LTB 064/12 UK: Severe Weather Warnings

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 064/12 UK: Severe Weather Warnings
To view this download, please click here


No. 064/12
Ref E4/12
Date: 7 February 2012





To: All Branches



Dear Colleagues

UK: Severe Weather Warnings
We are all well aware of the heavy snow falls across the UK over the weekend Saturday night/Sunday morning 4/5 Feb 2012. At 10am on Monday 6 February 2012 the Met Office, the UK's National Weather Service which has responsibility for providing weather warnings, issued nine severe weather alerts as the Met Office along with other organisations warned that ice could well be a hazard on roads and pavements across much of England and South-East Wales, issuing Level 3 Yellow Alerts, which urge people to "be aware" of hazardous conditions underfoot and warned of the obvious road risks of disruption to travel.

Forecasters have warned of continued icy conditions, as temperatures hovered around freezing in most areas, although Church Fenton in Yorkshire recorded Minus 8.6C (Minus 16.5F) with visibility less than 100 metres as Freezing Fog hit many areas. It's hoped that the worst of the weather is over, although ice had formed overnight and there is freezing fog in many areas. A continued risk of ice through Monday and Tuesday remained especially in eastern areas. Less cold with some rain across the west and southwest with a return to more settled but again colder conditions from Tuesday on through the week as easterly winds start to become established. Most areas will be dry although a few wintry showers are possible around the east and southeast. At this stage, the cold weather looks like it will last through to the end of the week with the low temperature expected across most parts of England. However, there is a chance of some more unsettled outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow are possible at times, with less cold conditions moving into northern and western parts on Thursday or Friday but detail is very uncertain at this stage.

The weather can impact on everyday life in many ways from what to wear to whether to travel. The police have been dealing with a series of accidents caused by "treacherous" conditions on Sunday and Monday and a 25-mile long section of the A1 northbound was shut after a number of collisions between Allerton Park, near York, and the Catterick area. Motorists were advised to check routes and not to travel on blocked and closed motorways until further notice from the police. Rail services continued to suffer following the weekend's big freeze with cancellations and delays very likely. Heathrow Airport axed half of all flights on Sunday night but resumed normal services by Monday.

Health and Safety Representatives should be engaging with Safety and Operational Management where necessary to ensure Severe Weather/Snow & Ice policy arrangements are organised and in place with the risks evaluated and controls applied in line with the information issued to Branches by the Health, Safety & Environment Department (Further copies are available on request or downloadable from the CWU Website).

For up to date information The Met Office is the UK's National Weather Service:-

Web Site: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Contact By phone or fax from the UK
Tel: 0870 900 0100 or 01392 885680
Fax: 0870 900 5050 or 01392 885681

By email: enquiries@metoffice.gov.uk

Driving:
There are a number of other agencies involved in dealing with the impacts of severe weather. These may be of particular use to those Safety Reps with Driver members. Drivers, especially long distance drivers, doing a long motorway journey should have their route and journey planned and checked, checking weather and travel advice before setting off:

Live traffic information can be checked online or by calling the Highways Agency live traffic information service on 08700 660 115 (England only), Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales or Traffic Watch (Northern Ireland) details below - Traffic/transport managers need to be prepared to delay the journey or change route if necessary before or as drivers travel. Listen to travel news and weather updates, Drivers can check conditions on the road ahead using Highways Agency Traffic Information Points at service areas and other venues:-

Highways Agency: http://www.highways.gov.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 0300 123 5000 or 08700 660 115 e-mail: ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Traffic Scotland: http://trafficscotland.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 0800 028 1414 e-mail: info@trafficscotland.org.

Traffic Wales: http://www.traffic-wales.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 0845-602 6020 or e-mail: contact@traffic-wales.com

TrafficWatch (NI): http://www.trafficwatchni.com/site/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 08457 123321 e-mail: ticc.belfast@drdni.gov.uk


Flooding:
In relation to Flooding, another area where the Health, Safety and Environment has issued extensive information and advice previously:-
Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for advice.

Environment Agency flood warnings: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ho ... s&term=All" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 03708 506 506

SEPA flood warnings (flood warnings in Scotland): http://floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodupdates/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tel: 0845 988 1188

Flooding advice from NI Direct (flood warnings in Northern Ireland): http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/proper ... r-area.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tel: 0300 2000 100




Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[5plusbonusball]

and we're still expected to walk around in this cold for up to 5 hours!

[Lounge Lizard]

"especially long distance drivers, doing a long motorway journey" - they're on a well maintained and regularly gritted highway with assistance readily at hand.
What about van drivers on remote rural deliveries ?

[DGP1]

It's to be nice and warm over here

[doorstepped]

we were told on monday morning that we HAD to take out all of our walk even if we thought it was dangerous to deliver.

my walk has a lot of long sloping drives and a lot of steps and was given new spikies to help with my day ( see below ), we have always been told by all previous managers that we should only attempt whatever we feel comfortable doing and not to endanger ourselves. so as we go out out dim is standing by the door holding two posters about saftey awareness in bad weather and telling us to be careful !!!

( to say they are F***ing useless in the snow is an understatement, because they have smooth flat rubber between the small spikes you have no grip on slushy snow, I am glad I still have a set of the original chains that were issues a couple of years ago. )

[DB1100]

"especially long distance drivers, doing a long motorway journey" - they're on a well maintained and regularly gritted highway with assistance readily at hand.
What about van drivers on remote rural deliveries ?

Long distance drivers are probably restricted on hours and could get stuck away from home,due to running out of hours,on a rural delivery if its not clear don't go simple