RMG/CWU 2015 Dog Awareness Week

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LTB407/15 RMG/CWU 2015 Dog Awareness Week - Mon 29 June - Fri 3 July 2015


No. 407/15
Ref P18/14
Date: 26 June 2015

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

RMG/CWU 2015 Dog Awareness Week - Mon 29 June - Fri 3 July 2015

Further to earlier LTBs, this is to remind Postal Branches, Area and Workplace Safety Reps and Regional Safety Forums that next week is Dog Awareness Week which is now an annual joint campaign to raise public awareness and awareness amongst CWU Members of the issue of Dog Attacks.

Material has been produced and circulated to all Office Managers supporting Dog Awareness Week which strongly emphasises that Royal Mail is working with the CWU and a number of animal charities and organisations including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross, PDSA, Vets and the National Dog Wardens Association to raise the profile of dog hazards with the public, enforcers and the Royal Mail workforce.

The aim of the materials circulated is to increase awareness of the number of dog hazards identified and captured in walk logs.

To ensure all our staff are aware of this week and the purpose to raise awareness both internally and externally with customers/dog owners.

That above all else Postal Workers/CWU Members must not put themselves at risk and to report all dog hazards, incidents and attacks to their manager to ensure the incidents are reported and where appropriate prosecuted.

Monday - 29th June
Internal and External Posters Will be sent hard copy to all Offices from RMG Central Comms, additional copies will be on the RM SharePoint for printing.
There will also be a Courier Newsflash which will be sent to arrive on Monday 29th June.
Posters received internally and externally will be displayed. Posters available electronically can be used to print more copies if required.
Delivery staff will be asked to take out copies of the poster to vets, doctor's surgeries and schools to improve awareness.
A copy of the news flash will be given to all staff to raise the profile of Dog Awareness Week and encourage them to report dog attacks.

Tuesday -30th June
WTLL sessions to take place to cover reasons for accurate information in the walk logs and consequences of dog attacks.
Printed copies of the WTLL brief will be handed out to all staff to take away.
Delivery staff will be briefed and reminded to carry a 'posting peg' with them on delivery and use it whenever they are delivering to addresses where they know there is a dog or hazard with the letter box.
Staff will be shown a short video "Avoiding Dog Attacks".

Wednesday 1st July
Office Managers will be provided with the new RMG Dog Attack Risk Management Control Standard and Report Form to familiarise themselves with and share/discuss with CWU Safety Reps.

Thursday 2nd July
Office Managers will familiarise and review the RMG Dog Attack Risk Management Control Standard to determine the best way to deal with the dog hazards identified by the frontline delivery staff and consult/involve CWU Safety Reps.

Friday 3rd July
Office Managers to thank the staff for playing their part in the week. Update staff on how many additional hazards have been raised and details of any actions taken in consultation with CWU Safety Reps.
Work with local press to raise the profile of the Dog Awareness Week campaign.

Saturday 4th July
Office Managers to brief staff on any dog attacks that have happened during the week and or any learning points from the most recent incidents in consultation with CWU Safety Reps.


Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer