Royal Mail, Parcelforce and RM International Peak/Christmas Operations 2025: Temporary Outhouses and Temporary Structures – Health and Safety
As in previous years, the purpose of this LTB is to inform and update Branches and relevant Area Safety Representatives covering Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail International regarding the dedicated network of temporary outhouses, overflow, and relief sites as part of the 2025 Peak/Christmas operations.
This temporary network of sites will open on a phased basis as of November and is designed to increase overall capacity within the current Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) network during the Peak/Christmas period against the significant increase in parcel volumes. From a safety perspective, these sites aim to help to reduce the potential for congestion in Mail Centres and RDCs and will also enable the operation to cope better in the event of any severe weather conditions.
As normal, discussions have taken place with Royal Mail Group in relation to Health and Safety at these temporary Outhouse/structure sites to ensure full access and involvement of CWU ASRs. This is to ensure full access to the sites and involvement of our ASRs to undertake workplace inspections, pre-start and ongoing safety spot-checks, once the outhouses are operational, working jointly with the RMG SHE Team, Property Team and Operational Management, to deal with any health, safety, welfare and working environment issues during the full period these sites are in use. All the relevant Royal Mail Group Central SHE safety, health and environment documents are attached.
CWU: Royal Mail Group Peak/Christmas Temporary Outhouses Health & Safety Guide for ASRs – 2025
Attached to this LTB is a CWU guide which aims to offer relevant ASRs whose area of responsibility covers these temporary Outhouse/temporary structure sites, useful advice on the basic and core aspects of required Safety Inspections and to equally ensure the sites are compliant with Royal Mail’s Safety Policy Commitments and SHE Standards and Safe Working Instructions.
It is important to remember that in November of 2020, Health & Safety protections were extended to all so-called ‘gig economy’ workers. Therefore, all workers are entitled to work in an environment where the risks to their Health and Safety are properly controlled. If you are a gig, agency or temporary worker, your Health and Safety is protected by law and employment businesses/agencies have a duty to make sure that they follow it.
Safety Documents
Attached are several Royal Mail Group SHE documents, which have gone out to Royal Mail Regions and Safety Teams and which they are required to complete for any Outhouses/temporary structures used to support the Peak/Christmas operation.
These are:
- Safety Assessment and Concurrence (SAC1) Unit Level Action Plan
- Royal Mail Peak Pressure Site Guidance
- Royal Mail Peak Pressure Site Compliance Checklist
- Temporary Heating: Person in Control Guide and Checklist
SAC1 & Risk Assessments
Completion of the SAC 1 in particular may lead to the requirement to review several risk assessments in light of changes being introduced, for example:
- Yard – Primarily to ensure continued effective vehicle and pedestrian segregation on site, and perimeter site safety and the need for any additional barrier control measures such as ‘water filled’ crash barriers.
- Workplace – To identify and record any other significant risk issue inside the building.
- First Aid – Some of these sites can be remote and require first aid provision to be made.
- PPE – Potentially a number of risks at the site in terms of vehicle/pedestrian segregation and with adjacent properties who share the yard.
- Work Equipment – Normal work equipment may not suit some premises/environments.
- Fire Risk Assessment – Including fire evacuation plans, which are essential.
Royal Mail will also be ensuring the following points have been considered
- Site induction training – Everyone will be new to the premises.
- Statutory Notices in place – See the new Health and Safety notice board standard.
- Accident reporting procedure – Arrangements in place to allow reporting of accidents and near misses.
- Heating – RMPFS directive followed for temporary heating.
- Housekeeping standards – To minimise the risk of slip and trip accidents.
- Manual handling training – For all the temporary staff.
The above seeks to set out the clear arrangements that are aimed at helping and addressing problems experienced in the past with Peak/Christmas Outhouses and temporary structures, ensuring better Health and Safety standards, joint working and problem solving.
Also attached are the Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail International locations of the Christmas Outhouses and additional buildings and Marquee accommodation being used for the Peak/Christmas period 2025.
Attachments:
- CWU: Royal Mail Group Peak/Christmas Operation – Temporary Outhouses Health & Safety Guide for ASRs 2023
- Copy of RMG Outhouse/Temporary Site List 2025 (Excel File: RMG Xmas 25 – RM Tracker 311025 – Inc PFW)
- SAC1 Unit Level Action Plan V1.5 (Excel File)
- SHE Instruction 5.3 Change Management Guidance
- Royal Mail Peak Pressure Site Guidance (PFS2 335)
- Royal Mail Peak Pressure Site Compliance Checklist (PFS2_335a)
- Temporary Heating: Person in Control Guide and Checklist
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:
Processing/Distribution/Parcelforce/Engineering: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org; quoting reference LTB 254/25.
Deliveries/Collections: Tony Bouch, Assistant Secretary, email: pharacz@cwu.org; quoting reference LTB 254/25.
Yours sincerely,
Davie Robertson Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary
CWU_RM Peak Christmas Temp Outhouses H&S Guide for ASRs 2025
RMG Xmas 25 – RM Tracker 311025 – inc PFW
SHEI 5.3 Change Management v1.4
PFS2_335_Royal Mail Peak Pressure Site Guidance
PFS2_335a_Pressure Site Checklist
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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