well after 25 years doing deliveries and hitting 45 years in age my body is starting to struggle , my duty changed from cycle to hct trolley feb 11 and another 80 calls were added, after failing to complete for about 4 months not just me but also the 20 something floater & reserves they took off 100 calls which was better but still a struggle on all but the lightest of days, delivery time is 4 hours 45 mins most days as i do a 9 day fortnight full time.
it is exactly a mile to my 1st call & a mile back, delivery itself is now about nine miles so 11 in total (figures were obtained by gps phone and google maps drawing an image and measuring my route) i also order new trainers every 2 to 3 months as they fall to bits on the inside occassionly causing blisters and other discomfert etc.
anyway im getting sidetracked last week i had to end my delivery about a quarter of way round as i was unable to put weight on my left foot, and was picked up in van after i rung up office. i was sent home and told to see doctor (i offered to stay and sort but was told if unable to deliver i had to go home) doctor was seen and was told injury was to metatarsal area ligaments or stress fracture and keep feet up the rest of week if still same on monday go for xray. monday came foot was better so went to work, as we are struggling to get deliveries out due to not enough staff i offered to go out on cdv duty so my walk could be spilt up which is what happened until yesterday when i went back out on walk and hobbled around as it was my last working day this week .this morning went to a&e for xray to find out problem, as i was in a lot of pain , no break but i have an edema where pain is caused by rsi have been advised by hospital that i need better footwear as royal mail footwear is not good enough for my route, also change way delivery is performed ie bike or van or change to diferent duty structure or get a new job as after two weeks of rest to reduce edema it will keep returning if i carry on as i am .
just got back from office to see acting manager to be told in no uncertain terms if i am unable to do my delivery then he needs to contact royal mail health to recommend medical retirement, i was shocked & cant believe that he is able to do that, i said why not return to bike as others still do on overtime everyday but it just falls on deaf ears with him there is no way i want to retire and will fight it but i need some advice in where to start.
sorry if this 1st post rambles i am a bit hacked off at the minute.
edit after sickness last week i requested injury goes in accident book as it happened at work manager said it wasnt an accident so doesnt need to, also now i am off for a further spell of sickness i will hit a stage 1 warning so i need confirmation whether it needs to go in accident book.
thanks for reading
m
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medical retirement
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Himaggen
- Posts: 993
- Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 23:40
Re: medical retirement
If your condition can be reasonably managed then it would be unnecessary to retire you on health grounds.
You can of course only fight this if you have approved medical evidence to back you up. This evidence is provided for free through ATOS and your Manager should make the ATOS referral for you. If they haven't offered you the ATOS referral insist on it.
ATOS will assess your medical problem and make recommendations to your Manager. They will look at your condition and decide whether or not there is suitable Royal Mail footwear for you and advise on an alternative if not. They will also advise on the level and type of work you can perform in order to manage your condition.
You can of course only fight this if you have approved medical evidence to back you up. This evidence is provided for free through ATOS and your Manager should make the ATOS referral for you. If they haven't offered you the ATOS referral insist on it.
ATOS will assess your medical problem and make recommendations to your Manager. They will look at your condition and decide whether or not there is suitable Royal Mail footwear for you and advise on an alternative if not. They will also advise on the level and type of work you can perform in order to manage your condition.
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music4essex
- Posts: 717
- Joined: 15 Oct 2009, 16:18
- Gender: Female
Re: medical retirement
It seems to me that doms nowadays if you have a problem why you cannot do a full delivery span is to IHR via atos.
Its a shame they don't think out of the box and try and make some kind of duty up for you,
it sounds like you have policemans foot which seems to be happening to a lot of delivery posties,try and fight it with Atos
I know someone who has the same condition and they have been put on light duties to include part driving and walking duty to which atos agreed along with input from local cwu rep.
the postie also got gel pads to [put into the shoe, he was also told RM's footwear caused the condition as they are not adequate , also I am sure this condition can be put down as a disability but not sure
Good luck
Essex mum
Its a shame they don't think out of the box and try and make some kind of duty up for you,
it sounds like you have policemans foot which seems to be happening to a lot of delivery posties,try and fight it with Atos
I know someone who has the same condition and they have been put on light duties to include part driving and walking duty to which atos agreed along with input from local cwu rep.
the postie also got gel pads to [put into the shoe, he was also told RM's footwear caused the condition as they are not adequate , also I am sure this condition can be put down as a disability but not sure
Good luck
Essex mum
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redissue
- Posts: 88
- Joined: 23 Oct 2009, 01:33
- Gender: Male
Re: medical retirement
I'm off work at the moment with a bad back,i've been in the job over 25 years and have been doing P & L since last september.
No idea when i injured my back,pretty sure it's been the sheer weight of packets,bags and trolley we have to handle each day since the changes.
The doctor that examined me said that due to the type of work i did that it may be a better idea for my long term health to look for an other job.
They said that even if my back recovers that heavy manual lifting would cause more problems and that the i could end up with more serious complications
So i've been off work for 7 days had a call from a manager asking for a doctor's note,standard stuff but he's reffering me to ATOS even after such a short time off! I'd imagine as it's a back injury they think it's a chance to get rid off a full time staff member.I know i sound cynical there but our office does have a lot of surplus staff,a lot of guys near retirement age and guys like me mid 40's. To be honest i'd be quite happy to leave on medical retirement as i really can't see me working to 65 with the chance of permanant injury.
With my service what kind of medical retirement would i be looking at,that is if ATOS agree with my doctor?
No idea when i injured my back,pretty sure it's been the sheer weight of packets,bags and trolley we have to handle each day since the changes.
The doctor that examined me said that due to the type of work i did that it may be a better idea for my long term health to look for an other job.
They said that even if my back recovers that heavy manual lifting would cause more problems and that the i could end up with more serious complications
So i've been off work for 7 days had a call from a manager asking for a doctor's note,standard stuff but he's reffering me to ATOS even after such a short time off! I'd imagine as it's a back injury they think it's a chance to get rid off a full time staff member.I know i sound cynical there but our office does have a lot of surplus staff,a lot of guys near retirement age and guys like me mid 40's. To be honest i'd be quite happy to leave on medical retirement as i really can't see me working to 65 with the chance of permanant injury.
With my service what kind of medical retirement would i be looking at,that is if ATOS agree with my doctor?
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brothermagrew
- Posts: 3015
- Joined: 06 Aug 2007, 16:38
- Gender: Male
- Location: Shares a border with England to the south.
Re: medical retirement
mwhitt67
With regards to your injury being entered into the accident book (ERICA).
Many Area Safety Representatives have questioned the claims made by Directors giving presentations at last month's Royal Mail Managers Conference, reporting big number reductions in accidents which has added fuel to the fire of discontent around CWU Representatives concerns about the under reporting or misreporting of accidents.
CWU lawyers Simpson Millar LLP have advised regarding the provisions of regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 (as amended). In particular subsection 3 which reads:
(3) Every owner or occupier (being an employer) of any mine or quarry or of any premises to which any of the provisions of the Factories Act 1961
applies and every employer by whom 10 or more persons are normally employed at the same time on or about the same premises in connection
with a trade or business carried on by the employer shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph—
(a) keep readily accessible a means (whether in a book or books or by electronic means), in a form approved by the Secretary of State, by which a
person employed by the employer or some other person acting on his behalf may record the appropriate particulars (as defined in regulation 24)
of any accident causing personal injury to that person; and
(b) preserve every such record for the period of at least 3 years from the date of its entry.
In particular with regard to the above regulation:
1. The accident book or equivalent must be readily accessible.
2. It is a matter for the employee, not the employer or any one acting on behalf of the employer, whether an entry is made in the accident book or
equivalent.
3. There is no restriction on the nature and type of accident and injury that can be entered into an accident book or equivalent. It is for the employee
to determine whether or not they have sustained a personal injury and whether they have been involved in accident.
4. There is no restriction on the time within which an accident has to have occurred in order for an employee to make a record in the accident book
or equivalent. Regulation 25(3)(b) implicitly recognises that an entry may be made in an accident book at some point after the accident occurred.
Royal Mail have further been advised that a failure to provide a proper, accessible, accident book or equivalent may amount to a breach of statutory duty pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
In another of the attached letters to Royal Mail dated 23 April 2012, we have reminded Royal Mail of the provisions of regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 (as amended) and Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and have requested that they circulate an Instruction to all Managers ensuring that all accidents are properly recorded and entered on the ERICA Electronic Accident Book, system with an explanation of what occurred in the victims own words and not those constructed by someone else. We have requested that Royal Mail confirms that our members will now be permitted to make any requested entry into the ERICA accident recording system.
Royal Mail have been advised that any pattern of behaviour on their part which suggests that there is a consistent breach of obligations under the above Regulations can be drawn to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE have been made aware of the problems and complaints from ASRs regarding this matter which we have raised with Royal Mail.
Simpson Millar have also advised us to notify Royal Mail that should it become apparent that there is a systemic failure to comply with the above regulations, it is open to Royal Mail staff/CWU members to seek an injunction, declaratory relief or judicial review of the practice.
Suggest you read in full further down the health and safety forum and look for the posting on Accident Reporting, Investigation & Notification to CWU Area Safety Reps.
With regards to your injury being entered into the accident book (ERICA).
Many Area Safety Representatives have questioned the claims made by Directors giving presentations at last month's Royal Mail Managers Conference, reporting big number reductions in accidents which has added fuel to the fire of discontent around CWU Representatives concerns about the under reporting or misreporting of accidents.
CWU lawyers Simpson Millar LLP have advised regarding the provisions of regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 (as amended). In particular subsection 3 which reads:
(3) Every owner or occupier (being an employer) of any mine or quarry or of any premises to which any of the provisions of the Factories Act 1961
applies and every employer by whom 10 or more persons are normally employed at the same time on or about the same premises in connection
with a trade or business carried on by the employer shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph—
(a) keep readily accessible a means (whether in a book or books or by electronic means), in a form approved by the Secretary of State, by which a
person employed by the employer or some other person acting on his behalf may record the appropriate particulars (as defined in regulation 24)
of any accident causing personal injury to that person; and
(b) preserve every such record for the period of at least 3 years from the date of its entry.
In particular with regard to the above regulation:
1. The accident book or equivalent must be readily accessible.
2. It is a matter for the employee, not the employer or any one acting on behalf of the employer, whether an entry is made in the accident book or
equivalent.
3. There is no restriction on the nature and type of accident and injury that can be entered into an accident book or equivalent. It is for the employee
to determine whether or not they have sustained a personal injury and whether they have been involved in accident.
4. There is no restriction on the time within which an accident has to have occurred in order for an employee to make a record in the accident book
or equivalent. Regulation 25(3)(b) implicitly recognises that an entry may be made in an accident book at some point after the accident occurred.
Royal Mail have further been advised that a failure to provide a proper, accessible, accident book or equivalent may amount to a breach of statutory duty pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
In another of the attached letters to Royal Mail dated 23 April 2012, we have reminded Royal Mail of the provisions of regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 (as amended) and Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and have requested that they circulate an Instruction to all Managers ensuring that all accidents are properly recorded and entered on the ERICA Electronic Accident Book, system with an explanation of what occurred in the victims own words and not those constructed by someone else. We have requested that Royal Mail confirms that our members will now be permitted to make any requested entry into the ERICA accident recording system.
Royal Mail have been advised that any pattern of behaviour on their part which suggests that there is a consistent breach of obligations under the above Regulations can be drawn to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE have been made aware of the problems and complaints from ASRs regarding this matter which we have raised with Royal Mail.
Simpson Millar have also advised us to notify Royal Mail that should it become apparent that there is a systemic failure to comply with the above regulations, it is open to Royal Mail staff/CWU members to seek an injunction, declaratory relief or judicial review of the practice.
Suggest you read in full further down the health and safety forum and look for the posting on Accident Reporting, Investigation & Notification to CWU Area Safety Reps.
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