UK Suicide Rates Rise by 11.8% to Highest Level Since 2002 – Office for National Statistics (ONS) Report Published:

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have this week published data for 2018 which shows that the rate of suicides in the UK has risen sharply to its highest level since 2002 and this is the first rise in numbers since 2013. The overall increase reversed a trend of continuous decline since 2013. In 2018, a total of 6,507 suicides were registered in the UK, 686 more deaths than in 2017 when there were 5,821 deaths (11.8% increase).

The official figures show a worrying, sharp 11.8% increase which translates to 11.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000 people – up from 10.1 in 2017.

The official figures show that men account for three-quarters of the number of people who took their own lives last year with 17.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000, up from 15.5 per 100,000 in 2017.

Those men in their late 40s remain the age group with the highest suicide rate at 27.1 per 100,000.

Of particular concern is the increase in the rates of young people aged from 10 to 24 killing themselves, which saw a significant rise with the overall rate for that age group reaching a 19-year high with 730 deaths. The rate for young girls and women reached an all-time high. Young men aged 20-24 saw significant increases. The rate among 20 to 24-year-old males leaped 31% to 16.9 per 100,000, from 12.9 a year earlier. Among females aged 10 to 24, despite a low number of suicides overall, the rate rose to its highest level, 3.3 per 100,000.

Across the UK Scotland had the highest suicide rate with 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people (784 deaths), followed by Wales with 12.8 per 100,000 (349 deaths) and England the lowest with 10.3 deaths per 100,000 (5,021 deaths). The rates for Northern Ireland will be published by the ONS later this year.

Outside of Scotland, the area with the highest suicide rate for men was the north-east, with 20.4 per 100,000 taking their own lives and for women it was Wales that had the highest rate, at 6.9 per 100,000. London and the south-east had the lowest rates for both men and women.

The all-time peak in the suicide rate is was in the 1980s.

Attachments:

• Suicides in the UK 2018 Registrations Statistics Report (ONS)
• Suicides by Gender & Age Group Summary (ONS)

Note:

• World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10th September 2019.
• The Samaritans 2019 Annual Suicide Statistics Report will be published on 10th September 2019.

Members in Distress:-

In the UK the Samaritans can be contacted as follows:

Tel: 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB535 UK Suicide Rates Rise by 11.8 Per Cent to Highest Level Since 2002 – Office for National Statistics ONS Report Published

Suicides By Gender Age Group Summary – ONS

Suicides in the UK 2018 Registrations – ONS

Royal Mail Electric Vans Introduction/Deployment Update – Part of The 2019/20 Vehicle Replacement Plan

LTBs 106/18 and 215/18 detailed the first 3-phase deployment of 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric Vans by Royal Mail Group Fleet to 17 pilot Delivery Office locations in various parts of the country.

As previously reported in LTBs 454/17 and 535/17, 106/2018, 215/2018, RMG, recognise the need to respond positively to the Government’s much-anticipated Clean Air, Environmental Plan and the need to reduce carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and diesel particulate emissions from all forms of road transport. There is a need to comply with the introduction of major city Low Emission Zones initially and then secondly prepare for the Government announced petrol and diesel engine vehicles ban due in 2040 (2032 in Scotland). This all comes amid the rising levels of pollution posing a major risk to public health. As previously reported, the UK Government is now bound to implement new measures to cut toxic air quickly after two court rulings that the current UK plans are so poor they are illegal. London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) will come into force from April 8, imposing daily tolls of £12.50 per day for affected cars and vans, and £100 for lorries. Birmingham, Derby and Newcastle are planning their own ULEZ schemes with others to follow. Since 2015, more than 60 local authorities have been ordered to tackle illegal levels of air pollution, which is why many of these are planning to introduce clean air zones. A new report from Public Health England, an arm of the Department of Health, has recommended that every council considers setting up such a zone to improve air quality.

RMG’s 2018 purchase agreement for the first 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric Vans represented one of the biggest single purchases of electric vehicles to be used commercially in the UK to date. This was the first batch of Light Commercial Electric Vans, introduced over 3 phases with another 193 electric vans now imminently to be introduced this year as the fleet transitions over coming years away from the internal combustion engine powered diesel and petrol vehicles. The electric vans will certainly help Royal Mail to significantly reduce the environmental impact of its delivery fleet. The technical and safety feature details of the vans, along with training details for drivers and fleet technicians was reported in earlier LTBs and further training will be provided as more electric vehicles are introduced. The new electric vehicles are part of a £90m overall investment in new vehicles in 2019/20.

CWU ASRs will be consulted and fully involved in determining the safe installation and location of electric vehicle charging, Risk Assessments and Safe System of Work.

Other related LTBs and Reports:-

• LTB 289/19 – Independent Committee on Climate Change (ICCC) Report Calling on UK Government To End its Contribution to Global Warming with New Target of Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
• LTB351/19 – National Clean Air Day – Thursday, 20 June 2019.
• LTB 436/19 – Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) Charter & New TUCAN Guidance Published.
• LTB 198/19 – New Royal Mail Peugeot Partner Vans with New Range of Extended Safety Features.

Attachments

• Clean Air Zones UK Map
• Details of UK Clean Air Zones
• Clean Air Zones Exempt Vehicles

Electric Vehicle AVAS Safety Systems – (Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems)

A separate LTB is being issued on AVAS systems which are noise generating safety systems which now have to be fitted to ‘silent’ electric vehicles by law.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB533 Royal Mail Electric Vans Introduction Deployment Update – Part of The 2019-20 Vehicle Replacement Plan

Clean air zones – Exempt Vehicles

Clean air zones map

Details of Clean air zones and low emission zones

Cancellation Notification: Postal Organising/Recruitment Seminar/Workshop 9th October 2019

Further to LTB 467/19 regarding the above, circulated on 1st August 2019.

Due to the current ongoing dispute with Royal Mail Group and the Industrial Action ballot timetable circulated in LTB 524/19, the Postal Organising/Recruitment Seminar/Workshop scheduled to take place on Wednesday 9th October 2019 in Liverpool has been cancelled.

I am sure Branches will understand the reason and logic of why the decision has been taken to cancel this event and I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however you can be assured that this important event will be rearranged as soon as possible.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary Postal

19LTB531

Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – 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.

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. The accident investigator concluded that the tyre failure was as a direct result of its age.

In June 2017, the family of Michael Molloy from Liverpool, one of those killed, launched what became a widely supported campaign, the “Tyred” Campaign and campaigned unceasingly for a ban on the use of older tyres on buses and coaches. Public support has been overwhelming.

In September 2017, a truck travelling on the M5 suffered a tyre blow-out, crossed the central reservation and collided with oncoming traffic. Five lives were lost in that accident. The Coroner concluded at the inquest, held in February 2019, that the crash was a result of the tyre failure, noting that the tyre was 18 years old and had suffered structural deterioration due to its age.

In both collisions, the age of the tyres fitted to the steered axles was considered to have contributed to their failure.

Since 2013, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has published roadworthiness guidance to advise against the use of tyres aged more than 10 years on buses, coaches and heavy good vehicles except on a rear axle as part of a twin wheel arrangement.  However there was no legal requirement to comply.

In 2018, the Government commissioned research with an aim to establish the effect age has on the integrity of road vehicle tyres. As part of this research, the UK’s TRL Ltd worked with a leading laboratory in the United States to carry out testing and analysis. Collectively, this research evidence concluded that age does affect tyre performance and safety.

In February 2019, the Government, via the DfT published proposals to deal with this threat to road safety, announcing an intention to consult on the proposals to legislate against the use of tyres aged 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses and would additionally consider extending the same requirements to taxis and private hire vehicles.

In June this year, the Public Consultation was launched with the Government stating that they believed the changes being consulted on would save lives with the consultation submissions closing date being on 1 September.

Attached is the response of the CWU to the Department for Transport’s consultation on banning tyres aged 10 years and older. In line with CWU Conference Policy established with the carriage of Motion 17 (2018) we have supported the “Tyred” Campaign and as such welcomed and strongly supported the Government’s proposals in general as well as suggesting that the proposals could have gone further. We have additionally called for tough enforcement and penalties for offenders, along with sufficient resources in respect of Police officers and DfT Inspectors.

The vehicles included in the proposals are heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, buses, coaches and minibuses. The DfT is also seeking evidence on whether to introduce a similar maximum age for tyres fitted to taxis and private hire vehicles which we support.

Attachments:

• CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation on Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older.
• Motion 17(2018).
• Images – The Shredded 19-year-old-tyre which blew out in the coach crash which killed Michael Molloy plus Michael with Mother Frances who led the “Tyred” Campaign.The CWU congratulates Frances Molloy and her family and close supporters in bringing the ‘Tyred’ campaign to this stage.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB530 Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – Motion 17 (2018)

1 Shredded Tyre – Michael Franes Molloy

DfT Consultation on Banning Tyres 10 Years and Older – CWU Response (Sep.._

Motion 17 (2018)