Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting/ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Following a number of complaints and RMG/CWU accident escalation procedure cases, the above issue was discussed in detail with the RMG Safety Health & Environment Team and RMG Accident Management Unit. The matter was resolved with an RMG SHE Team circular in May. However, recently it was discovered that different criteria and advice was being given to areas by the RMG AMU (Accident Management Unit) which was leading to Bites and Stings going unrecorded.

These incidents are not large in number, but the effects on some sting and bite victims can be profound. The CWU has had a small number of members contract the potentially life-threatening virus Lyme disease following Tick bites. Due to climate change the UK has seen a dramatic increase in the Tick population and with it an increase in bites. Illnesses from Tick, Mosquito, and Flea bites have more than tripled worldwide.

False Widow spiders are on the increase and in the national press recently it was reported that seven London Schools had to be closed due to False Widow Spider infestations. This is the UK’s most venomous spider and victims of spider bites can develop infections and suffer dangerous anaphylactic shock following Spider, Wasp or Bee Stings.

An accident at work is a “discrete occurrence in the course of work” leading to physical or mental occupational injury.

In short, it has now been accepted and agreed that ALL INSECT BITES AND STINGS SHALL BE RECORDED AS ACCIDENTS ON DUTY AND RECORDED ON ERICA AS NORMAL.

If any case hasn’t been correctly entered on ERICA, Area Health & Safety Reps should challenge the local Person in Control and SHE advisor. If no progress is made then please complete the Accident Dispute Escalation Form and send it up the line and it will be corrected.

Attachments:-

• New Instructions from RMG SHE Team 22.05.18 and From RMG Accident Management Unit dated 01.10.18
• Picture of a False Widow Spider 
• Picture of Ticks 

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB588 Royal Mail Group -Accident Reporting ERICA Recording of Insect Bites & Stings

False Widow Spider

Images of Ticks

Insect Bites Stings – AMU Instruction 01.10.18

Insect bites and stings Incident reporting and investigation (RMG SHE Ma.._

Merseyside Man Jailed For 18 Months Following Vicious Double Dog Attack‎ – Police Appeal to CWU to help Find The Missing Two Dangerous Dogs

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Merseyside Police who work very closely with the CWU proactively promoting the message of responsible dog ownership and prosecuting offenders have requested the assistance of CWU members across Merseyside.

Fredrick Farnsworth, a 73-year-old Liverpool man who pleaded guilty to having two dogs dangerously out of control, causing injury to two young children, has this week been jailed for 18 months after the “horrific” dog attack on the children in a park. One of the young children received very serious injuries to his legs, arms, face and back. The second was also injured less severely. Both were rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where they were treated. The emotional trauma both boys suffered is likely to stay with them for a very long time. The CWU welcomed the 18 months jail sentence which is a realistic sentence in our view.

However, Merseyside Police said the two dogs had not yet been handed in or traced. The Police have appealed to anyone who might know where the dogs are to contact police and they have asked the CWU for their assistance in this. Officers have asked anyone with information about these dangerous dogs to contact them so that they can take proactive action. Detectives have issued a picture of two dogs they wish to trace following the incident which occurred last month (See attached).

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the dogs, see’s them in the area, or has any information to assist the investigation is asked to contact Merseyside Police by;

• Calling 101 and quoting incident reference 18200131064 or by
• Calling Crimestoppers (Independent UK Charity) anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via
• Facebook Merseyside Police CC or on line at
• www.crimestoppers-uk.org

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said this was a “horrific” incident and stressed the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control at all times.

The Police have asked if Postal and Telecom Workers in the Merseyside and surrounding areas could keep an eye out and to report any sightings of the missing dogs. Thank you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB587 Merseyside Man Jailed For 18 Months Following Vicious Double Dog Attack

Photograph1‎

Brake’ Fleet Safety Awards 2018

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The annual Fleet Safety Awards is a prestigious annual event, run by ‘Brake’, the UK road safety charity. The awards recognise the achievements of those working to help reduce the number of road crashes involving at-work drivers. Brake welcomes awards entries from organisations running any size or type of fleet, as well as from companies that provide road safety products or services to fleets.

At this year’s event held on Thursday 11 October at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Royal Mail Group’s Safety, Health and Environment team, headed by Royal Mail Group Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability Dr. Shaun Davis had a successful evening, after being shortlisted in five of the eleven categories, winning two and being highly commended in three of them as follows:-

1. Company Driver Safety Award – Large Fleet – Highly Commended.
2. Sustainable journeys (environment) – Winner. 
3. Road Safety in the Community – Highly Commended.
4. Safe Vehicles – Shortlisted. 
5. Road Risk Manager of the Year – Winner (Mark Bromhall Royal Mail Group Road Safety Manager).

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB586 Brake Fleet Safety Awards 2018

Royal Mail Safety Briefing – Parcel Sorting Machine – Operators Overriding Safety Systems – Jamming Down The Jog/Push Button:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

When working on the eject station of the PSM there is a ‘jog push button’ to start the conveyor belt as illustrated in the attached, this should be pressed when required to move ejects along the belt to the table where they can be sorted.

There have been 3 incidents reported where this button has been fastened down with elastic bands so the belt runs continuously. That has resulted in parcels becoming stuck between the belt and the table. Engineers have then been called and there have subsequently been 2 near misses and an accident.

The engineers can be seriously injured if this safety mechanism has been overridden.

There are no circumstances under which this action is acceptable and by interfering with a safety button, those concerned are risking serious injury to colleagues.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Employersmust do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this including the provision of Safe Systems of Work. Employees are legally bound to co-operate and follow safe working methods at all times. Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act puts a duty upon employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts and omissions at work. If injury is caused, a worker can face prosecution. Royal Mail has stated in relation to this matter that anyone found to be in breach of the SSoW and deliberately tampering with a safety device will be subject to RM conduct code/disciplinary action.

Safety is the responsibility of everyone who works in a Mail Centre where PSM machines are in operation and it is important that all SSoWs are followed as they have been developed to protect the workforce that work on the Parcel Sort Machine (PSM).

There have recently been three incidents of workers overriding the safety systems and on one occasion this led an engineer being injured.

Please make sure that members are made aware of this attached Safety Briefing which includes diagrams and photographs.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB585 Royal Mail Safety Briefing – Parcel Sorting Machine – Operators Overriding Safety Systems – Jamming Down The Jog Push Button

WTLL Brief Reject Jog Button 19_7_18

Special General Conference “Redesign” Agenda Pad – 3^rd/4^thNovember 2018

Branches would wish to know that the agenda pad for the Special General Conference on Redesign has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/05686-Redesign-agenda-2018.pdf

A pdf. copy has also been attached. Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and due to the timescales will be available to collect prior to the commencement of conference. Details of this will be provided in future correspondence.

Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed toconferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward – General Secretary  

Tony Kearns – Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB584 – Special General Conference Agenda Pad – Redesign

05686 Redesign agenda 2018

Manchester University and the Health & Safety Executive – Ageing Driver Research:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The University of Manchester and the Health & Safety Executive are carrying out research on the relationship between work, health and age for drivers across all industries in the UK. The first phase, which was conducted in 2017 focused on professional HGV drivers. They are now looking to undertake a second phase that will cover drivers of all classes of vehicles.

Royal Mail and the CWU have been invited to participate in this second phase. Initially we have agreed that volunteer professional drivers and managers at the Manchester Distribution site can be interviewed anonymously to give their views on how driving for a profession impacts on their health and wellbeing.

Royal Mail, CWU and Unite CMA have been keen to be involved and assist with the research, which we hope will help us jointly better understand the wellbeing challenges faced by our driver members and what we, and Royal Mail Group as a company may need to do differently to support them in the future.

The aims of the Research

A large part of the research is focused on interviews with drivers to:-

• understand the wellbeing challenges faced by professional drivers, and their managers
• understand the challenges for older professional drivers in staying in employment
• investigate how older professional drivers are constrained by their work and working practices
• promote ways employers can respond positively to the ageing professional driver workforce
• share examples of ‘good practice’, for example where jobs have been redesigned to fit the needs of older professional drivers or wellbeing initiatives introduced to protect driver health in general
• promote the implementation of good practice 

How it will work

Manchester Distribution has been chosen to take part in the study. The University of Manchester will make contact with the site and ask for volunteers to be interviewed by them.

• A total of 20 interviews are expected to take place. About 16 to 18 interviews with individual drivers (a mix of HGV or 7.5 tonne drivers), and 2-4 interviews with their direct line managers.
• The interviews can be carried out in a block of days, or one day a week spread over a few weeks. Or any other combination of days.
• The interviews will take 30-40 minutes maximum in a quiet area/room.
• The University of Manchester research team will carry out the interviews.
• Participant Information Sheets will be distributed in advance of the interviews for those taking part.

The research will be carried out by Dr. Sheena Johnson, Senior Lecturer, and Dr. Lynn Holdsworth, Researcher, at the University of Manchester.

What will be asked in the interviews?

Participants will be asked to take part in a one-to-one interview with the researcher either by telephone or face-to-face. The researcher will ask participants about their job and health in relation to their job. They will also be asking about whether participants’ experience of work and health has changed with age.

What happens to the data collected?

Written transcriptions will be made from all audio recordings. This information will then be analysed by the researcher to look for any common themes and differences. These findings may be published in a report, journal papers and/or conference presentations. The names, or any identifying information about those interviewed, will not be used and will remain anonymous from Royal Mail, Unite CMA and the CWU.

What are the potential benefits of taking part?

The benefit for the individual is the satisfaction of knowing that they have contributed to the development of understanding about work, health and age. There are no risks for those taking part in the study.

For the business, it will help them understand the risks of an ageing workforce and help design the future approach to ensure employees are supported.

How is confidentiality maintained?

Confidentiality will be maintained at all times. This is very important as Royal Mail and the Unions want all volunteers to be comfortable and open when giving their feedback to the research team as this will give more valuable information. All written transcriptions will be anonymised i.e., all identifying information (individual or organisation-specific) will be removed. All electronic data will be stored on password protected computers. Digital audio files will be destroyed at the end of the project. All findings reported in reports, papers and presentations will also be anonymised. Therefore anything anyone says in the interview will not be reported in a way that can be traced back to them or the organisation.

What happens if individuals do not want to take part or if they change their mind?

It is up to individuals to decide whether or not to take part. If they do decide to take part they will be given an information sheet to keep and be asked to sign a consent form. If they decide to take part they are still free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without detriment.

This study is funded by the Economic Social Research Council, The University of Manchester and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and has received ethical approval from the Health and Safety Executive and the University of Manchester Research Ethics Committee.

What happens at the end of the research?  

At the end of the research, a full report will be produced, inclusive of all organisations that have taken part. It will have conclusions and recommendations for employers and the HSE to consider so that we can protect the health and wellbeing of the driver workforce in the future. The report and recommendations will be shared with the Union.

Union Involvement

Throughout this research local Area Safety Representatives from CWU and Unite/CMA will be fully involved and will feed back both to their respective HQs. Attached is a joint communication distributed to participating members.

Research commencement date

This is planned to commence during the week commencing Monday 22^nd October or shortly thereafter.

Extending the Research

A joint decision will be made involving all parties, Royal Mail, CWU and the Researchers as to whether to extend the research after the conclusion of this initial stage.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB583 Manchester University and the Health & Safety Executive – Ageing Driver Research

Manchester School of Business Communication

CWU History and Heritage Project

Further to LTBs 300/18 and 541/18 regarding the preservation of the Union’s important Branch historical records and archives. Following discussions with the Research Department it has been agreed that the most practical way of moving this issue forward is to approach it from a Regional perspective. In line with this Bill Taylor, Head of Research, will be seeking an opportunity to meet the Regional Secretaries and the Education and Training Department to discuss the best way to deliver this.

We will be making contact with a University in Scotland who have already agreed to store some Scottish Branch archives on its premises, to see if this facility can be extended to other Branches in Scotland. A pilot scheme will begin in the London Region with a view to providing a safe and secure facility for London Branches to store their historical archives. Although progress has been slow it is apparent from the enquiries and contacts that there is a great deal of interest in this subject. Once we have had the meetings with the Regional Secretaries and Education and Training Department we will inform Branches of the outcome and progress made with this issue.

Branch Records/Archives: Scoping

In the meantime, we are running a short survey to establish what historical Branch materials are currently held by Branches and what steps have been taken to organise and preserve this material.

We are aware that some Branches may have been proactive on this and have already made archival arrangements locally, whilst others have yet to do so. Whatever the circumstances, we are keen to hear from you to help guide us in taking the CWU history and heritage project forward.

Please return your completed questionnaire by email to: dlenihan@cwu.org

Q1: 

Does your Branch have historic records from the CWU or any predecessor union? [These might be old minute books, branch accounts, local campaign literature etc]

Q2:

If your Branch does have such records, has the Branch made any arrangements for their storage? (At local archives for example) or are they kept at Branch premises?

Q3:

If your Branch does have such records still at Branch premises, could you give an indication of the quantity of historical records at the premises? An estimate of the physical size overall would also be useful?

Q4:

Can you identify any Branch activists who might be interested in taking a lead on a Branch-records archiving project?

Any comments or queries please do get in touch with the CWU Information Manager in the first instance

Denis Lenihan, Data Protection Officer & Information Manager

CWU Research Department

CWU Head Office, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX.

020 8971 7279

dlenihan@cwu.org

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be sent to gsoffice@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

18LTB582 – CWU HISTORY AND HERITAGE PROJECT

Election of: Member-Nominated Trustee Director – Royal Mail Pension Plan

Further to LTB 476/18 dated 21 August 2018.

Branches will be aware that the above LTB provided the election and nomination arrangements for the position of Member Nominated Trustee (MNT) for the Royal Mail Pension Plan.

We have subsequently received enquiries from branches seeking further clarification on why the election is required and we can confirm that the election is necessary as a result of the current MNT – Phil Browne, former CWU Branch Secretary, Royal Mail Divisional Representative and National Executive Council Member completing the 6 year period of office as a RMPP Pension Trustee and thereby under the rules of the pension scheme is now required to seek re-election.

In order to assist branches in making recommendations to their respective members we have attached a copy of the election statements for all of the eligible candidates which as you will see includes the election statement for Phil Browne who is again standing for the MNT position which he has held since 2012.

Please note that the ballot papers for the election will be sent to all eligible members of the RMPP by the appointed Independent Scrutineer, Popularis Ltd on 15^th October 2018 and the ballot will close on 5^th November 2018.  

If you require any further information regarding the election then please contact Peter Metcalfe in the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB579

RM Pension Candidate Statements