LTB 193/20 Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits - Health and Safety and SSOWs - Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 193/20 Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits - Health and Safety and SSOWs - Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

No. 193/2020

9 April 2020

To: All Branches with members in Royal Mail Group

Dear Colleagues,

Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits – Health and Safety and SSOWs – Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

As detailed in LTB 161/20 and LTB 166/20 Branches will be aware the government has announced that Royal Mail will have a role in the distribution of Coronavirus testing kits to NHS and Social Care frontline staff currently in isolation and will be exclusively responsible for the collection of these kits.

Whilst the CWU welcomes the government’s decision to entrust this crucial task to the Royal Mail network, the priority of the CWU Health and Safety Department is the health, safety and wellbeing of our members, the workforce. Appropriate consultation and discussions have been taking place at a senior level with the business. The Health and Safety SAC1 has previously been circulated in LTB 166/20.

Following constructive consultation and dialogue with the RMG Central SHE Team and the RMG Dangerous Goods Advisor the attached documentation provides more details on the process and safety arrangements drawn up. Functional Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) have now been drawn up:

COVID-19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections

COVID-19 Test Kit SSOW Processing

These are comprehensive documents focusing on the safety of the workforce.

There will be ongoing RM/CWU review at national level, including a weekly conference to ensure oversight of the COVID-19 Testing Kits. To this end, the CWU Health and Safety Department requests Branch ASRs monitor arrangements in their Branch areas and localities, feeding back queries and questions to the CWU Health and Safety Department. These queries and questions will be logged with the RMG Dangerous Goods Advisor and will be discussed as part of the ongoing national review.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis
Acting National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB193 Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits – Health and Safety and SSOWs – Ongoing RM CWU National Review https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtiukld-jtfltlykj-k/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtiukld-jtfltlykj-o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Processing https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtiukld-jtfltlykj-o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtiukld-jtfltlykj-b/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POSTMAN]

[worktotime]

so we all ok as long we wash our before and after rounds ? what about during delivery ? or are we all immune to catching this virus ? these people don't have a clue on what we do on a delivery for 5-6 hours every day .

[Celtic warrior]

And since we're all in this together...
Whilst he sits in his safe house giving advice on how we can reduce the chances of taking this virus home to our loved ones.

[Deadly]

I don't remember the handling of potentially fatal viruses being in the job description.

[Lincox]

I remember having a leaking package brought in to our spdo from Donny mail centre. Our lady who did the paperwork notified the local DO and within no time there were 2 Fire Engines, Ambulance and of course the DOM and another manager. We were all locked out and had to wait 3 hours before two fire guys went in with more PPE than you could ever imagine (looked like spacemen) to make the place safe. Turned out to be something simple.
They now expect you to deal with packages that could possibly contain the most lethal virus known to man, with a pair of gloves and a plastic bag. Not one of them but thousands, possibly millions. I would not risk my life for £11/£12 per hour, and neither should the CWU entertain this.

[SpacePhoenix]

I remember having a leaking package brought in to our spdo from Donny mail centre. Our lady who did the paperwork notified the local DO and within no time there were 2 Fire Engines, Ambulance and of course the DOM and another manager. We were all locked out and had to wait 3 hours before two fire guys went in with more PPE than you could ever imagine (looked like spacemen) to make the place safe. Turned out to be something simple.
They now expect you to deal with packages that could possibly contain the most lethal virus known to man, with a pair of gloves and a plastic bag. Not one of them but thousands, possibly millions. I would not risk my life for £11/£12 per hour, and neither should the CWU entertain this.

The CWU and RM would probably get overruled by the government and/or OFCOM if they refused

[DGH]

packages that could possibly contain the most lethal virus known to man,

While not wishing to downplay the seriousness of Covid-19, it's not especially lethal. HIV is far, far more deadly, MERS is more lethal by quite a way too. Sundry others are also more deadly, including Rabies. What Covid-19 is going to be is more widespread, which is the key issue, not its lethality.