Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 022 – ‘Cleaners Faced With Unsafe Workplace Conditions’

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 022 – ‘Cleaners Faced With Unsafe Workplace Conditions’:

Introduction, Background and Description: 

Royal Mail Group’s Safety Team have issued ‘RMG SHE Safety Flash FY23 022’ on the subject of ‘Cleaners being faced with unsafe workplace conditions’ following a series of recent accidents in operational offices.

In recent months several RMP&FS cleaners across the country have experienced serious injury from unsafe workplace conditions which they have been presented with at Royal Mail operational sites, ranging from broken glass in waste bins, overfilled waste bins with hidden sharps inside, falling and collapsing delivery frames secured only by cable ties, and discarded, dismantled equipment stored and stacked unsafely etc.

All of these accidents and resultant injuries were preventable if safe working practices were followed. This SHE Flash has been issued to highlight the risks that have been created by people disposing of waste in an inappropriate way.

Impact/Injuries: 

Several cleaners involved in recent accidents received minor and serious physical injuries, initially given first aid and subsequently treated at minor injury clinics, hospital A&Es and GP surgeries.

By law:

• Employers and managers are required by the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure the health and safety of the workforce and to provide a workplace that is a safe place and has a safe system with safe plant and equipment. These responsibilities cannot be abrogated on to front line cleaning staff.

Key Messages, Learning Points, Advice and for PiCs and Unit Managers: 

Managers’ responsibilities: It is not the role of cleaning staff to segregate or remove waste that’s presented in an unsafe manner. See the images in the SHE Flash attached of some of the unsafe conditions leading to recent accidents and injuries to cleaners. In addition, hazardous biological waste and conditions were left for cleaners in some units.  Cleaning and maintaining a hygienic operational site can be a challenging task. Those who perform this vital role are often presented with difficult conditions. Cleaners deserve dignity and respect in the workplace.

The primary responsibility in law and in RMG Safety Instructions rests with the employer and their appointed Unit Managers or Persons in Control (PiCs). From there, everyone should contribute and be responsible for helping maintain a safe place to work and creating a positive safety culture. To do this, Unit Managers and Persons in Control (PiCs) must ensure a safe working environment for all employees and visitors under their control. They are required by law and so must conduct and be involved in safety inspections of the workplace to identify unsafe conditions before they can lead to accidents and harm.

PiCs and Unit Managers (MCMs, COMs, Plant Managers, Depot Managers etc.) – Actions:

• Broken glass should be placed directly into the external waste bin, to prevent the risk to cleaners, unaware of its presence, handling the waste broken glass and sustaining an injury. If this is not possible, broken glass should be safely, carefully packaged to prevent harm to cleaners whilst disposing of the waste.
• Brief the unit workforce on the importance of maintaining a safe place to work and encourage them to report unsafe conditions and acts, promoting a ‘Don’t-Walk-By’ culture.
• Highlight to the unit workforce that broken glass and other sharps should not be placed in general waste and should be disposed of with care.
• When dismantling, removing and relocating RM2000 Preparation Sorting Frames, the Safe Working Instructions and Task Based Risk Assessment must be followed – it’s ‘Mandatory’.
• Adhere to the instructions on the Minor Maintenance Works for Operations SharePoint site.
• Do not attempt to secure or construct of fit together any work equipment such as RM2000 Sorting Frames and Wings with ‘cable ties’. This is in breach of the Safe Working Instructions and Task Based Risk Assessment.
• When performing safety conversations with staff, ensure waste disposal and cleaners’ safety is covered.
• Make sure employees are briefed on waste disposal rules.
• Agency staff also need to be briefed on the rules.
• Managers must monitor waste disposal.

CWU ASR/WSR Actions:

• ASRs/WSRs please ensure that this Safety Flash is communicated and brought to the attention of all appropriate managers and members in Royal Mail and Parcelforce and that the SHE Flash actions are deployed by PiCs/Unit Managers.
• ASRs to concentrate attention on this matter during Workplace Safety Inspections and ensure members are briefed.
• Ensure the waste disposal safety rules are followed at all times and monitored by the Unit Manager/PiC.
• Ensure surplus equipment and waste is promptly removed from sites and not stored in York Containers, yards, outhouses, basements and cupboards etc.

Attachment: 

• Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 0232– ‘Cleaners Faced With Unsafe Workplace Conditions’.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 312/23 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 022 – ‘Cleaners Faced With Unsafe Workplace Conditions’

Att: SHE Flash FY23 022 – Cleaners Facing Unsafe Conditions

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