workplace and discuss safety matters with the workforce.
2. The company gives regular, clear information on safety matters.
3. We can raise a safety concern, knowing the company take it seriously and they will tell us what they are doing about it.
4. Safety is always the company's top priority, we can stop a job if we don't feel safe.
5. The company investigates all accidents and near misses, does something about it and gives feedback.
6. The company keeps up to date with new ideas on safety.
7. We can get safety equipment and training if needed - the budget for this seems about right.
8. Everyone is included in decisions affecting safety and are regularly asked for input.
9. It's rare for anyone here to take shortcuts or unnecessary risks.
10. We can be open and honest about safety: the company doesn't simply find someone to blame.
11. Morale is generally high.

[DGP1]

If you are talking about my office then it's NO to every question all the managers care about is getting the mail out the door by whatever means neccessary

[stokes11eg]

If you are talking about my office then it's NO to every question all the managers care about is getting the mail out the door by whatever means neccessary

Are you being serious with these questions? Like disgruntled above, the answer is a resounding NO to all questions!

[baldrick]

NO

[DGP1]

11. Morale is generally high.

That really made me laugh, what it should really read is 11. Morale is lower than a snakes belly or lower than a politicians morals etc.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

THE QUESTIONS:-

1. Managers regularly visit the workplace and discuss safety matters with the workforce.
2. The company gives regular, clear information on safety matters.
3. We can raise a safety concern, knowing the company take it seriously and they will tell us what they are doing about it.
4. Safety is always the company's top priority, we can stop a job if we don't feel safe.
5. The company investigates all accidents and near misses, does something about it and gives feedback.
6. The company keeps up to date with new ideas on safety.
7. We can get safety equipment and training if needed - the budget for this seems about right.
8. Everyone is included in decisions affecting safety and are regularly asked for input.
9. It's rare for anyone here to take shortcuts or unnecessary risks.
10. We can be open and honest about safety: the company doesn't simply find someone to blame.
11. Morale is generally high.

MY ANSWERS: These are my personal opinions based on my own experiences.
1. No.
2. No.
3. No. It takes some time for action to happen and normally imho as a result of an accident or incident only.
4. No.
5. Yes.
6. No. Or if does it does not get passed on down.
7. Yes. Unsure.
8. No.
9. No.
10. No.
11. Generally Yes but its changing and not for the better.

[fedup postie]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I know these questions do seem silly questions however they are taken from HSE Document about Safety Cultures and asking these questions sort of answers whether the company has a good health and safety culture or not.

Like you say, I think most of us know the answer to this question but it is interesting to see peoples opinions as sometimes this is surprising.

Please keep the answers coming, the more answers the bigger the picture.

If you are answering this for several people, (i.e. you have asked your collegues) then please state how many people have been asked.
Thanks

[brothermagrew]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I know these questions do seem silly questions however they are taken from HSE Document about Safety Cultures and asking these questions sort of answers whether the company has a good health and safety culture or not.

Like you say, I think most of us know the answer to this question but it is interesting to see peoples opinions as sometimes this is surprising.

Please keep the answers coming, the more answers the bigger the picture.

If you are answering this for several people, (i.e. you have asked your collegues) then please state how many people have been asked.
Thanks

On paper (policies for this and policies for that) the company in general has a very good health and safety culture, where it is sadly lacking and far below the expected standard (like risk assessments not being properly done, safe systems of work totally ignored, unsafe work practices allowed to happen and ignored etc;) is in the actual implementation of these very same policies by RM lower echelon management and that quite frankly cannot be good for health and safety.

Least we forget:

http://unionsafety.eu/docs/HSNewsItems0 ... ned%20.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In summary the Report's findings were:-

There exists a culture of ignoring health and safety if it impedes productivity which goes unchallenged.
Local Managers inability to manage health and safety a part of their normal activities.
Local Managers not receiving any health and safety support.
Local Managers poorly trained.
Area Managers failing to monitor health and safety and distancing themselves from it.
Royal Mail's Safety Managers lack independence, support and authority to audit health and safety.
Even the best performers had room for improvement.
Improved standards rapidly slipped backwards to poor standards.
Walk Risk Assessments poor and inaccurate.
SDD was badly introduced from a health and safety point of view.
SDD walks did not consider health and safety and the opportunity to include manual handling controls into walk design was wasted.
The main area of concern was Pouch Weights - a clear policy and procedure to control pouch weights is required.
Manual Handling risk assessments not done properly.
"Job and Finish" has led to a culture of overweight pouches to get the walks completed as quickly as possible.
Slips are the main cause of major accidents and days lost.
RM delivery staff were expected to cope with surfaces which would not be tolerated in industrial premises.
Poor Footwear - the footwear policy should be reviewed.
Dangerous short cuts were taken on walks - stepping over walls, reading whilst walking at an impressive speed due to 'job and finish'.
Cycles - no proficiency or defensive rider training.
Cycles with insufficient maintenance and design faults.
Poor take up of Cycle Helmets.
No evidence of walks involving Cycle Deliveries having the round designed to avoid or minimise hazards and busy roads.
Dog Attack Policy has fallen into decline and compliance was poor.
Car Park layouts poor and pedestrian routes inadequate - leading to a hazardous mix of staff and public using the same areas as Royal Mail vehicles.
Access routes to loading bays poor.
Workplace transport management poor.
Housekeeping poor - floors littered with elastic bands and bag ties - causing slips and several major incidents a year.

Source: CWU Press Release

[fedup postie]

Excellent post Brother Magrew. I've been looking for that HSE report but cant seem to find it anywhere. Thanks for the summary.

[Drunk]

THE QUESTIONS:-

1. Managers regularly visit the workplace and discuss safety matters with the workforce.
2. The company gives regular, clear information on safety matters.
3. We can raise a safety concern, knowing the company take it seriously and they will tell us what they are doing about it.
4. Safety is always the company's top priority, we can stop a job if we don't feel safe.
5. The company investigates all accidents and near misses, does something about it and gives feedback.
6. The company keeps up to date with new ideas on safety.
7. We can get safety equipment and training if needed - the budget for this seems about right.
8. Everyone is included in decisions affecting safety and are regularly asked for input.
9. It's rare for anyone here to take shortcuts or unnecessary risks.
10. We can be open and honest about safety: the company doesn't simply find someone to blame.
11. Morale is generally high.

Answers

1. Sometimes.
2. Info yes but most times not clear or shown how to do thing correctly.
3. Yes but have to constantly push managment for answers.
4. No
5. Generally
6. No
7. No
8. Yes, But imput sometimes not listened to.
9. No
10. No
11. No

[POSTMAN]

I honestly had a good think and the answer to ALL is NO.

[BELIAL]

Yep good post Brother. Looked at all the points and the clear conclusion can only be ,proper health and safety practice takes time, and time is profit. We know who pays for "savings"

[fedup postie]

Yep good post Brother. Looked at all the points and the clear conclusion can only be ,proper health and safety practice takes time, and time is profit. We know who pays for "savings"

Sadly this is the misconception that managers have. It is a fact that not only does good health and safety SAVE LIVES but it also saves Money! Just think about the cost involved in an accident. Some of those costs are covered by insurance but there is a huge proportion of the cost which isnt. As well as the cost element you also have the time lost when an accident occurs, First Aider (Time from his/her job) Cleaning up the mess, people standing watching what has happened, talking about the accident etc,etc. It can run into quite a considerable amount for even a small accident. That's before we get to compensation and lawers costs etc.

[BELIAL]

Yep good post Brother. Looked at all the points and the clear conclusion can only be ,proper health and safety practice takes time, and time is profit. We know who pays for "savings"

Sadly this is the misconception that managers have. It is a fact that not only does good health and safety SAVE LIVES but it also saves Money! Just think about the cost involved in an accident. Some of those costs are covered by insurance but there is a huge proportion of the cost which isnt. As well as the cost element you also have the time lost when an accident occurs, First Aider (Time from his/her job) Cleaning up the mess, people standing watching what has happened, talking about the accident etc,etc. It can run into quite a considerable amount for even a small accident. That's before we get to compensation and lawers costs etc.

Thats why "savings" was in inverted commas FFS I'll do capitals and red ink next time,saints preserve us

[fedup postie]

Yep good post Brother. Looked at all the points and the clear conclusion can only be ,proper health and safety practice takes time, and time is profit. We know who pays for "savings"

Sadly this is the misconception that managers have. It is a fact that not only does good health and safety SAVE LIVES but it also saves Money! Just think about the cost involved in an accident. Some of those costs are covered by insurance but there is a huge proportion of the cost which isnt. As well as the cost element you also have the time lost when an accident occurs, First Aider (Time from his/her job) Cleaning up the mess, people standing watching what has happened, talking about the accident etc,etc. It can run into quite a considerable amount for even a small accident. That's before we get to compensation and lawers costs etc.

Thats why "savings" was in inverted commas FFS I'll do capitals and red ink next time,saints preserve us

No Need to be like that my friend. All's I was saying, is that this is what MANAGEMENT believe but we know different dont we