any links to temp workers and ppe

[keithposty]

do we have any links as stated on temporary workers and personal protective equipment

i know the rules are different to temporary staff but if they are going to be sent out on delivery for instance,

DO ROYAL MAIL HAVE TO ISSUE FOOTWARE

say one of these staff slipped on ice and broke there leg and royal mail tried to use the excuse of traniers for instance.

do we have any regs on this

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

The relevant regulations are the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

Regulation 4 states:
Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.

The accompanying guidance states:
Employers should, therefore, provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its usage to their employees wherever there is a risk to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

In order to provide PPE for their employees, employers must do more than simply have the equipment on the premises. The employees must have the equipment readily available, or at the very least have clear instructions on where they can obtain it

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

doesnt latter if they are temporary or not RM have duty to provide for their employees regardless of contract or hours worked,

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

DO ROYAL MAIL HAVE TO ISSUE FOOTWARE

that would depend on their risk assessment, their safe system of work currently in use says they do

[fishtank]

LTB 874/07 Health and Safety Law - A Guide on Temporary, Casual and Agency Workers

CWU Guide on Temporary, Casual and Agency Workers.doc

For example, if user businesses provides employees with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as protective clothing and footwear, agency workers will also need the same PPE if they are exposed to the same risks.

[POSTMAN]

You know how long it takes to get footwear,newbies do the job for weeks before they get theirs,temporary workers have no chance.

[fishtank]

You know how long it takes to get footwear,newbies do the job for weeks before they get theirs,temporary workers have no chance.

Why does it take so long though?
It's not like they are hand stitched Italian Loafers ffs.
We just accept the wait for some reason.
3 or 4 days max to source a pair of boots or i would tell the supplier to f**k off.

[DGP1]

You know how long it takes to get footwear,newbies do the job for weeks before they get theirs,temporary workers have no chance.

Why does it take so long though?
It's not like they are hand stitched Italian Loafers ffs.
We just accept the wait for some reason.
3 or 4 days max to source a pair of boots or i would tell the supplier to f**k off.

2 weeks I've been waiting on my new ones, luckily I order in plenty of time or I would go in in bare feet.

[clashcityrocker]

3 or 4 days max to source a pair of boots or i would tell the supplier to f**k off.

I think the problem is they send them through the post.
We'd probably get them quicker if they used a courier.

For anyone in dire need there's always ebay...........

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

You know how long it takes to get footwear,newbies do the job for weeks before they get theirs,temporary workers have no chance.

Why does it take so long though?
It's not like they are hand stitched Italian Loafers ffs.
We just accept the wait for some reason.
3 or 4 days max to source a pair of boots or i would tell the supplier to f**k off.

For me the biggest question is, given the size of a typical depot, why can't a pool of shoes be kept on site (one pair of each size)? Pair requested by whoever, lino retrieves said pair from locker to give to member of staff, fills in red tape documentation and then requests replacement pair from Sheffield for the pool.

Absolutely no excuse for anything more than a few working days delay between postie request and issue, if you are unlucky to request the same size that has been issued in the last two days...

[fishtank]

For me the biggest question is, given the size of a typical depot, why can't a pool of shoes be kept on site (one pair of each size)? Pair requested by whoever, lino retrieves said pair from locker to give to member of staff, fills in red tape documentation and then requests replacement pair from Sheffield for the pool.

Absolutely no excuse for anything more than a few working days delay between postie request and issue, if you are unlucky to request the same size that has been issued in the last two days...

It's called lean procurement or "just in time" philosophy.
In theory it means that the uniform supplier doesn't have to carry huge amounts of stock,they order from the manufacturer as needed.
In practice it means we have to wait ridiculous amounts of time for uniform supplies and leaves you wondering why we have a uniform supplier at all when basically all you are doing when you order a piece of kit is ordering it directly from the manufacturer anyway.

[keithposty]

I HAVE HAD AN INTERESTING RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE FROM A SENIOR FIGURE IN ROYAL MAIL

QUOTE

Royal Mail footwear for delivery OPG’s is not currently classified as “Personal Protective Equipment”. Royal Mail have been in discussion with the CWU for several years over this matter and discussions continue.



Even though Royal Mail footwear is not classified as “Personal Protective Equipment”, it doesn’t mean that sub standard footwear should be worn. My view is that Royal Mail footwear should be worn by all delivery OPG’s as part of our uniform standard. The only exception is when a delivery OPG is not able to wear Royal Mail footwear for medical reasons and is able to produce a GP’s letter as evidence.

what i would like comments on is this:

is this just a back stepping letter or is the wearing of royal mail footwear PPE OR NOT

[fishtank]

As you will know, one of the announced austerity spending reduction measures was to suspend the provision of Uniform Clothing on 5 February. Concerns were raised by the Health, Safety & Environment Department specifically in relation to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) because although Royal Mail's Head of Assets had stated that the suspension excluded PPE Clothing, sadly, confusion and general ignorance amongst local Royal Mail Managers of their legal obligations and an inability to know what is and is not PPE lead to wholesale non-provision of all items of clothing including PPE.
PPE is defined in the PPE Regulations as ‘all equipment which is worn at work to protect workers against one or more risks to his/her health or safety. This can include safety coats, hats, gloves, waterproofs, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear (anti-slip & anti-impact etc, clothing affording protection against heat or cold, the weather cold, rain, snow, sunlight etc).

Further representations were made to Allan St John Holt RMG Head of Safety and Ian Griffiths RML Managing Director, Phil O'Gorman Head of Assets and Ian Stockdale Head of CSR requesting that a clear communication be issued to Managers as to the definition of PPE and that PPE will continue to be provided to CWU Members.
Royal Mail have restated that they will not compromise the safety of Royal Mail employees and they have agreed to issue an immediate "Opps, Assets and Network Special" communication confirming the information and Policy (Reproduced below). They have also confirmed that Normal arrangements will be resumed at the beginning of the new financial year.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Opps, Assets & Network Special" Tuesday, 20 February 2007
Uniform ordering embargo update - Ordering other essential items

As previously advised, the only items for which the Uniform Helpline will
accept orders during the embargo (which commenced Monday, 5 February 2007)
are:

- Safety shoes and boots
- Indoor shoes
- Outdoor shoes and boots
- Hi-vis waistcoats (EN471 Class 2)
- Hi-vis jackets (EN471 Class 3)

This temporary restriction applies to uniform wearers and to managers.

[keithposty]

may i ask where that statement came from fishtank, its important and i will prob have to quote from it as royal mail agree that footwear is personal ppe

[fishtank]

may i ask where that statement came from fishtank, its important and i will prob have to quote from it as royal mail agree that footwear is personal ppe

07ltb161austerityupdate (3).doc