CWU and Royal Mail have today (Monday) jointly launched a series of publicity initiatives appealing to both Royal Mail staff and dog owners to be aware of the dangers that dogs can pose, especially as the Summer School holidays approach when annually there is a sharp increase in dog attacks on delivery postal workers.
Royal Mail and the CWU be appealing to dog owners to work with them to help keep their animals under control when the postman/woman calls to deliver mail during the school holidays this summer - and of course beyond.
Joint efforts by Royal Mail safety teams and CWU safety reps have driven dog attack numbers down, since the 2007/8 peak of 6,500 attacks, but they remain far too high. The implementation of the new 'Walk Risk Assessment Platform (WRAP) Dog Attack Policy' and concerted local efforts to control risks and suspend deliveries where necessary have been driving factors in reducing the number of attacks.
Dave Joyce, CWU health, safety and environment officer, said: "While the number of attacks has fallen, it still remains unacceptably high and the nature and seriousness of the injuries being received by postal workers is a growing concern. We are working together with Royal Mail to raise awareness of the reality of dog attacks through this targeted summer campaign and the ongoing CWU-led Bite-Back campaign.
"I hope this year's Dog Awareness Week will be a huge success and help to significantly raise the profile and level of awareness around dog attacks and what can be done to prevent them. We're encouraging all CWU members to get involved, read the guidance and tips which will be provided, and speak to their customers and colleagues about this preventable danger."
A range of activities will be taking place during Dog Awareness Week including:
Lord De Mauley, Parlimentary Under Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will become postman for the day when he goes out on a delivery round with a postman in London who has previously been a victim of a dog attack.
Royal Mail postmen and women speak about their own experiences of dog attacks
Dog Awareness posters in partnership with Dogs Trust, will be in place in all Royal Mail enquiry office's giving dog owners tips on how they can help
Dogs Trust and Wood Green will be holding question and answer sessions on their Facebook pages with their behaviourists.
The campaign is supported by a wide range of organisations and animal charities including Dogs Trust, DEFRA, Blue Cross, Wood Green, and the Association of Dog Wardens.
For more information read the press release: Royal Mail launch the UK's first Dog Awareness Week http://www.cwu.org/royal-mail-royal-lau ... -week.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Look out for a range of publicity material for workplaces as well as media coverage next week. For more information on dangerous dogs, visit the Bite Back pages of our site. http://www.cwu.org/dangerous-dogs-bite-back.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;