Low Level Letter Boxes - Union fights Lambeth Council

[POSTMAN]

LTB 880/09 - Low Level Letter Boxes - Union fights Lambeth Council Plans to Install "Mouse-Trap" Letter Plates

Dear Colleagues

Low Level Letter Boxes - Union fights Lambeth Council Plans to Install "Mouse-Trap" Letter Plates

The Union's war against low level letter boxes entered a new battle when it was learned that Lambeth Council in London had plans to fit new front doors with ground level "mouse-trap" letter boxes on three council estates - the Weir Estate, Ethelred Estate and Thornton Gardens Estate.

The Council's plans came to light when a former CWU Safety Rep living in the area raised objections locally only to be forcefully rebutted by Council officials.

The CWU National HQ Health, Safety & Environment department took the matter up with senior council officials and leaders of the Council's ruling Labour Group - leader Cllr Steve Reed and Housing & Regeneration Chair Cllr Lib Peck amongst others. The matter was also raised with various government departments and the HSE as the Union became embroiled in arguments with Lambeth Council and its technical and legal advisors.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department insisted that the Council scrap their plans to install hundreds of low level letter boxes and instead comply with the European Standard (EN 13724) covering Private Letter Boxes which for ergonomic and safety reasons specifies the height, positioning and design of "letter boxes" in order that the safe delivery of mail can be made without the risk of injury.

The Council's Legal Technical Advisor countered that he was unaware of any law governing the height of letterboxes and referred to the EU Standard as having only "voluntary status" which presumably left Lambeth in the clear to do as they please in spite of the consequences to Postal worker's backs.

The Health, Safety & Environment department hit back telling the Council that the Deputy Prime Minister's office assured the CWU that the UK will follow the specifications set out in the BS EN 13724 standard which sets down that the centreline of the letter box aperture should be at a height between 700 mm (2 ft 3.5 inches) and 1700 mm (5 ft 7 inches) and said John Prescott DPM at the time, "everyone would follow it without the need for regulation".
Finally, In a letter received from Labour Councillor Lib Peck Housing & Regeneration Chair the Union was informed that a meeting with stakeholders, ward councillors, building contractors and building consultants had discussed the Union's concerns regarding the height of the door letter plates on the proposed door replacement work and had agreed to change their plans and raise the letter plate height to 650mm from the bottom of the door. (just short of the EU Standard of 700mm minimum height)

In conclusion this is a partial victory and although far from ideal, it's certainly better than it was but it still falls short of the ideal height. There'll still be some bending for taller members on delivery to these estates. What this proves is that Councils and developers will ignore standards unless forced to comply by law irrespective of the health and safety implications to postal workers which is what we've said all along. Clearly the Deputy Prime Minister at the time we discussed it with him was naïve in thinking that voluntary compliance would work and I intend to raise this matter again with the Government asking them to revisit the need to consider the question or enshrining BS EN 13724 into regulations in order to ensure local authorities do the right thing.

In the mean time this proves that Branches and health and safety representatives need to remain vigilant and aware of any local house building construction programmes, refurbishments and regeneration work on council estates in order to check that where front doors are fitted that if the intention is to fit low level letter plates and boxes, it should be challenged.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[hairyjack]

Yeah thats great. Trouble is....my back is already ****ed

[brothermagrew]

For all you insomniacs some light late night reading.

http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/1998/110.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shadow]

No one has mentioned fraudsters as a low level letter box make it easier for criminals to remove the letters from the premises. I for sure wouldn't have one. I beleive this is another reason to argue the case. Don't YOU.

[delboy]

It is our government that is doing naff all about low letter boxes, in Ireland all boxes from now on have to be at least 3ft high..
Why can't our government bring that in, leave them that are already low, and bring regulations like Ireland and probably the rest of the civilized world.