Royal Mail Group – Provision of Personal Attack Alarms To Postal Workers

Royal Mail Group – Provision of Personal Attack Alarms To Postal Workers

This is a further short update following LTBs 422/2021, 435/2021, 455/21 and 562/21.

As previously reported, following discussions with Royal Mail Group HQ regarding concerns about the possible risk of physical and verbal threats and attacks on outdoor postal workers, agreement was reached between the CWU Health, Safety and & Environment Department and Royal Mail Group for the provision of Personal Attack Alarms for CWU members and that following further discussions with Royal Mail Group and ‘Dimensions’ the company’s work-wear supplier, it was further agreed that the new Personal Attack Alarms (PAAs) would be made available on the Royal Mail Group website/uniform ordering portal, from where CWU members can now order the item.

In October 2021, the new Personal Attack Alarms went live on the Royal Mail uniform ordering portal for ‘pre-orders’ of the alarms and 10,000 orders have to date been placed by CWU members which both the Union and RMG are delighted with. Royal Mail Group has subsequently ordered a further 10,000 Personal Attack Alarms from the manufacturer.

The Personal Attack Alarms (PAA) Safety Risk Assessment documentation has been cleared by Royal Mail Group and the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department with copies attached. At our request, a Noise Risk Assessment was carried out and the Personal Attack Alarm (PAA) was tested and has now received Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 safety certification clearance. The noise level recorded is within the legal maximum exposure limit.

As a result of the above, can all CWU Postal Branches and CWU Area Safety Reps, Area Delivery Reps and Area Distribution Reps remind members that Personal Attack Alarms are now available to any individual member who would like to request one. These are a simple, lightweight device (see attached image) that can clip on to the belt clip or PDA strap or Jacket ring and are activated by pulling the pin. A loud high-pitched noise is then sounded. These are recommended by both the Health and Safety Executive and the Police.

The Personal Attack Alarms can be ordered via the RMG Uniform portal as part of the personal uniform allocation.

As a reminder, on 10 January 2022 all managers were requested to brief members about the availability of Personal Attack Alarms and were tasked with the following Actions:

Communicate and discuss the availability of Personal Attack Alarms with staff;
Confirm the ordering process (via the uniform portal); and
Discuss any instances where individuals believe there might be a threat. Consider any other actions that could be taken, including updating the Offsite Risk Assessment (WRAP).

Would all Area Safety Reps carry out spot check safety inspections to ensure these actions have been complied with by all unit managers.

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