Rivus Garage Closures following BT Contract Loss

Rivus Fleet Solutions (formally BT Fleet) announced today at 4pm, the closure of forty-eight of their fifty-six garages. This follows their failure to secure alternative work in time to enable them to sustain the business until new contracts are signed and work arrives. To date, no new contracts have been signed.

Rivus was effectively a start-up company when it purchased BT Fleet and is owned by a Venture capitalist company called Aurelius. The BT work is around 60% of Rivus’s current workload.

The BT contract has been won by an American company called Holman, which has a UK base but no garage network of its own. An urgent meeting with Holman at senior level will be sought and our aim will be to ensure that they fulfil their legal obligations to our members under TUPE legislation and provide work for those who wish to transfer to Holman.

I am looking to hold a virtual forum for branches with Rivus members either later this week or very early next week. Further details will be provided as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely

Allan Eldred
Assistant Secretary

LTB 178.2023

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HSE Publishes Work-Related Fatality Figures 2023

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published work-related fatality statistics for the period 2022-2023. A copy is attached.

Great Britain Work-Related Deaths 2022-23

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. Their role is to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses and enforcement action through Fee For Intervention Charges, Improvement Notices, Prohibition Notices and prosecution through the courts. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. (HSE Website http://www.hse.gov.uk).

One hundred and thirty-five workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain in the last year, according to figures published on 6 July by the Health and Safety Executive.

The industries with the highest deaths were:

• Construction (45),
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (21),
• Manufacturing (15),
• Transportation and storage (15).

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing has the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers of all the main industrial sectors followed by waste and recycling.

The annual data release published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Great Britain’s workplace regulator, covers the period from April 2022 to March 2023.

The three most common causes of fatal injuries are falls from height (40), being struck by a moving object (29), and being struck by a moving vehicle (20).

The total of 135 worker deaths in 2022/23 is higher than the previous year (123) but is in line with pre-pandemic levels. The figure for 2020/21 was 145.

The UK Government and HSE continue to claim that Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work and that there has been a long-term downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries to workers, though in the years prior to the coronavirus pandemic the rate was broadly flat.

A further 68 members of the public were killed following a work-related incident in 2022/23. This is a decrease of 20 from last year.

In a statement launching the annual data release HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon stated; “Any loss of life in the workplace is a tragedy. While these figures show Great Britain is one of the safest countries in the world to work, safety must continue to be at the top of everyone’s agenda. HSE’s mission is to protect people and places and HSE remains committed to maintaining safe workplaces and holding employers to account for their actions.”

Northern Ireland

The number of all work-related fatalities in Northern Ireland (2021-22), including those within areas that are the responsibility of both HSENI and local councils, was 19 compared to 13in the last reporting year. The 2022-23 data will be published later in the year.

Asbestos-related deaths

HSE has also published the annual figures for Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos. The figures show 2,268 people died from the disease in 2021. This is a fall of 302 compared with the 2,570 deaths in 2020 and substantially lower than the average of 2,520 deaths per year over the period 2012-2019.

Asbestos-related diseases take decades to develop. Most people with them today will largely have been exposed before the tightening of controls and the use of asbestos was banned in 1999.

The current regulations state that where asbestos is present in buildings it must be managed, maintained in a good condition, and stay undisturbed. If this level of protection cannot be achieved, then asbestos must be removed.

These regulations have led to a significant reduction in exposure and the number of people developing asbestos-related illness is predicted to fall as we get further from the date asbestos was banned in 1999. Prior to that point, asbestos was used extensively in construction.

The TUC policy, backed 100% by the CWU is for all asbestos to be removed from public and commercial buildings. The House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee of MPs last year published a report from its inquiry into asbestos management in which it backed the TUC call for the complete eradication of asbestos from buildings. The TUC says current asbestos management is not fit for purpose and has long called for new legislation requiring removal of all asbestos from public buildings. There is no safe threshold of exposure to asbestos fibres – inhalation even of small quantities can lead to Mesothelioma decades after exposure. This means that where asbestos is still present, it is not safe to assume there will be no disturbances that put working people in danger. The only way we will eradicate Mesothelioma in Britain is with a legal duty to safely remove asbestos, and a clear timetable for its eradication. Only then can we ensure that future generations will not have to experience the same deadly epidemic from asbestos-related diseases that we suffer today.

HSE’s approach to asbestos management is based on evidence that is constantly reviewed. HSE has recently launched a campaign called ‘Asbestos & You’ to raise awareness of the risks associated with the dangerous substance.

To find out more about the ‘Asbestos and You’ campaign, see attached new HSE Guide and visit HSE’s Asbestos Website for further guidance on asbestos here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 179/23 – HSE Publishes Work-Related Fatality Figures 2023

Att: HSE – Work-Related Fatal Injuries in GB 2023

Att: AsbestosYou-refcard-v4-online

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CWU CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS 2022

Please find attached a copy of the final CWU Consolidated Accounts for the financial year 2022.

Accordingly Branches are now invited to forward questions to the attached CWU Consolidated Accounts 2022 to arrive by no later than 12 p.m. on 24^thJuly 2023.

Please note all questions should be sent to the email address sdgs@cwu.org.  Please note, any emails sent to any other email address will not receive a response and will not be included in the published questions and answers. 

Any other queries on this LTB should also be addressed to sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 177/23

Att: CWU 2022 Final Accounts (SIGNED)

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CAPITA DATA BREACH

We are aware that Atlas has informed a number of Capita employees that a personal data breach involving Capita’s third party vendor processor Capita Pension Solutions Limited has occurred. This has affected the security of some of our Capita member’s personal data.  Atlas process employees’ data to administer the master trust on the Trustee’s behalf.

This follows two reported data breaches earlier in the year.

We are further aware that a communication regarding the breach has been sent to employees from Scott Hill, Chief People Officer, Capita.

The CWU is disappointed that even though we have been in correspondence with Capita regarding the data breach in March 2023 and have from that point been in dialogue seeking clarification as to any employee data breach, they have failed to notify us of the detail.

We are currently in the process of seeking an urgent meeting with Capita to discuss the breach and consequent impact upon our members and will keep members updated accordingly.

This is naturally causing considerable concern and worry for our members, who are keen to understand what has been compromised and what steps to now take.   

The CWU Legal Services in partnership with Keller Postman UK Solicitors are assisting members claiming compensation following a data breach or cyber-crime.

A PDF is attached below, with a link at the bottom, for those impacted to click, and be directed to Keller Postman UK website.  The PDF has an email address and contact number for the Keller Postman team to answer any pressing questions that may not be answered in the PDF.

The PDF also contains information relevant to the Capita breaches and advice how to deal with them if you are impacted.

If members receive notification that they are affected by a Capita data breach, they can register to receive updates on the investigation into the breach and submit a no-win, no-fee data breach compensation claim.

Members are also advised to contact their local branch with any enquiries.

Further information will be shared once we have met with Capita.

Yours sincerely

Tracey Fussey
National Officer
CWU Telecoms & Financial Services

Andy Furey
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)   

Att: Capita Fact Sheet KP CWU – FINAL

LTB No 176.2023 – CAPITA DATA BREACH

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LORD FALCONER INDEPENDENT REVIEW (APPENDIX 7) AND EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL ‘STAYS’

Branches and representatives will be aware the nationally agreed Terms of Reference for the Independent Review by Lord Falconer (Business Recovery, Transformation & Growth Agreement – Appendix 7), is clear that employees still retain the right to go to an Employment Tribunal (ET) even though a consent form has been signed for inclusion in the review. Currently, c.200 members and Representatives have submitted consent forms for the review, and a number of these cases also have live ET claims.

RMG initially agreed as a result of the review that where a consent form had been submitted and an ET was pending, this would be “stayed” with the Independent Review being treated as the priority.  As a result, RMG’s solicitors, Weightmans, started notifying tribunals that these cases should be “stayed” (postponed), until the Independent Review was concluded.  Clearly there was a logic to this position which we supported.  However, within a short space of time, Weightmans started to reverse this position and sent further e-mails to inform members and Representatives that the “stays” on such cases had now been withdrawn.  Their argument for adopting this position was the delay in the union instigating the ballot.

We wrote to Zareena Brown, Chief People Officer, on 20^th June 2023 to oppose the withdrawal of the “stayed” position and received a response on 27^th July from Matt Newman, Chief Legal Officer, stating:

“I agree with you. In cases where the Independent Review may impact a tribunal case, and the hearing is currently listed within the next 4 months (which should be more than enough time for the Independent Review to conclude) a stay will be appropriate”.

On 28^th June we replied, agreeing that those ET cases listed before 31^st October 2023 where the claimant had submitted a consent form for inclusion in the Independent Review should be stayed.  Obviously this position does not apply to any cases where a member has chosen not to enter the Review.

A meeting with Lord Falconer and his team, as well as RMG will be held on Friday 14^th July 2023, to discuss how the review will be taken forward.  Thereafter, an update will be provided to the Postal Executive and appropriate communications will follow.

We hope this information will help Branches and Representatives to answer any enquiries received in relation to this matter. If further advice is required please e-mail independent-review@cwu.org;

Yours sincerely,                                                                          Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                                                                                  Dave Ward
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                                 General Secretary 

23LTB175 – Falconer Review and ET Stays

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ELECTION OF:  ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 2023 – VACANT POSITIONS  

• NORTH EAST DIVISION
• SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES DIVISION

Further to LTB 120/23 dated 15^th May 2023, please find detailed below the ballot results for the above elections.

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES   

NORTH EAST  (Two to be Elected) Brett GirouxNewcastle Amal1001*ELECTEDBernie McBrideDoncaster & District785Steve SheldonSouth Yorkshire & District642Steve WarrenSouth Yorkshire & District998*ELECTED

 SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES  (One to be Elected) Neil ArcherSouth East Wales Amal998Ralph FerrettPlymouth & East Cornwall1064*ELECTEDIan TrehearneGloucestershire Amal453

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

23LTB174

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RM/CWU National Dog Awareness Week, 3 – 9 July 2023 – Ordering Campaign Resources – ‘Door to Door’ Postcards, ‘Dog Behind The Letterbox’ Warning Cards and ‘Posting Pegs’:

Further to LTB 169/23 issued on 30 June, find attached ordering process for:

• Royal Mail/Parcelforce/CWU – ‘Dog Awareness Postcards’ – for customer ‘door to door’ drop, awareness raising campaigns.
• Royal Mail ‘Dog Behind The Letterbox’ Cards – for delivery prep sorting frame, dog hazard address slots and delivery bundles.
• Posting Pegs – to avoid fingers through the letterbox dog bite risks.

Images of all three items are attached. Details as follows:

• ‘Do You Have A Dog’ – ‘Door to Door’ Post Cards

Dalmatian image postcard which is designed to be posted to all households in an area as part of Dog Awareness Week to ask customers to ensure their dogs are kept secure and under control when the postman/woman calls. CWU ASRs and Reps should organise this locally with COMs, OPLs and RODs. The budget for printing these cards lies with the Regional Operations Manager. They are not a standard stores item.

• ‘Dog Behind The Letter Box’ Warning Cards 

This is the red coloured Alsatian image Warning Card/Leaflet which is used to identify to the postman/woman where a known dog resides. The card/leaflet is placed in the frame when prepping and can then be put with bundles as a reminder when going out on the round. Also useful to use in raising awareness of the dog bite through the letterbox hazard and reminding postmen and women – DON’T PUT YOUR FINGERS THROUGH THE LETTERBOX. Remembering that 450 postmen and women are bitten through the letterbox every year. 1000 postmen and women have had a finger or part of a finger bitten off through the letterbox in the last 5 years.

• ‘Posting Pegs’

Plastic red coloured peg for posting flat letter and postcard mail through letter boxes in order to help avoid dog bites through the letter box. The posting peg isn’t suitable for every type of mail item members deliver but works well for the items that can be delivered using this safety tool. If members can’t safely deliver mail to addresses with dogs, through the letterbox using a posting peg then they should report the matter to their manager BUT DON’T PUT YOUR FINGERS THROUGH THE LETTERBOX – is the message to members.

See attached ordering process. Would all ASRs ensure stocks of the above are ordered and local campaigns organised, concentrating attention particularly on high risk dog attack areas.

New ‘Responsible Dog Ownership – How To Keep You, Your Dog and Visitors Safe’ – Dog Control Awareness Guide/Leaflet 

CWU, Royal Mail, Parcelforce and the National Police Chief’s Council are launching our new joint ‘Responsible Dog Ownership – How To Keep You, Your Dog and Visitors Safe’ – Dog Control Awareness Guide/Leaflet during Dog Awareness Week. An electronic copy is attached which can be downloaded and printed off for local campaigning and ‘door to door’ drop initiatives in high impact dog attack problem areas. The Health, Safety and Environment Department are very pleased with this ‘Guide Leaflet’ having achieved endorsement from the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC). This now needs to be as widely circulated as possible. ASRs and Reps can drop these ‘Guide Leaflets’ into local schools, local authorities, community centres, clubs and associations, dog training schools, animal and dog charities etc. Reps can send the Guide Leaflet to local press, radio, community publications, newsletters, social media and websites etc. It’s aimed at dog owners and our customers, the UK public. The leaflets can be utilised in door to door drops, targeting high impact areas also. Get the support of the local authority and local Police. You can drop copies into local Police stations and council offices. send them to your local MP and local councillors to raise awareness also. If Area Safety Reps, Branches or Regions need printed copies they should either organise printing in bulk locally or alternatively contact the Health, Safety and Environment Department at CWU/HQ to order a supply.

Dog Awareness Week SHE WTLLs/Huddles

See attached SHE WTLL and Huddle which will be briefed to the workforce during Dog Awareness Week. These are:

• SHE Huddle FY23 037 Dog Awareness for members in Non-Operational Delivery Roles
• SHE WTLL FY23 005 – Dog Awareness Week – to all Deliveries and Collections

Social Media Slides

During Dog Awareness Week campaign social media slides will be shown across the UK in every unit on plasma screens.  See attached copies of slides.

IMPORTANT: Dog Attacks are a criminal offence in public places and on private property. The CWU fought for and won the battle to make this the law in the UK through our ‘Bite-Back’ campaign. Please give full support to Dog Awareness Week. Please ensure that all dog attacks are reported to the manager, to the Police (obtaining a crime number) and to the Royal Mail Security Helpdesk – This is the only way to stop future dog attacks happening.

The key message to members needs to be loudly reinforced, reminding them that they must stay alert and vigilant at all times, be aware of dangerous dog hazards, take no risks and avoid any contact and interaction with dogs. Plus – ‘Don’t put your fingers through the letterbox!’. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 173/23 – RM CWU National Dog Awareness Week 3 – 9 July 2023 – Ordering Campaign Resources

023790_ROYAL MAIL_DOG POST CARD Proof 1

DBLBOX-10k English (3)

Process For Ordering Dog Posting Cards and Pegs 2023

Dog safety flyer rm pf cwu npcc

SHE Huddle FY23 037 Dog Awareness Non-Ops Colleagues

SHE WTLL FY23 005 – Dog Awareness Week

RMG SOCIAL MEDIA SLIDES

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Royal Mail Group: National Briefing – Tuesday 25^th July 2023

A National Briefing will be held on Tuesday 25^th July 2023 in relation to the Business Recovery, Transformation & Growth Agreement and next steps.

The Briefing will commence at 11:00 and conclude no later than 15:00 at:

The Queens Hotel
New Station Street
City Square
Leeds
LS1 1PJ

Tea and coffee will be available from 10.30.

All Branches are requested to make this a priority engagement and attendance arrangements should be in accordance with normal protocols for National Briefings whilst ensuring the importance of our proportionality requirements.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department – fkelk@cwu.org or acorbett@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,                                                                      Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                                                                               Dave Ward
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                              General Secretary  

LTB 172-23 – Royal Mail Group National Briefing – Tuesday 25th July 2023

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RM/CWU National Dog Awareness Week, 3 – 9 July 2023 – RMG Dog Attack Statistics by Postcode and by Delivery Office:

The top 10 postcode areas for dog attacks 2022/23 Summary:

The TN (Tunbridge Wells) postcode area had the most incidents of reported dog attacks during the year, with 65 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks.  The TN postcode area has featured in the Top Ten List for dog attacks for nine consecutive years and has again made the Top Ten list this year.  518 recorded dog attacks since 2013/14.

The BT (Belfast- Northern Ireland) postcode area placed second this year with 56 attacks. The BT postcode area is an area that has also appeared in every Top Ten List since Royal Mail began releasing Dog Awareness Week figures on yearly attacks in 2013/14. It has topped the list for attacks four times. 623 recorded dog attacks since 2013/14.

The S (Sheffield) postcode area placed third for incidents of reported dog attacks during the year, with 50 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks. This is just one incident less than last year – (51 for 2021/22). The S postcode area has also appeared in every one of the Top Ten Lists for dog attacks on postal workers since the inaugural Dog Awareness Week in 2013. There have been 607 recorded dog attacks since 2013/14.

The PO (Portsmouth) postcode area placed fourth this year with 49 dog attacks. This is the sixth consecutive year the PO postcode has featured in the Top Ten List. 455 recorded dog attacks since 2013/14.

The BS (Bristol), postcode area placed fifth, this year with 42 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks, having dropped out of the list in 2022. This is the third time the BS postcode has featured in the Top Ten List.

The SA (Swansea), postcode area placed sixth this year with 41 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks and appears in the list for the second time (2022 being the first).

The EX (Exeter), postcode area placed seventh this year with 38 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks and appears in the list for the third time (the previous two being 2019 and 2022).

The NG (Nottingham) postcode area placed eighth this year with 37 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks (the same level as the previous year). This is the third consecutive year that the NG postcode area has appeared in the Top Ten List and the eighth time since 2013.

In joint ninth place are the BN (Brighton) and OX (Oxford) postcode areas both with 34 postmen/postwomen suffering dog attacks.

For the BN postcode, dog attacks on postmen and postwomen were slightly down on the 37 reported in 2022.  This is the seventh consecutive year that the BN postcode has appeared on Top Ten List.

For the Oxford postcode, dog attacks on postmen and postwomen were slightly down on the 35 reported in 2022.  Oxford features in the Top Ten List for the second consecutive year.

Highest Number of attacks by postcode area:POSTCODE

AREA2022/2023

No. of attacks TN65  BT56  S50  PO49  BS42  SA41  EX38  NG37  BN34  OX34  

See attached a full Excel spreadsheet list of all delivery offices and all postcode areas with recorded dog attacks by unit and by postcode area.

IMPORTANT: The CWU HQ Health Safety & Environment Department estimates that around a thousand dog attacks go unreported each year, mostly minor attacks. Dog attacks are a criminal offence in public places and on private property. The CWU fought for and won the battle to make this the law in the UK through our ‘Bite-Back’ Campaign. Please give full support to Dog Awareness Week. Please ensure that all dog attacks are reported to the manager, and to the Police (obtaining a crime number) and to the Royal Mail Security Helpdesk – This is the only way to help stop future dog attacks happening.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

23LTB171 RM CWU National Dog Awareness Week 3 – 9 July 2023 – RMG Dog Attack Statistics by Postcode and by Delivery Office

Dog Attack Statistics 22-23

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HSE Notification of Contravention Letter – Royal Mail North West ‘Parcels Super’ Hub, Warrington:

For the information of CWU Safety Representatives, Branches and Regions, see attached copy of a HSE ‘Notification of Contravention’ letter served on Royal Mail Group HQ, following a HSE ‘Enforcement Officer’s’ visit and inspection of the new Warrington, North West ‘Parcels Super Hub’ which was carried out by Mr. Simon Bland HSE Inspector.

The HSE ‘Notice of Contravention’ letter is addressed to Mark Amsden the Royal Mail Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Chief Risk and Governance Officer.

The HSE ‘Notice of Contravention’ letter is a ‘damning’ report, and judgment on the poor safety culture and risk management failures at the fully-automated high-tech, ‘state-of-the-art, 32,000 sq. m ‘Flag Ship’ site which has only been open a year and is of such strategic importance to the business which aims to eventually process more than 600,000 parcels per day at the site.

The report includes much criticism of key safety and risk control failures and shows clearly that a number of managers in control are guilty of failures in safety, leadership and control.  The HSE Inspector made some fairly damning remarks about Royal Mail’s failure to deal with the risks and problems and Royal Mail narrowly avoided being served with a ‘Prohibition Notice’ which would have shut down operations on site.

Summary of HSE Findings:

General Finding:

• Significant contraventions of health and safety laws.
• Failure to manage health and safety and effectively comply with the law.
• Royal Mail were reminded of their duty to ensure the health and safety of employees and others.
• No management/monitoring of health and safety and no formal health and safety audits had been undertaken by the site management team or members of the corporate RMG SHE team despite the site being operational since June 2022.
• Breach of the management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
• No timescales for ‘Action List’ matters to be completed as identified by the Health & Safety Committee.
• No suitable arrangements to monitor compliance with health and safety legislation.
• Operational Shift Managers/Supervisors, involved in day to day management of health and safety were found to be (a) not competent (b) do not have the full support from key decision makers and (c) are not afforded the appropriate amount of time to carry out their health and safety functions effectively. An audit should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity in order to assist those on site in the effective management of health and safety.
• A review of managing health and safety arrangements should be carried out.

Workplace Transport – Pedestrians & Vehicles:

• Breach of Regulation 17 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, requiring that every workplace should be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner.
• Workplace Transport (Pedestrian/Vehicle Segregation). There was no effective segregation of vehicles and pedestrians with pedestrians walking in areas designated for vehicles only.
• There were unsecured or inadequately secured temporary barriers used to prevent pedestrians entering vehicle only areas.
• Pedestrians were removing the unsecured temporary barriers and taking short-cuts.
• Pedestrians were not using designated pedestrian crossing points to access work areas and instead were taking short-cuts.
• Blocked access routes to designated pedestrian crossing points.
• Pedestrians were not wearing hi-visibility clothing appropriately.

Work at Height 

• Breach of Regulations 4 and 7 of The Work at Height Regulations 2005.
• 4 – Failure to ensure that all work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a manner which is safe.
• 7 Failure by Royal Mail to select the most suitable work equipment for the task to be carried out regardless of the duration of the task.
• Stadium steps provided for use by engineers and contractors to undertake work at height on and around the conveyor system were in use without stabilising legs/bars being deployed prior to use and employees were unable to access the conveyor system whilst standing on the platform of the steps to undertake repairs or removal of blockages/jams. As a result, the equipment was being misused.
• All work at height involving use of the steps was immediately withdrawn to avoid the HSE issuing of a ‘Prohibition Notice’ and shutting down the operation.

Safe Systems of Work 

The points below were noted in relation to the failure to follow safe systems of work (SSoW):

Lock Off Tag Off (LOTO) 

‘Lock off, tag off’ (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous equipment cannot be accessed whilst in operation and that it is properly shut off and not able to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or repair work. The HSE Inspector found padlocks/keys used by operators of the York Tipper Robot Cell as part of the SSoW for the safe removal of parcels from the cell had been left unattended and the Operations LOTO Control Box for padlocks had been left open whilst the area was unattended allowing unauthorised access. Operators confirmed the removal of parcels from the York Tipper Robot Cells had previously been undertaken by members of the Engineering Team only. However, due to the frequency of the activity they were unable to attend every event. As a result, operators were designated ‘technicians’ and provided with training in LOTO as part of the SSoW. Royal Mail confirmed both operators and supervisors would receive refresher training in the LOTO procedure and the importance of padlock/key control. In addition to this, the HSE said Royal Mail should review the current SSoW to determine whether the LOTO procedure can be simplified to prevent a recurrence of this matter.

Pre-Use Checks of Safety Devices 

York Tipper Robot Cells have a number of safety related devices to ensure operators are unable to access dangerous parts of machinery. Operators confirmed they do not carry out or record checks of safety related devices such as interlocks and emergency stops prior to operating these machines. Royal Mail confirmed that the current SSoW for the operation of the York Tipper Robot Cells would be amended to include operator pre-use checks of safety related devices. These would be recorded by the operator and monitored by supervisors to ensure checks are recorded properly.

Preventing Unauthorised Access 

Members of the Engineering Team had been undertaking work on the mezzanine floors. One of the engineers confirmed that as part of the SSoW for carrying out work on the mezzanine floor, unauthorised persons are prevented from entering the area by securing chains (which incorporate signage) across various access points to the area. Chains had not been positioned across the stairwells to the mezzanine.

Royal Mail arranged for the chains to be positioned across the access routes and confirmed they would liaise with the Engineering Team to ensure engineers/contractors are reminded of the importance of preventing unauthorised access to areas where they are working. He also confirmed the mechanism for securing chains across access routes would be reviewed.

Shunting Operations 

As part of the SSOW in relation to the safe operation of shunting vehicles in the yard, only one driver is permitted to be in the cab of the shunting vehicle. The only exception to this is when the shunter driver is being trained. Prior to entering the site various vehicle movements in the yard were observed during which the HSE Inspector witnessed two drivers in the cab of a shunter vehicle. This matter was raised as part of the concern. One of the shunter drivers confirmed a colleague had accompanied him in the cab to expedite him accessing another location in the yard. He also confirmed he was aware of the requirement not to carry passengers unless part of a training activity and that other drivers had previously carried passengers to expedite their access to other locations on the yard.

Royal Mail were reminded that under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act every employer has a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees. This includes the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health. Royal Mail also have a duty under Section 3 of the Act to conduct their undertakings in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment (i.e. contractors and visitors) who may be affected, are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

Under Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Royal Mail are required to make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate for the effective control and monitoring of preventive and protective measures. This includes those measures necessary for the safe operation of machinery.

As part of managing health and safety effectively, Royal Mail should have suitable arrangements to ensure employees and contractors undertake work in accordance with the safe systems of work which have been devised and implemented.

Royal Mail to confirm what action has been taken and how they propose preventing a recurrence of these matters.

Personal Protective Equipment (Yard Marshalls) 

Royal Mail confirmed that Yard Marshalls are currently provided with Class 3 high visibility jackets and trousers but the wearing of the trousers is optional. Given the nature of their role and the environment in which they operate, their personal protective equipment should afford them maximum conspicuity. The HSE Inspector recommended a review of the relevant risk assessment and consideration to whether the wearing of hi-visibility trousers should be a mandatory requirement for Yard Marshalls.

FEE FOR INTERVENTION – Under the Health and Safety Fees Regulations 2021, Regulations 23 and 24 

The HSE will recover from Royal Mail the costs incurred for the work it does in relation to contraventions of health and safety law which are material breaches. A material breach is something an Inspector considers is serious and is confirmed in writing. The fee is based on the amount of time that the HSE Inspector has had to spend identifying the health and safety law breaches plus investigating and taking enforcement action. This includes the cost for the whole inspection visit, along with other associated work.

Royal Mail will have 30 days to pay.

Discussions have been taking place with the Royal Mail Group Director of Health and Safety at which the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department has made its views known regarding the extremely poor state of affairs and poor safety management and controls on site at the NW Hub. We will monitor the Royal Mail Safety Team and Operational Team’s remedial action progress and a Hub site visit is to be arranged.

Attachment:

• HSE Notice of Contravention

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

23LTB170 HSE Notification of Contravention Letter – Royal Mail North West ‘Parcels Super’ Hub Warrington

Royal Mail Group Limited

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