Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – Motion 17 (2018) – Supporting the “Tyred” Campaign – Government announces ban on old coach, bus and lorry tyres from UK roads in new measures to improve road safety through legislation due before Parliament in the autumn

Further to LTB 530/19 this is an update on the “Tyred” Campaign which the Union has been fully supporting following the carriage of Motion 17(2018).

In recent years the safety of older tyres on heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches has become a matter of increasing concern following a series of fatal accidents on UK roads.

In September 2012, a catastrophic failure of a 19-year-old tyre, fitted to the steered axle of a large coach, led to the loss of three lives. In September 2017, a truck travelling on the M5 suffered a tyre blow-out of an 18-year-old tyre and collided with oncoming traffic with five lives lost in that accident. The accident investigations in both cases concluded that the tyre failure was as a direct result of its age – both tyres were nearly 20 years old.

The ‘Tyred’ Campaign was launched in 2017 by Frances Molloy from Liverpool, the mother of a victim of the 2012 fatal crash – Michael Molloy.

This week, on 15 July 2020, Government Roads Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton announced that Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales in a boost to road safety.

The ban follows an extensive investigation, including research commissioned by the Department for Transport, which indicates ageing tyres suffer corrosion which could cause them to fail.

The move will make it illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches, and all wheels of minibuses.

The new law will include the following measures:

• Banning tyres aged 10 years and older.
• A Requirement for tyres to have a clearly visible date of manufacture on them, ensuring older tyres are easy to spot.

The secondary legislation will be laid in the autumn and will also apply to re-treaded tyres – with the date of re-treading to be marked – making the age of the tyre clearly visible.

The Minister said that in the same way that you wouldn’t drive a car with faulty brakes, ensuring tyres are fit for purpose is crucial in making every journey safer.

Taking this step will give drivers across the country confidence their lorries, buses and coaches are truly fit for use – a safety boost for road users everywhere.

This change is in no small way the result of years of campaigning, particularly from Frances Molloy and her ‘Tyred’ campaign supported by the CWU and a number of other organisations and individuals.

Drivers, owners and operators are responsible for the safety of their vehicles. This will also now include ensuring vehicle tyres meet the new requirements. The government will also be asking DVSA to continue checking tyre age as part of their routine roadside enforcement activities and adding an additional assessment to the annual MOT test.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 382/20 – Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – Motion 17 (2018) – Supporting the Tyred Campaign

Royal Mail & CWU National Terms of Reference on the trial of a Vehicle Check App

To comply with the ‘O’ Licence maintenance obligations (that affect all vehicles and not just those ‘O’ Licensed), Royal Mail has committed to maintain its vehicle fleet to a standard agreed with the Department of Transport. In addition, the duty of care to our members and other road users and members of the public, as well as the Health & Safety at Work Act, means that Royal Mail must ensure all drivers are aware of their responsibilities. To maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition, it is the legal responsibility of every driver to carry out basic safety and maintenance checks every time a vehicle is used.

Branches will therefore recall that drivers working in Royal Mail Operations must undertake different levels of safety checks at different times. Checks when a vehicle is first used (daily or first use check), at the start of another duty (duty check), and weekly ones which all vary slightly, and drivers must understand which is to be done and when. Managers must also carry out periodic checks of their own to make sure vehicles are safe. Branches will further note that Royal Mail will ensure that sufficient time is included in all P318/ Driving Duty Schedules to allow drivers to perform each of the pre-use safety checks on their vehicles. It is a legal requirement that each new driver completes some form of roadworthiness check before taking a vehicle onto the road.

Royal Mail have recently approached the Outdoor Department to discuss how best to improve compliance of drivers around the legal requirement as mentioned above. An obvious concept is to complete these checks via an App on the PDA which will record each check electronically. Royal Mail are of the opinion that Under the Bonnet checks, as contained in the First Use Check, need only be completed on a weekly basis. Such checks will now preclude all fluid levels such as sufficient levels of oil including screen wash. The Department feel that such a move could potentially result in the status of the vehicle being in breach of the Ministry standards if there is insufficient water in your screen wash bottle which is enough to cause an MOT failure.

In order to compare both compliance and the effectiveness of the checks, the Department has agreed that from w/c 20th July roll out of this capability will proceed to 13 sites to test the App using the refreshed checks built into the App for a 4-week period. The trial will test both checks (6 units & 7 units) in order to ensure a like-for-like evaluation can be performed within the units, fully taking into account the roads, local factors and weather conditions etc. There will also be a shared list of vehicles identified in advance of the trial in order to ensure which vehicles are involved and on which checks, so this aspect can be monitored.

A suite of documents have been constructed alongside new training material that provides a step by step approach to the new process which must be completed by all drivers. Royal Mail will provide the necessary support, information and training for drivers on vehicle pre-use safety checks, as well as the PMT1 Fault Reporting procedure. All training will be recorded in a driver’s individual record, and if individuals feel that they have not been adequately trained, they should identify this and speak to their manager.

The Union and Royal Mail fully support the use of an App for the vehicle check process and recognise that we need to jointly improve compliance to the actual checks and ensure that this is done in a supportive way. The times associated to complete such checks will remain as listed in the Drivers’ Manual and will not impact upon the trial activity.

Any queries in relation to the content of the above should be directed to the Outdoor Department quoting reference 300, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 381/20 – Royal Mail & CWU National Terms of Reference on the trial of a Vehicle Check App
LTB 381/20 – ATTACHMENT

Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance/Q&A Document (Version 49)

I attach for your information Version 49 of the Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers document, issued by the business on Monday 13 July 2020.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB should be directed to Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 380/20 – Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance Q&A Document (Version 49)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v49

Coronavirus Covid-19 Test Kits – Collections From 34,000 ‘Priority’ Post Boxes – SOP & SSoW Health & Safety Compliance

As the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Test Kit collection operation moves on and up to 34,000 priority post boxes, the issue of maintaining compliance with the agreed high safety standards becomes crucial.

This matter has been raised by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment department and been subject to discussions at both the weekly RM/CWU National Joint Operations Skype meetings and on the RM/CWU National Joint Strategic Covid-19 Testing Kits Skype meetings.

Our concerns reflected the issues raised by a number of our Area Health and Safety Reps across the country who have reiterated concerns previously expressed that in some locations collection drivers, including collection on delivery staff were leaving offices without the full range of necessary specified kit and equipment in order to complete the Test-Kit collections from post boxes in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure and Safe System of Work. It was agreed by Royal Mail and CWU/HQ that we need to work collectively to improve on this and avoid it occurring. Area Health and Safety Reps (ASRs) and Workplace Health and Safety Reps (WSRs) are asked (by both Royal Mail and CWU) to keep a close eye on this and carry out regular safety spot-checks, reporting any non-compliance to operational management and SHE Advisors/Business Partners.

Royal Mail and CWU/HQ have agreed that we must jointly ensure that all collection drivers, including collections on delivery, have the list of items  necessary with them at all times when collecting from any post-box – see attached “Pre-Collection List” Poster.

The “Collect – Before You Leave The Office” Poster – lists the 6 items required before leaving the Unit – these are:

• Self-Seal Polythene Bags
• Green Mail Sacks
• PDA and Spare Battery
• Hand Sanitiser
• Gloves
• Waste Bag

This poster has been issued to all offices via a ‘SharePoint’ link, supported by WTLL briefing material.  The local “Deployment Leads” have been tasked to follow up with each collection and delivery office to provide concurrence to the following question “Have the Pre-Collection List Posters been printed and displayed in my site?”. Unit Managers have confirmed that this is the case.

ASRs and WSRs are requested to ensure the poster is on display and brought to the attention of collections staff.

Collections staff should then follow the 3 key principles:-

1. SPOT IT: UN3373 packaging and T24 label
2. BAG IT: SSOW must be followed (bag all kits) 
3. MOVE IT: Keep items separate from other streams and hand it over to a designated contact

Each DOM is asked to complete and sign-off the below concurrence questions to ensure they understand what is required to deliver on the Standard Operating Procedure and Safe Systems Of Work. You will see the question related to “Pre Collection list posters have been printed and displayed in my site” listed which aligns to the safety standard Royal Mail has set out. Would ASRs and WSRs spot-check compliance with this requirement.I know who my ops project lead is and have their contact informationMy site has a supply of CV19 labels and York cards (Contact Addressograph duty at Plant for stock)My site has a supply of green bags to relay the test kits to the plant  (1-2 required daily and are sourced from Plant)My site has a supply of polythene bags and I know how to order further stockAll collection drivers know to scan test kits as ‘Accepted at CSP’ before dispatch to Mail CentreAll collections drivers in my site have been trained and understand what they need to do (SSOW etc)All collections drivers in my postcode sectors have a copy of the handout – Test Kit Handout: Collection and Delivery ColleaguesPre Collection list posters have been printed and displayed in my siteAll collection drivers know that green bags must be used for test kits once they have been identifiedAll collection drivers know that green bags must be kept separate from other mail streamsAll collection drivers have been briefed on the handover process at the Mail CentreAll my collection roles in my area are aware of the location of their Priority BoxesI am aware that all items will be collected Mon – Sat in accordance to current plate timesI know that my Priority Boxes will be labelledI have resource in place to ensure collection from Priority Boxes is in place Mon – SatAll of my collectors know that all Priority Boxes will still receive a Collected scan as usual

See Attachments for your attention and assistance:

• Pre-Collection List Poster “Have You Got What You Need”
• COVID-19 Test Kit Mailings Delivery and Collections (Royal Mail Operations SSOW)
• Covid-19 Test Kits – Priority Post Box Collections – Managers’ Brief
• Covid-19 Collection From Postbox Operations Standard Special Procedure
• Collecting Test Kits Process
• SOP A3.1 Collecting From Postboxes
• RM/CWU – Covid-19 Priority Post Box Test Kit Collection Frequently Asked Questions

Any non-compliant offices or management queries can be reported directly to:- Francis Williams Royal Mail Operations Head of Commercial, Property & Central Functions Programmes. Email:-  francis.williams@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 379/20 – Coronavirus Covid-19 Test Kits – Collections From 34,000 ‘Priority’ Post Boxes – SOP & SSoW Health & Safety Compliance

COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections v1.2

COVID 19_priority post boxes_Operational Brief_v1.3

COVID Priority Post Box Collection_FAQs_v1.3

CV1 Collection from postbox

POSTBOX Collections drivers – pre collection list poster V2

POSTBOX Test Kit Handout for Collections and Delivery colleagues V6.1

Pre-Collection List – Have You Got What You Need – Poster

SOP A3.1 Collect from postbox

New Face Covering/Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices, Royal Mail Group Customer Service Points (CSPs) – Provision and Wearing of Face Masks by Royal Mail Group (RM, PFWW & RMSS) Staff

Further to LTB 368/20 this is an update on the changes to the latest government guidance and the ‘mandatory’ face coverings/face masks rules.

As Branches and Representatives will know, face masks in shops became mandatory in Scotland from 10 July.

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

The wearing of face coverings is already mandatory on all public transport. Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a £60 fine in Scotland and a fine of up to £100 in England.

Shoppers in Wales and Northern Ireland are not currently required to wear masks, although both nations have said this policy will be kept under review.

The impact of this is that from Friday 10 July all Royal Mail and Parcelforce and RMSS employees in Scotland delivering to or collecting from retail premises e.g., shops, supermarkets and Post Offices must wear a face covering (as reported in LTB 368/20). The same will apply in England from 24 July.

Customer Service Points/Callers Offices are classified as shops for the purposes of this guidance and therefore all customers using these facilities have needed to wear a face covering/mask from the 10 July Scotland and from 24 July will need to wear a face covering/mask in England.

It is not mandatory for Royal Mail Group employees who work in CSPs to wear a face covering/mask.  However, face masks remain available through line managers for anyone who chooses to wear one. A programme of installing ‘social distancing’ protective screens in Customer Service Points (CSPs)/Callers Offices has been underway as reported inLTBs 373/20, 324/20 and 334/20.

Following a meeting this week with Royal Mail Group Assets and Procurement, the Health, Safety & Environment department has been assured that Royal Mail Group has ample supplies of masks. Six million masks have been distributed to offices across the UK and five million are currently held in central stock at Swindon. Six million more masks are on order from suppliers to replenish stocks. If an office has less than 3 weeks supply an ‘App’ automatically re-orders supplies of Coronavirus/Covid-19 PPE supplies (masks, sanitiser gel, wipes and gloves).

Posters have been made available to display the face coverings/masks requirements in CSPs (copies attached).

A copy of the Communication issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment team regarding the above is attached.

The law provides discretion to people who have a health condition, a disability and other groups (see attached list).

Note: Further to LTB 368/20 – one additional face coverings/face masks rule change has been announced by the Welsh government this week, who will introduce a ‘mandatory’ requirement for face coverings/face masks on public transport (buses, trains and taxis) from 27 July.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Attachments:

• RMG SHE Communication – Face Coverings In Shops In England
• RMG Face CSP Face Coverings Poster (England)
• RMG Face CSP Face Coverings Poster (Scotland)
• Those Exempt From Wearing Face Coverings list

LTB 378/20 – New Face Covering Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices

England Face Covering

Royal Mail Group Safety – Face Coverings In Shops In England

Scotland Face Covering

Those exempt from wearing a face mask in the UK

Update session with Terry Pullinger DGSP

Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance/Q&A Document (Version 48)

I attach for your information Version 48 of the Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers document, issued by the business on Friday 10 July 2020.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB should be directed to Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Attachment:

Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance Q&A Document (Version 48)

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 377/20 – Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance Q&A Document (Version 48)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v48

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Use of Walkways – Pedestrian and Vehicle Segregation in Yards

Following a very serious ‘near-miss’ incident, which could have ended in a fatality, a Safety Flash has been issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Team (copy attached). The serious near-miss involved an employee not using the designated walkway and instead, taking a short cut and walking behind a reversing vehicle. The individual received a minor shoulder injury but quite easily could have been crushed to death!

Would all CWU Area Health and Safety Reps please note and communicate the content of the Safety Flash, supporting the key message, and reminding members of the importance of looking after their own safety when in yards where there is vehicle traffic which present hazards and risks.

By law, pedestrians or vehicles must be able to use a traffic route without causing danger to the health or safety of people.  However, no matter how well-designed and maintained a site is with suitable segregation of vehicles and people through separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic routes, in order to make workplace transport accidents less likely – it is only effective if the workforce complies with the rules and doesn’t ignore designated pedestrian routes, thoughtlessly placing themselves in mortal danger.

Health and Safety Executive workplace transport safety guidance states that where complete segregation is not possible, there is a need to have clearly marked pedestrian and vehicle traffic routes, using measures such as barriers and signs. There should be separate entrances and exits for vehicles and pedestrians, and vision panels should be installed on doors that open onto vehicle traffic routes. Where pedestrian and vehicle traffic routes cross, they should be clearly marked using measures such as dropped kerbs, barriers, deterrent paving etc., to help direct pedestrians to the appropriate crossing points.

Key Learning Point Set Out In The Safety Flash is:

• All employees and yard users MUST adhere to yard rules and ensure that designated walkways are used at all times when walking in the yard.

Key Managers’ Activities To Be Completed:

All Unit Managers (PICs) are to:

• Review their yard rules to ensure the key point of the use of walkways is clear and will be clearly understood by all employees.
• Ensure yard rules have be cascaded to all employees (and agency staff) and are clearly displayed in key locations.
• Undertake Safety Management Audit Tours (SMATs) checking compliance to SHE standards, yard safety controls and adherence to yard rules.

A copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash “FY20 012 – Use of Walkways in Yards” is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 376/20 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Use of Walkways – Pedestrian and Vehicle Segregation in Yards

SHE Flash FY20 012 – Use Of Walkways in Yards

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Parcelforce Vehicles Safe Access and Egress

Following a number of serious accidents in recent weeks, including sprains, strains, fractured ankles, broken bones and torn ligaments, a Safety Flash has been issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Team (copy attached). Parcelforce have seen a significant increase in the frequency of these accidents

Would all CWU Area Health and Safety Reps please note and communicate the content of the Safety Flash to Parcelforce Worldwide collections and deliveries drivers and HGV Network Trunking Drivers, supporting the key message and reminding drivers of the importance of safely getting in and out of larger vans and HGVs – a message that is in fact valid in Royal Mail as well as Parcelforce. Additionally, please check compliance when undertaking Safety Inspections

Accident investigations have found that drivers are not using the ‘3 points of contact’ method when getting into or out of their vehicles.

Key Learning Points set out in the Safety Flash are:

• Use the handles provided and maintain 3 points of contact.
• Use steps or T-Bars where fitted and make sure you have good grip and a firm foothold.
• Never jump from the back of the vehicle.
• Do not carry or hold any object during access and egress of vehicle.
• Always wear your safety footwear (boots with ankle support are recommended) and make sure the tread is in good condition.

Key Managers’ Activities to be completed:·         Managers to cascade the SHE Flash to all drivers.·         Managers to ensure all drivers see and read the ‘Vehicle Access and Egress’ Safe System of Work.·         Managers to check drivers accessing and egressing vehicles when inside the depot/yard and record these checks through the SMAT (Safety Management And Training) process.A copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash “FY20 011-Vehicle Access/Egress” is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 375/20 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Parcelforce Vehicles Safe Access and Egress

SHE Flash FY20 011 Vehicle Access-Egress

Disability Awareness Facebook Event – Thursday 16^th July 2020

Branches may be aware that Sunday 12^th July was Disability Awareness Day and Covid-19 has impacted across various sectors with members who have underlying health conditions taking the brunt.  With this in mind, we are delighted to confirm that we are holding the latest in our long line of online events, which has been confirmed for this Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

We will be joined by the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister for Disabled People – Vicky Foxcroft MP; Mark Anthony Bastiani – NEC Disability Lead; Tracey Fussey,- CWU NEC T&FS and Carl Maden – Acting Assistant Secretary Postal.

Come and join us for what promises to be an engaging discussion.  The event will be aired live on the CWU’s Equality & Education Facebook page.  It will also be shown on the CWU YouTube Channel.

Some event artwork is attached and we would be grateful if you could circulate this on your social media platforms.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to Equality&Education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 374 – Disability Awareness Facebook Event – Thursday 16th July 2020

Attachment 1 – Poster