Royal Mail Severe Weather H&S Policy & Joint Statement & Sev

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 974/11
Ref E4
Date: 17 November 2011

To: All Branches,


Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Severe Weather H&S Policy & Joint Statement & Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool:           

Joint Statement
The Severe Weather H&S Policy and Joint Statement will Jointly be rolled out nationally this week. The CWU/HQ H&S Dept has played a key role in developing the RM Severe Weather H&S Policy and a strong Joint Statement, improving on last year's version will be published this week - it emphasises the full involvement and consultation with ASRs.

Computer Based 'Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool'
The new Computer Based 'Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool' which was trialed last year in two Regions has been subject to further development and improvements and will be rolled out Jointly Nationally alongside the Policy/Joint Statement and again the tool actually prompts the user to involve and consult the ASR/WSR.

Additionally, it is agreed that all ASRs will be trained on the SW Tool and a couple of Regions have already commenced this. An RM/CWU JWG was established after last Winter with 2 CWU ASRs involved to help develop and improve the Tool. The Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool is not perfect and will need further development and improvements via software update releases but we will pick up the issues and feedback from its application this year from ASRs and further changes will be made. Feedback from ASRs is encouraged and welcomed. Thanks to those who have already raised points. These have been fed back.

Additionally, the CWU/HQ Postal Dept are in discussions with RM regarding a Severe Weather Policy dealing with all the HR/IR issues of attendance in severe weather etc which is a separate issue. Matters relating to this should be raised with the Postal Dept.

Staff with Disabilities & Severe Weather
In relation to 'Staff with Disabilities' - The 2011 CWU Disability Conference debated and carried  following Motion this month:-  
 
"This conference instructs the Disability Advisory Committee to work with the Equality Dept to investigate the adverse weather policies of all employers where the CWU represents, to ensure that these policies do not disadvantage members with disabilities in times of severe, adverse weather similar to that experienced in this country."     
 
The Motion was passed to the Health, Safety & Environment Department and subsequently raised with Royal Mail. We requested that managers would automatically undertake a "Person At Risk/Vulnerable Person" risk assessment to address any additional problems that severe weather may have on disabled staff, both in getting to and from work and indeed working during periods of severe weather. 



After discussions, positive response was confirmed by the RM National Safety Director as follows:- "I would be happy to follow up a joint statement in a few weeks time with a guidance note to managers on action required for employees with disabilities. I agree this is an important area."

A further report will follow shortly.
 
 

Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[steven100]

Computer Based 'Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool'

Snow snow and more snow.

The computer says "its safe for delivery". Oh and you should manage in your time.

And don't forget your lapsing

[hans solo]

severe weather risk assesment tool computer based
wtf is wrong with the weatherman

[ashadd]

Just look out of the friggin window....simples...

[DGP1]

If it's anything like last year then then DOM says it's too bad to go out only for the DSM to phone (from home by the way) and tell him to send everybody out because the weather's not too bad