Postal staff’s lesson on dangerous dogs

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Post office workers are receiving specialist training to help against attacks by dangerous dogs.

The Royal Mail arranged for a dog warden to come to its Ashington delivery office to assess the safety measures in place and to offer advice to postal workers about how to deal with aggresive dogs.

Health and safety representative at the Ashington facility, David Allen, said: “We are working hard to improve the safety of our staff, especially where dangerous dogs are concerned.

“We are using new techniques to reduce dog bites and attacks on our staff.

“We are trying to make everyone safe in light of all the recent attacks by dogs in our area.”

The dog warden spoke with postal workers about dog behaviours and different breeds of dog, offered advice, and showed the equipment he uses in his role.

A Royal Mail spokesman added: “Dog attacks are a significant hazard faced by our postmen and women.

“Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.

“With around 3,000 dog attacks on postmen and women every year, we have to take the risk posed by dogs seriously.

“We welcome the new law around dog attacks that has just come into force and extends legal protection to postmen and women entering private property, including a customer’s garden.

“We appeal to dog owners to work with us to help keep animals under control when the postman calls.”