possible new health issues with lwt

[daveyeff]

lad at our place has gone sick, i saw him today, after he had been to the docs. he,s been diagnosed with ''impingement syndrome''.?? he says he,s been having bother lifting his arm above shoulder height, its too painful and he has to be careful when he moves it because he gets severe shooting pains around his shoulder. according to what the doctor,s told him, its to do with the tendons around the shoulder either being ripped or torn or becoming swollen. his treatment involves 6 weeks physio to see if that will help, if not, its a couple of cortisone injections. failing that, its surgery involving ''shaving'' some of his shoulder away to free up the tendon. get this,,,the doc says its caused by repetitive lifting or pulling heavy objects. when he told the doc he uses a trolley at work to pull the mail along, the doc says ''thats it then, thats the problem''. anyone had this problem with their ''trolley pulling arm''. i can see some claims going in.

[kendo1]

Look around any large office ,conunt the number of Posties ,with limps ,back problems ,hip and knee problems,the number on long term sick and light duties.

RM have a seroius problem wich they both choose to ignore for mutual benefit.

It is only a matter of time before a lot of legal action is launched against them.

Their is far higher amount of injuries in RM than anywhere else I have worked .

If the posties were represented by a proper Union as Opposed to a management puppet,they would pay for a proper study into the effects of the physical strain on the body of doing the job of a walking Postmen.

[fishtank]

If the posties were represented by a proper Union as Opposed to a management puppet,they would pay for a proper study into the effects of the physical strain on the body of doing the job of a walking Postmen.

Long Term Study of the Delivery Role.

Version Draft

2nd Feb 2011


Introduction
The implementation of sequence sorting will reduce the amount of indoor work in delivery offices. As a result the current pattern of IPS, delivery preparation and a 3.5 hour delivery will not be enough to fill a full time 5 day week duty. Many offices have already implemented longer delivery spans or part time working for some of the workforce. This study will monitor post revision deliveries covering key parts of the delivery strategy to ensure that the work does not pose long term issues for the health and wellbeing of the staff.

The study will monitor the main delivery methods:-
• Shared vehicles with LWDT & light pouches
• HCT
• eHCT
• Cycles
• Pouch on shoulder

The study will consider indoor as well as outdoor work and will consider full and part time working.
Objective
The objective of the study is to monitor the long term fatigue and health of individuals working in deliveries following revisions carried out under the new delivery strategy, looking at both the indoor and outdoor part of their jobs.
Scope
The study will monitor deliveries 6 months after revisions have been carried out and then at 12, 18 and 24 months, It is envisaged that the study will consist of two parts, a field study and the analysis of health and accident data.

The field study will consist of monitoring subjective fatigue, discomfort and heart rate in a sufficient number of offices to obtain adequate sample sizes for each delivery method. Data will be collected over the course of the week to take account of workload variations. The timing of the study will aim to be completed during periods of normal traffic levels which reflect the model week on which the deliveries were planned i.e. avoiding peak periods where possible.

The health and accident data will be obtained from the MyPeople database. Additional data including Atos referrals, duty changes and staff turnover will be included if this is available.
Method
Field study
It is proposed that the field study will take place in at least three offices, to be agreed. It is likely that additional offices will need to ensure that a range of equipment and terrain are included. The data collection will be carried out over the course of a week at each site. Participants will take part on a voluntary basis but it is hoped that there will be 15 participants at each site.

The measurement techniques and data recorded will include:-
• Subjective measures of fatigue including discomfort assessment, fatigue scores, views of walk-holders and a questionnaire related to longer term health, fatigue and workload.
• Heart rate data will be collected from up to 15 participants throughout the shift.

The following data will also be collected for the deliveries participating in the study
• Indoor work - IPS, prep length, frame type, standing/sitting, % mail sequenced other indoor tasks. The actual time spent on indoor tasks will be compared to the scheduled time allocated.
• The actual time taken to complete the delivery will be compared to the scheduled time for the route.
• Timing and length of breaks, delivery span, indoor work and overall duty pattern (FT &PT), hours worked compared to scheduled, rotation arrangements.
• Call rate, based on an empty slot count for single slot fittings and an estimation based on sequencing for dual slot fittings.
• The number of attendance calls compared to the planned number.
• Terrain assessment, including breakdown of routes by sections if appropriate,
• Route characteristics including DPs, distance covered, burst length and number, building type, low level boxes, travel out and back method.
• Georoute breakdown – travel time, service time, dead walking
• Weather conditions will be noted
• Individual profile (age; sex; health, injuries, experience, footwear, regular duty holder/relief)

Health and accident data
This will involve analysing data from all sites for the 2 year period of the study and will include all members of staff, not just those participating in the field study. The data will be downloaded from the MyPeople database. The data collected will include:-

• Sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders, stress related conditions and cardiovascular complaints
• Accidents on duty
• Medical retirements
• Referrals to Atos
• Staff turnover (and relationship to specific duties)
Timescales
The work will be carried out to fit in with the delivery revisions program. It is envisaged that the initial visits will be carried out in April/May 2011, with subsequent visits being carried out at 6 monthly intervals over the following two years.
Costs
Costs are currently being scoped. The study may require support from external contractors.
It will be necessary to review the costs and the balance between staff and contractor time once the trial offices have been agreed.
Dependencies
Approval for funding is not yet guaranteed and may impact on the scope of the study.

Staff will need to be motivated and given sufficient time to take part in the study, the support of managers and the CWU will be necessary to achieve this.

Availability of data from HR, Atos the delivery revisions team and local offices.

Equivalent reports to those available from MyPeople will be available from the new HR system, PSP

Ability to use contractors as additional ergonomics resource.

[nataddick]

I don't know about impingement syndrome but from the symptoms described it sounds like a 'frozen shoulder'. I know because I have suffered it twice - once in each shoulder. The first occasion was before I worked for RM, the second while at RM. Although, I was unable to prove a direct link to work I suspect it hard something to do with pushing yorks around most of the day. It was cured through visits to the physio - paid for by me privately, as I was told by my own doctor that there was a waiting list of about 3 months to be seen on NHS!

[mazza111]

It's very similar to a frozen shoulder and the treatment for it, although the shaving is only done in extreme cases. Can also be mistakenly diagnosed as this when it can be a nerve problem in the spine. My knee gave way and I thought I had done my shoulder in. Calcification caused when the muscle gets pulled from the bone or something like that, what they didn't realise at the time was, during the same accident I also managed to trap the nerves in my spine, and it was only discovered during physio, the only thing that relieves it now is massage of the nerves in the spine and anti depressants :o Weird but they also work as a nerve blocker or I have constant pins and needles in my hands and a left arm that feels like it weighs a ton.

Hope your colleague sees some improvement with physio, cortisone injections are horrible

[Lincox]

Although we are all cycle rounds, last year during the snow, we all used L/w trollies for a period of several weeks. There were several people complaining of shoulder, neck and hip pain, in particular in older members of staff. The long term problems that may result from use of such delivery methods have not been properly assessed.

[brothermagrew]

Impingement syndrome is a common condition affecting the shoulder often seen in aging adults. This condition is closely related to shoulder bursitis and rotator cuff tendonitis. These conditions may occur alone or in combination. In virtually all parts of your body, bones are the innermost structures and are surrounded by muscles. When an injury occurs to the rotator cuff muscles, they respond by swelling. However, because the rotator cuff muscles are surrounded by bone, when they swell, a series of other events occur. The pressure within the muscles increases, which results in compression and loss of blood flow in the small blood vessels. When the blood flow decreases, the muscle tissue begins to fray like a rope. Motions such as reaching up behind the back and reaching up overhead to put on a coat or blouse, for example, may cause pain.

The typical symptoms of impingement syndrome include difficulty reaching up behind the back, pain with overhead use of the arm and weakness of shoulder muscles. If these muscles are injured for a long period of time, the muscle can actually tear in two, resulting in a rotator cuff tear. This causes significant weakness and may make it difficult for the person to elevate his or her arm. Some people will have rupture of their biceps muscle as part of this continuing impingement process.

Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination by your doctor. X-rays will be taken to rule out arthritis and may show changes in the bone that indicate injury of the muscle. Bone spurs or changes in the normal contour of the bone may be present. Impingement syndrome may be confirmed when an injection of a small amount of an anesthetic into the space under one of the shoulder bones relieves pain.

It is important to understand that the condition and not just the symptoms require treatment. Oral anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen, remain the most common treatment for this condition. You must consistently take the medication for nearly eight weeks for it to be effective. Taking anti-inflammatory medications for a short period of time may treat the symptom of pain, but it will not treat the underlying problem and symptoms will come back. There is no specific medication for this condition and response to any given medication differs from person to person. If one anti-inflammatory medication does not help within 10 to 14 days, then another one will be given until one that provides relief is found.

In addition to taking medications, daily stretching in a warm shower will help. Work to reach your thumb up and behind your back. Avoid repetitive activities with your injured arm, particularly where the elbow would move above shoulder level. Avoid vacuuming, painting, raking leaves and washing the car. If you have persistent symptoms, despite the use of oral anti-inflammatory medications, your doctor may consider a cortisone-type injection. Cortisone is a potent anti-inflammatory medication, which should be used only when necessary because it can result in weakening of muscles and tendons.

If symptoms persist or if significant weakness is present, then your doctor may perform an MRI or arthrogram to rule out a rotator cuff tear. If the cuff is torn, surgery may be necessary to repair it.The vast majority of people who have impingement syndrome are successfully treated with medication, stretching exercises and temporary avoidance of repetitive overhead activity until the condition settles down.

Upset stomach, indigestion and headaches are the most common side effects of oral anti-inflammatory medications. However, taking these medications after meals or with food can help reduce stomach upset. Anti-inflammatory medicines also can cause vomiting, constipation and bleeding in the stomach (ulcers), although these side effects are not common.

Side effects of cortisone shots depend on the dose and frequency of the injections. Unlike cortisone pills, occasional cortisone injections rarely cause serious side effects. However, possible side effects of cortisone include elevated blood sugar, a decrease in the body's resistance to infection, weight gain, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), thinning of the skin and raised blood pressure.

[General Mannerheim]

If the posties were represented by a proper Union as Opposed to a management puppet,they would pay for a proper study into the effects of the physical strain on the body of doing the job of a walking Postmen.

Long Term Study of the Delivery Role.

Version Draft

2nd Feb 2011


Introduction
The implementation of sequence sorting will reduce the amount of indoor work in delivery offices. As a result the current pattern of IPS, delivery preparation and a 3.5 hour delivery will not be enough to fill a full time 5 day week duty. Many offices have already implemented longer delivery spans or part time working for some of the workforce. This study will monitor post revision deliveries covering key parts of the delivery strategy to ensure that the work does not pose long term issues for the health and wellbeing of the staff.

The study will monitor the main delivery methods:-
• Shared vehicles with LWDT & light pouches
• HCT
• eHCT
• Cycles
• Pouch on shoulder

The study will consider indoor as well as outdoor work and will consider full and part time working.
Objective
The objective of the study is to monitor the long term fatigue and health of individuals working in deliveries following revisions carried out under the new delivery strategy, looking at both the indoor and outdoor part of their jobs.
Scope
The study will monitor deliveries 6 months after revisions have been carried out and then at 12, 18 and 24 months, It is envisaged that the study will consist of two parts, a field study and the analysis of health and accident data.

The field study will consist of monitoring subjective fatigue, discomfort and heart rate in a sufficient number of offices to obtain adequate sample sizes for each delivery method. Data will be collected over the course of the week to take account of workload variations. The timing of the study will aim to be completed during periods of normal traffic levels which reflect the model week on which the deliveries were planned i.e. avoiding peak periods where possible.

The health and accident data will be obtained from the MyPeople database. Additional data including Atos referrals, duty changes and staff turnover will be included if this is available.
Method
Field study
It is proposed that the field study will take place in at least three offices, to be agreed. It is likely that additional offices will need to ensure that a range of equipment and terrain are included. The data collection will be carried out over the course of a week at each site. Participants will take part on a voluntary basis but it is hoped that there will be 15 participants at each site.

The measurement techniques and data recorded will include:-
• Subjective measures of fatigue including discomfort assessment, fatigue scores, views of walk-holders and a questionnaire related to longer term health, fatigue and workload.
• Heart rate data will be collected from up to 15 participants throughout the shift.

The following data will also be collected for the deliveries participating in the study
• Indoor work - IPS, prep length, frame type, standing/sitting, % mail sequenced other indoor tasks. The actual time spent on indoor tasks will be compared to the scheduled time allocated.
• The actual time taken to complete the delivery will be compared to the scheduled time for the route.
• Timing and length of breaks, delivery span, indoor work and overall duty pattern (FT &PT), hours worked compared to scheduled, rotation arrangements.
• Call rate, based on an empty slot count for single slot fittings and an estimation based on sequencing for dual slot fittings.
• The number of attendance calls compared to the planned number.
• Terrain assessment, including breakdown of routes by sections if appropriate,
• Route characteristics including DPs, distance covered, burst length and number, building type, low level boxes, travel out and back method.
• Georoute breakdown – travel time, service time, dead walking
• Weather conditions will be noted
• Individual profile (age; sex; health, injuries, experience, footwear, regular duty holder/relief)

Health and accident data
This will involve analysing data from all sites for the 2 year period of the study and will include all members of staff, not just those participating in the field study. The data will be downloaded from the MyPeople database. The data collected will include:-

• Sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders, stress related conditions and cardiovascular complaints
• Accidents on duty
• Medical retirements
• Referrals to Atos
• Staff turnover (and relationship to specific duties)
Timescales
The work will be carried out to fit in with the delivery revisions program. It is envisaged that the initial visits will be carried out in April/May 2011, with subsequent visits being carried out at 6 monthly intervals over the following two years.
Costs
Costs are currently being scoped. The study may require support from external contractors.
It will be necessary to review the costs and the balance between staff and contractor time once the trial offices have been agreed.
Dependencies
Approval for funding is not yet guaranteed and may impact on the scope of the study.

Staff will need to be motivated and given sufficient time to take part in the study, the support of managers and the CWU will be necessary to achieve this.

Availability of data from HR, Atos the delivery revisions team and local offices.

Equivalent reports to those available from MyPeople will be available from the new HR system, PSP

Ability to use contractors as additional ergonomics resource.

Anybody ever seen this study?????

[Himaggen]

Anybody ever seen this study?????

It says study not report!
I like to study the form and movement of members of the opposite sex, I'm certainly not reporting my findings in a readable format

[fishtank]

Anybody ever seen this study?????

It was a proposal for a study.
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... dy#p408377" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'll be honest with you i thought it had died due to cost because it had gone quiet for so long but it popped up again in this....

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... dy#p466246" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Longer term fatigue risks will be monitored/reviewed on an ongoing basis through the existing “Long term study of Delivery role” review.

So it's real enough.
Just how serious it is...anyone's guess.
It won't be finished though until 2013/14 at the earliest.

[keithposty]

just curious

do any other organization use or has used these sort of trolly's (HCT, LWT) on a regular basis in the course of there employment.

that's not just the UK but world wide

WHAT DO THE YANKS USE FOR EXAMPLE ??????

it would be interesting to see there health and safety document on the use of such equipment

[Lincox]

The Yanks use little vehicles like postman pat. All houses have free standing mailboxes at the roadside. Mail is delivered and collected from these. There is a plastic flag on the side of the box and when you need mail collected you raise the flag to alert the postman. This is possible due to the way roads have been planned in the USA and would not be feasible in the UK.

[POSTMAN]

I would guess most postal operators who use trolleys would use the ones you push.I know the yanks do.
Because our mob like the LWT's because they fit in the vans when folded they for some reason are designed to be pulled.

Could be a massive f**k up if various injuries/ailments occur because of them.

[General Mannerheim]

Anybody ever seen this study?????

It was a proposal for a study.
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... dy#p408377" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'll be honest with you i thought it had died due to cost because it had gone quiet for so long but it popped up again in this....

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... dy#p466246" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Longer term fatigue risks will be monitored/reviewed on an ongoing basis through the existing “Long term study of Delivery role” review.

So it's real enough.
Just how serious it is...anyone's guess.
It won't be finished though until 2013/14 at the earliest.

Cheers Fishtank.

[The OuterCliff Flyer]

After using one for a few months my neck and upper back are getting painful.
Gonna try pushing it instead of pulling it. At least the change of posture might help a bit.