Heavy customer collections on delivery? Any limit?

[cheerful]

We've got a customer collection who sends multiple heavy parcels (10kg-20kg each, total collection weight 80kg-150kg), they've got a long path with no driveway and it's difficult to park the van outside.

The collection is from their house, but from the amount they send, they must be a home business.

It's doing my back in, I've mentioned it to management and nothing happened. A coach got me a trolley, which helps a lot, but I'm still lifting 20kg parcels to the trolley, then from the trolley to the van, then from the van to a york.

When I joined RM, the only requirement was being able to walk with an 11kg bag, and even doing that I've been off with a bad back occasionally (and spent hundreds of pounds on physio).

I keep having back twinges while doing these collections, I know it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong.

Isn't the collection on delivery service supposed to be for non-businesses only?

Is there any way to avoid heavy items from a home business?

[Acca Dacca]

..

[Mr Rush]

If I recall correctly, anything over 11Kg is a lifting job for two. Of course, unless they issue you with scales there's not telling how heavy the washing machine the PDA claims is a medium packet under 2Kg truly is.

[Beanyjazz]

I work on collections and it's 11kg for a bag yes, but single items are 20kg max I believe. Anything over 20 is for PF.

[jjp666]

I am sure we were told months ago they upped the limit to 30kg on collections.

[Beanyjazz]

I am sure we were told months ago they upped the limit to 30kg on collections.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app ... nd-parcels

[SpacePhoenix]

If it's Tracked then it's a 30Kg limit

[Clappedoutpostie]

Get them to carry them to the van. If they refuse leave.

[cheerful]

Get them to carry them to the van. If they refuse leave.

Can't do.

When they see us on delivery they always seem to treat it as if we're late, scowl and drive off. They usually leave the parcels in the porch or in front of their ring doorbell.

I really don't want to do my back in lifting heavy parcels, but I especially don't want to do it in for people I've never seen smile.

If I recall correctly, anything over 11Kg is a lifting job for two.

I'm not sure if my partner will be able to help with heavy lifting, she's quite petite and short, while I'm tall and broad. Quite often when one of us goes on holiday the other has to work solo, I'm not sure she'd even be able to lift a 20kg parcel.

I'm assuming RM rules aren't in my favour? I've just got to collect from them until my back goes? And if they start sending more parcels or heavier parcels I've got no option other than quit the walk I've had for years or leave RM?

[Mr Rush]

I'm assuming RM rules aren't in my favour? I've just got to collect from them until my back goes?

The one and only tool they give is Dynamic Risk Assessment. So long as you follow it in good faith you shouldn't get any grief. I hope.

[rubberbond]

If you hurt yourself you know who is going to get the blame ,so demand action under safety protocols, what about the H&S rep, do you have one ?

[mjd24]

If i was you i would keep bringing it up with my manager until he does something to help (get someone else to collect them or whatever). No way should you be doing it with your back issues.

[eastie]

put it on the PDA as insufficient time and dont pick up

[Hyrrokkin]

Keep pushing this - no way is it worth potential long term injury (which is very likely if you keep doing this long enough)

[cheerful]

If you hurt yourself you know who is going to get the blame ,so demand action under safety protocols, what about the H&S rep, do you have one ?

I hadn't considered the H&S rep. She works on collections though, so probably collecting 20kg parcels is somewhat normal for her?

Definitely worth asking her about it though.

If i was you i would keep bringing it up with my manager until he does something to help (get someone else to collect them or whatever). No way should you be doing it with your back issues.

I've mentioned it a few times to different managers, but I put it in writing (email), so there is a permanent record of me bringing it up, just in case something goes wrong.

It's not so much about me though, my back isn't the best, but it's probably average for RM (been off twice with it in several years), I'd rather no-one have to collect from that address, the risk of someone doing their back in over some difficult to collect 20kg parcels doesn't seem worth it for the tenner we charge.

For reference, Yodel don't handle parcels over 10kg, Evri don't handle parcels over 15kg. With a 20kg parcel RM charge £9.99 and DPD charge £17 for a door-to-door service, so I'd imagine they'll be lots of other posties getting this problem in the future.

Keep pushing this - no way is it worth potential long term injury (which is very likely if you keep doing this long enough)

If the customer is just using a service RM offer correctly, then I'm not sure what my manager can do, some poor sod is going to have to collect it. I'm hoping there is something. Maybe if they get classified as a business and get charged for collection they'll go elsewhere.

Edit:
I've checked the RM website, and customer collection states: "Parcel Collect is FREE when you book online between 00:01 on 30.06.2023 and 23:59 on 31.01.2024. Promotion does not apply to customers with an Online Business Account."

I'm assuming they're using a personal account rather than a business account, but maybe a small business using a personal account is within the rules. I'll query the manager about it.