LTB 588/18 - Royal Mail Group - Accident Reporting/ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings:

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LTB 588/18 - Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting/ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings:

No. 588/2018

16 October 2018

Our Ref: A3/18



Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting/ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Following a number of complaints and RMG/CWU accident escalation procedure cases, the above issue was discussed in detail with the RMG Safety Health & Environment Team and RMG Accident Management Unit. The matter was resolved with an RMG SHE Team circular in May. However, recently it was discovered that different criteria and advice was being given to areas by the RMG AMU (Accident Management Unit) which was leading to Bites and Stings going unrecorded.

These incidents are not large in number, but the effects on some sting and bite victims can be profound. The CWU has had a small number of members contract the potentially life-threatening virus Lyme disease following Tick bites. Due to climate change the UK has seen a dramatic increase in the Tick population and with it an increase in bites. Illnesses from Tick, Mosquito, and Flea bites have more than tripled worldwide.

False Widow spiders are on the increase and in the national press recently it was reported that seven London Schools had to be closed due to False Widow Spider infestations. This is the UK’s most venomous spider and victims of spider bites can develop infections and suffer dangerous anaphylactic shock following Spider, Wasp or Bee Stings.

An accident at work is a “discrete occurrence in the course of work” leading to physical or mental occupational injury.

In short, it has now been accepted and agreed that ALL INSECT BITES AND STINGS SHALL BE RECORDED AS ACCIDENTS ON DUTY AND RECORDED ON ERICA AS NORMAL.

If any case hasn’t been correctly entered on ERICA, Area Health & Safety Reps should challenge the local Person in Control and SHE advisor. If no progress is made then please complete the Accident Dispute Escalation Form and send it up the line and it will be corrected.

Attachments:-

New Instructions from RMG SHE Team 22.05.18 and From RMG Accident Management Unit dated 01.10.18
Picture of a False Widow Spider
Picture of Ticks
Yours sincerely



Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB588 Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-i/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

False Widow Spider http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Images of Ticks http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-h/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Insect Bites Stings – AMU Instruction 01.10.18 http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-k/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Insect bites and stings Incident reporting and investigation (RMG SHE Ma.._ http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-u/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-ncbyd-ztiitduz-o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;