Celebrating Black History Month (BHM)

The Equal Opportunities Department has been promoting Black History Month in the UK for a number of years, celebrating and remembering the history and contributions of Black communities and black individuals, past and present.

The CWU will be supporting Wear Red Day organised by Show Racism the Red Card on Friday, 19^th October and we encourage all our Branches and Regions to consider organising a Black History initiative in order that our members can be better informed around the significant contribution of black people in history.

We are in possession of a number of interesting black history pull-ups, which feature various characters both from the past and present. These pull-ups, which are part of a wider exhibition, have been used and celebrated by organisations such as the Labour Party and other trade unions.

Use of the pull-ups is completely free but carriage costs would be met by anyone agreeing to use them. We also ask that any Branch or Region who uses the pull-ups considers making a donation to the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT).

We are confident that all CWU members irrespective of their colour, creed etc. will find a black history initiative of great interest. Black History should not just be celebrated for a month – our view is that it is important throughout the year.

Here is a link to a poster celebrating Black History month. Please put up in your workplace to raise awareness and celebrate significant achievements.

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BHM2018-A3.pdf

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be addressed todnoel@cwu.org in the Equal Opportunities Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward  

General Secretary  

592LTB – Celebrating Black History Month 2018  

House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Select Committee – Report on ‘Controlling Dangerous Dogs’ and Recommendations to the UK Government

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

LTB 366/18 informed Branches that on 11 May 2018, the House of Commons, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Select Committee had launched an inquiry into the legislation on dangerous dogs. LTBs 405/18 and 409/18 reported on the CWU written submissions made to the inquiry plus the televised oral evidence given to the inquiry at the House of Commons on 27 June 2018 by the National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

LTB 572/18 reported to Branches on the separate Scottish Government, Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee Review of Dangerous Dogs and Dog Control Law, including the CWU Written Submission.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced to protect the public from dangerous dog attacks. In 2014, the Act was extended to include attacks on private property and also brought in tougher penalties and new extended Police dog seizure powers along with Community Protection Notices, amongst other improvements, following the CWU’s successful 7-year ‘Bite Back’ Campaign.

Despite the positive changes to the Dangerous Dog Laws, there has been substantial debate about the effectiveness of this dog control legislation with a number of criticisms and concerns raised by the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department particularly around inconsistencies with enforcement of the law by the Police and Local Authorities as well as interpretation of the law by Police forces, Crown Prosecution Services and the courts and finally, inconsistent and lenient court sentences despite two sets of guidance from the Sentencing Council.

3000 postal workers are attacked by dogs at work annually. Forty people (members of the public, adults and children) have been killed in dog attacks or died as a result of an attack since 2005. The number of yearly hospital admissions due to dog attacks has also risen by over 80% in the last decade, indicating the continuation of a very serious situation in the UK.

The Government is responsible for protecting the public, including Postal and Telecom workers from dangerous animals, so it is essential that laws evolve, are fit for purpose and work.

The House of Commons EFRA Select Committee of MPs have been investigating whether the Government’s current approach is having the desired effect or not, and whether any changes to the law are needed to ensure that the public and workers are properly protected and additionally that animal welfare concerns are properly addressed.

The Inquiry Terms of Reference are to address the following questions:

• How effective is the Government’s current approach to protecting the public from dangerous dog attacks?
• What changes, if any, should be made to the current approach and legislation?
• How can Local Authorities and Police forces be best supported in reducing the number of dangerous dog-related incidents?
• What lessons could the UK learn from other countries dealing with similar issues?

The EFRA Select Committee’s Report entitled “Controlling Dangerous Dogs” which includes a number of positive recommendations to the UK Government has been officially published and released today (copy attached) and the report contents and recommendations will be very much welcomed across the Union.

Also attached is a CWU Press Release welcoming the report and commending the EFRA Select Committee. The CWU is now calling on the UK Government to implement the recommendations in full. CWU Regions, Branches and Representatives are welcome to forward the Press Release to local and regional press and media in order to spread the important message.

We will be pressing the Government to stop ducking the issue and living in denial of the facts that confront society in the UK with dangerous dogs, which is a problem spiraling out of control.

The Government should now accept the EFRA Select Committee’s recommendations in full and get to work without delay in putting the report into action and into law.

The Select Committee has concluded that the Government’s current approach to dog control is failing to protect people! It’s certainly failing to protect postal workers with 3000 attacked by dogs every year.

With 23,000 Police officers cut from the UK’s forces since 2009 and Local Authority cuts leading to the disappearance of Dog Wardens, it’s not surprising that dog control has slipped down the priority list which is a point made by the CWU and reflected as a concern in the Report. In this respect the Select Committee recommends that there needs to be increased support for Local Authorities and Police forces to ensure they have the capacity to fulfil their duties.

Hospital admissions for dog attacks have increased by 81 percent since 2005 and is costing the taxpayer £millions and £millions on top of the personal tragedies, pain and suffering. Yet the Government stands by whilst those responsible, the irresponsible dog owners walk away without paying a penny!

There are an unacceptably high number of postal workers who are victims as well as children and members of the public, who suffer horrific life-changing injuries in these incidents as well as psychological distress and the Government needs to wake up to the facts and act now. This can’t go on.

The issue of Breed Specific Legislation is a diversion away from the real problem of irresponsible owners. Postal Workers get attacked by every breed and sundry and banning certain breeds has achieved nothing. Any breed can be aggressive if it’s basic needs, care, welfare, wellbeing, training and socialisation is ignored. The problem is on the other end of the lead and many of these people should never be dog owners. The Government needs to focus on dealing with that ‘bad owner’ problem.

Section 10 of the Dangerous Dogs Act which is causing confusion in the courts must be addressed and the 20 pieces of various Dog Laws currently on the statue books need to be reviewed and consolidated into an easily understood law in line with CWU Conference Policy. As the Select Committee concluded – the present approach to dog control is plagued with deep structural problems.

The Government needs to endorse the Select Committee’s key recommendation to ‘commission a comprehensive review of existing dog control legislation and policy’, with a view to focus on prevention, early intervention, and consistently robust sanctions for offenders’ – that’s essential.

The CWU wants to see effective preventative measures introduced, one of which is ‘Dog Control Notices’ which can be served on dog owners imposing legally enforceable requirements to train and control their animals and so avoid attacks, with legal sanctions for non-compliance.

The CWU also wants to see consistency from the courts with a full range of penalties, sentences and ancillary orders fully utilised which we don’t see presently. Prison sentences and unlimited fines are available for aggravated offences but these are rarely used. Courts have been reminded that they must consider compensation in all cases where personal injury occurs but this doesn’t always happen either.

Dog ownership disqualification is another order which is under-used by courts and despite the Sentencing Guidelines requiring the court to make a destruction order where the dog is a danger to public safety this rarely happens and a contingent destruction order is instead handed down which is breached in many cases.

The CWU also supports the recommendations on mandatory training and education courses for minor dog offences, similar to speed awareness courses for drivers as well as wider dog awareness training for schoolchildren, and running targeted awareness campaigns for dog owners and the general public on safe human-dog interaction.

The EFRA Parliamentary Select Committee Members are:- Neil Parish (Chair) (Conservative), Alan Brown (Scottish National Party), Paul Flynn (Labour), John Grogan (Labour), Dr Caroline Johnson (Conservative), Sandy Martin (Labour), Kerry McCarthy (Labour), Sheryll Murray (Conservative), David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party), Angela Smith (Labour), and Julian Sturdy (Conservative).

A further report will be made following the Government’s response to the Report.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB590 House of Commons EFRA Select Committee Report on Controlling Dangerous Dogs

Dangerous Dogs Press Release

HC 1040 – Controlling dangerous dogs-Embargo (002)

Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting/ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Following a number of complaints and RMG/CWU accident escalation procedure cases, the above issue was discussed in detail with the RMG Safety Health & Environment Team and RMG Accident Management Unit. The matter was resolved with an RMG SHE Team circular in May. However, recently it was discovered that different criteria and advice was being given to areas by the RMG AMU (Accident Management Unit) which was leading to Bites and Stings going unrecorded.

These incidents are not large in number, but the effects on some sting and bite victims can be profound. The CWU has had a small number of members contract the potentially life-threatening virus Lyme disease following Tick bites. Due to climate change the UK has seen a dramatic increase in the Tick population and with it an increase in bites. Illnesses from Tick, Mosquito, and Flea bites have more than tripled worldwide.

False Widow spiders are on the increase and in the national press recently it was reported that seven London Schools had to be closed due to False Widow Spider infestations. This is the UK’s most venomous spider and victims of spider bites can develop infections and suffer dangerous anaphylactic shock following Spider, Wasp or Bee Stings.

An accident at work is a “discrete occurrence in the course of work” leading to physical or mental occupational injury.

In short, it has now been accepted and agreed that ALL INSECT BITES AND STINGS SHALL BE RECORDED AS ACCIDENTS ON DUTY AND RECORDED ON ERICA AS NORMAL.

If any case hasn’t been correctly entered on ERICA, Area Health & Safety Reps should challenge the local Person in Control and SHE advisor. If no progress is made then please complete the Accident Dispute Escalation Form and send it up the line and it will be corrected.

Attachments:-

• New Instructions from RMG SHE Team 22.05.18 and From RMG Accident Management Unit dated 01.10.18
• Picture of a False Widow Spider 
• Picture of Ticks 

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB588 Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings

False Widow Spider

Images of Ticks

Insect Bites Stings – AMU Instruction 01.10.18

Insect bites and stings Incident reporting and investigation (RMG SHE Ma.._

Merseyside Man Jailed For 18 Months Following Vicious Double Dog Attack‎ – Police Appeal to CWU to help Find The Missing Two Dangerous Dogs

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Merseyside Police who work very closely with the CWU proactively promoting the message of responsible dog ownership and prosecuting offenders have requested the assistance of CWU members across Merseyside.

Fredrick Farnsworth, a 73-year-old Liverpool man who pleaded guilty to having two dogs dangerously out of control, causing injury to two young children, has this week been jailed for 18 months after the “horrific” dog attack on the children in a park. One of the young children received very serious injuries to his legs, arms, face and back. The second was also injured less severely. Both were rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where they were treated. The emotional trauma both boys suffered is likely to stay with them for a very long time. The CWU welcomed the 18 months jail sentence which is a realistic sentence in our view.

However, Merseyside Police said the two dogs had not yet been handed in or traced. The Police have appealed to anyone who might know where the dogs are to contact police and they have asked the CWU for their assistance in this. Officers have asked anyone with information about these dangerous dogs to contact them so that they can take proactive action. Detectives have issued a picture of two dogs they wish to trace following the incident which occurred last month (See attached).

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the dogs, see’s them in the area, or has any information to assist the investigation is asked to contact Merseyside Police by;

• Calling 101 and quoting incident reference 18200131064 or by
• Calling Crimestoppers (Independent UK Charity) anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via
• Facebook Merseyside Police CC or on line at
• www.crimestoppers-uk.org

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said this was a “horrific” incident and stressed the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control at all times.

The Police have asked if Postal and Telecom Workers in the Merseyside and surrounding areas could keep an eye out and to report any sightings of the missing dogs. Thank you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB587 Merseyside Man Jailed For 18 Months Following Vicious Double Dog Attack

Photograph1‎

Brake’ Fleet Safety Awards 2018

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The annual Fleet Safety Awards is a prestigious annual event, run by ‘Brake’, the UK road safety charity. The awards recognise the achievements of those working to help reduce the number of road crashes involving at-work drivers. Brake welcomes awards entries from organisations running any size or type of fleet, as well as from companies that provide road safety products or services to fleets.

At this year’s event held on Thursday 11 October at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Royal Mail Group’s Safety, Health and Environment team, headed by Royal Mail Group Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability Dr. Shaun Davis had a successful evening, after being shortlisted in five of the eleven categories, winning two and being highly commended in three of them as follows:-

1. Company Driver Safety Award – Large Fleet – Highly Commended.
2. Sustainable journeys (environment) – Winner. 
3. Road Safety in the Community – Highly Commended.
4. Safe Vehicles – Shortlisted. 
5. Road Risk Manager of the Year – Winner (Mark Bromhall Royal Mail Group Road Safety Manager).

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB586 Brake Fleet Safety Awards 2018

Royal Mail Safety Briefing – Parcel Sorting Machine – Operators Overriding Safety Systems – Jamming Down The Jog/Push Button:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

When working on the eject station of the PSM there is a ‘jog push button’ to start the conveyor belt as illustrated in the attached, this should be pressed when required to move ejects along the belt to the table where they can be sorted.

There have been 3 incidents reported where this button has been fastened down with elastic bands so the belt runs continuously. That has resulted in parcels becoming stuck between the belt and the table. Engineers have then been called and there have subsequently been 2 near misses and an accident.

The engineers can be seriously injured if this safety mechanism has been overridden.

There are no circumstances under which this action is acceptable and by interfering with a safety button, those concerned are risking serious injury to colleagues.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Employersmust do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this including the provision of Safe Systems of Work. Employees are legally bound to co-operate and follow safe working methods at all times. Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act puts a duty upon employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts and omissions at work. If injury is caused, a worker can face prosecution. Royal Mail has stated in relation to this matter that anyone found to be in breach of the SSoW and deliberately tampering with a safety device will be subject to RM conduct code/disciplinary action.

Safety is the responsibility of everyone who works in a Mail Centre where PSM machines are in operation and it is important that all SSoWs are followed as they have been developed to protect the workforce that work on the Parcel Sort Machine (PSM).

There have recently been three incidents of workers overriding the safety systems and on one occasion this led an engineer being injured.

Please make sure that members are made aware of this attached Safety Briefing which includes diagrams and photographs.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB585 Royal Mail Safety Briefing – Parcel Sorting Machine – Operators Overriding Safety Systems – Jamming Down The Jog Push Button

WTLL Brief Reject Jog Button 19_7_18

Special General Conference “Redesign” Agenda Pad – 3^rd/4^thNovember 2018

Branches would wish to know that the agenda pad for the Special General Conference on Redesign has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/05686-Redesign-agenda-2018.pdf

A pdf. copy has also been attached. Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and due to the timescales will be available to collect prior to the commencement of conference. Details of this will be provided in future correspondence.

Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed toconferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward – General Secretary  

Tony Kearns – Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB584 – Special General Conference Agenda Pad – Redesign

05686 Redesign agenda 2018