CWU Left Click Plus: 500 additional e-courses for members
Dear Colleague,
Part of the challenge of the CWU Union Learning project has been to ensure that remote workers get as many opportunities to learn as those members in larger workplaces. The continuing development of the CWU Left Click platform is part of that process. Courses such as the ‘No Nonsense Guide to Digital Photography’, the ‘Express Yourself Creative Writing’ course and ‘Getting To Know Your Computer’ have all proved very popular. We hope that our new ‘Discovering Family History’ course, designed by our own CWU reps will be equally as well received.
We are determined to increase the amount of courses available to our members and with this in mind we have joined with leading ed-tech firm e-careers Ltd to provide CWU Left Click Plus. This platform offers over 500 high quality courses, including accredited CISCO networking courses, AAT accountancy courses and PRINCE 2 project management courses to name just a few. All of these courses are available at heavily discounted rates with an additional 10% discount for CWU members.
Paul Dovey has led on our work with e-careers which will give our members access to many certificated courses and learner support where previously they might not otherwise have been able to access it. Please note that Left Click Plus is the only place where course fees apply. While the courses on Left Click Plus are a useful addition to our offer, it is important to remind members that free courses remain available across the rest of the site.
An introductory email will be being sent to all CWU members for whom we have email addresses, notifying them of the new courses being made available. We also have posters (attached for circulating via noticeboards and traditional communication networks). Other posters promoting Left Click are available. Please contact the Education & Training Department for more.
This arrangement greatly increases the number of courses available to CWU members and allows us to focus our resources on activist training and the other free and bespoke content that will continue to be available at http://www.cwu.org/leftclick.
Any enquiries regarding this LtB and for further support to raise awareness about this initiative should be addressed to Paul Dovey at the Education & Training Department (pdovey@cwu.org).
Yours sincerely,

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 368/17 – CWU Left Click Plus: 500 additional e-courses for members

Left Click Plus poster

Left Click poster

Royal Mail / Communication Workers Union Dog Awareness Week 3-7 July 2017 – 3,000 Postmen and Women Attacked By Dogs Every

Year – 7 Every Day! –Press Release
To: All Branches with Postal Members  

Dear Colleagues, 

Please see attached CWU Press Release ahead of next week’s joint annual RMG/CWU 2017 National ‘Dog Awareness Week’. 

Bad Dog Attacks on CWU members continue and this remains a No 1 health and safety concern and priority issue and daily risk for our members so it warrants CWU high priority. 

Further information will be issued to ASRs but Branches and Reps may wish to Reproduce the below Press Release in order to communicate it to the local and Regional Press and Media in your Branch Postcode Areas to maximise impact and coverage. 

Thanks in anticipation of your support. 

Regards & Best Wishes 

 

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB 365/17 Royal Mail / Communication Workers Union Dog Awareness Week

Press Release

The EU Six Pack Health & Safety Regulations – CWU Fact Sheet 

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

In January 1992, six regulations on Health and Safety at Work were introduced. The requirements of these Regulations spelled out in detail what a responsible employer needs to do to comply with the requirements of EU Law and the UK’s 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act, the ‘umbrella Act’ under which the Regulations were introduced. 

The ‘six-pack’ is the name given to this group of most widely quoted sets of health and safety regulations. They came into effect in Britain after six European directives, collectively known as the ‘six-pack’, were issued by the European Commission. 

The main set of regulations is the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, also known as the ‘Management Regs’. They place a legal duty on employers to carry out a risk assessment as a first step in ensuring a safe workplace, and lie at the heart of the modern approach to health and safety at work in the UK.

Other ‘six-pack’ regulations cover, in summary, heating, lighting and ventilation at work, the safe use of computer screens and keyboards, handling heavy or awkward loads, rest breaks, and personal protective equipment. 

The importance of the ‘six pack’ regulations is shown by the fact that the Health and Safety Executive issue around 4,000 enforcement notices every year under the six regulations, and achieve over 200 convictions a year, a figure that sees fines increasing every year under the new sentencing council guidelines. 

The EU Six Pack of Regulations is explained in summary in the attached CWU Fact Sheet for Health and Safety Reps information and easy reference.

The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations

Manual Handling Operations Regulations

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations

Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations

These important regulations have played an important role in the health and safety regime of the UK and as a result, the TUC, all UK Union and the Health and Safety Professional bodies are campaigning for their retention after ‘Brexit’.

The Regulations were introduced by the Secretary of State under the ‘Umbrella Act’ and central piece of UK Health and Safety Legislation, the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974, summarised below:-

The Health and Safety at Work Act

Health and safety law is very wide ranging. Most of it is not made through Acts of Parliament but by regulations.

The right to make regulations on health and safety was given to the Secretary of State under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

This Act, which came into force in 1975, was designed to ensure that all workers in all occupations were covered by health and safety legislation. Rather than have lots of different laws covering different groups, it provided a framework within which health and safety could be regulated by creating one simple system of law dealing with all aspects of health and safety of people at work.

The Act is written in very general terms and the duties on employers are qualified with the words ‘as far as is reasonably practicable‘. This means that employers have often argued that the costs of a particular safety measure are not justified by the reduction in risk which the measure would produce. The following are the main sections of the Act.

The following are the main sections of the Act:

Section 1

This states the general purpose of Part 1 of the Act, which is aimed at:

Maintaining or improving standards of health, safety and welfare of people at work.

Protecting other people against risks to health and safety arising out of work activities.

Controlling the storage and use of dangerous substances.

Controlling certain emissions into the air from certain premises.

Section 2

This puts a general duty on employers to:

Ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees.

Consult them concerning arrangements for joint action on health and safety matters, and in certain circumstances, at the request of duly appointed or elected trade union safety reps, to establish safety committees.

Prepare and publicise a written statement of their safety policy and arrangements.

Sub-section (4) of this section of the Act makes provision by regulations for the appointment of workers’ safety reps by recognised trade unions.

Section 3

This places a general duty on employers and the self-employed to ensure that their activities do not endanger anybody, and, in certain circumstances, to provide information to the public about any potential hazards to health and safety.

Section 4

This places a duty on anybody responsible for places of work to ensure that premises themselves, as well as plant and machinery in them, do not endanger people using them.
Section 5

Controllers of premises as a prescribed class must use the best practicable means to prevent emissions into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances and to render harmless and inoffensive such substances as may be emitted.
Section 6

This places duties on anyone who designs, manufacturers, imports or supplies an article or substance for use at work to ensure, so far as it is under their control, that the article or substance is safe when used in accordance with information supplied by them. The duty extends to the provision of necessary information and the carrying out of necessary testing, inspection and research. Those who install plant also have a duty to ensure that it is safely installed.

Section 7

This places duties on employees to take reasonable care to ensure that they do not endanger themselves or anyone else who may be affected by their work activities; and to co-operate with employers and others in meeting statutory requirements.

Section 8

This places a duty on everyone not to misuse anything provided in the interests of health or safety at work under a statutory requirement.

Section 9

This provides that no employer may charge their employees for anything done or equipment provided for health or safety purposes under a statutory requirement.

Section 15

This section allows the Secretary of State to make regulations on health and safety under the Act.

Section 28 (8)

This requires Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors to supply certain information on health, safety and welfare matters affecting safety to workers or their representatives.

To see what the Act means in practice, it is necessary to look at the regulations made under the Act (E.g. The Six-Pack), or the official approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) and guidance.

Attachment:- The EU Six Pack Health & Safety Regulations – CWU Fact Sheet.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

 

 

Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB 364/17 The EU Six Pack Health & Safety Regulations – CWU Fact Sheet

The EU Six Pack

KEN MCKENZIE AWARD FOR LIFELONG LEARNING 2017Dear Colleagues,

Branches will be aware of the policy adopted at General Conference 2010 to present the “Ken McKenzie Award for Lifelong Learning” which is presented to a Union Learning Representative (ULR) or group of ULRs who have made a significant contribution to lifelong learning within the CWU. The award is presented each year at our CWU ULR National Networking Event. This year will follow tradition and be part of the agenda at this year’s event scheduled to be held in Blackpool over two days on the 8th and 9th November 2017.

Last year the accolade was awarded jointly to Mel Cambridge (Scotland No. 2), Neil Crothall (Great Western) and Gavin Hardie (Plymouth & East Cornwall) and as usual we received a good number of nominations of a very high quality. 

I am now inviting applications for the 2017 Annual Ken McKenzie award for lifelong learning. The award will be made in recognition of exceptional achievements and contributions to lifelong learning and training by a CWU ULR or a group of CWU ULRs. Nominations can be made by Branches, Regional Learning Committees or Regional Committees by completing the attached nomination form.

Completed nominations should include a detailed précis of the nominated ULR or group of ULRs endeavours and achievements and be sent to:

Michelle Simpson, Education and Training Department, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX or email learn@cwu.org

The closing date for nominations will be FRIDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2017.

Any queries relating to this LTB should be addressed to me via the Education and Training Department at learn@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

 

TRISH LAVELLE

HEAD OF EDUCATION & TRAINING

Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB 362/17 – KEN MCKENZIE AWARD FOR LIFELONG LEARNING 2017

Nomination Form

Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn Warning:To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

This LTB and information is being issued further to advice issued annually to assist Branches and Safety Reps in conveying important Sun Safety information to outdoor workers.

2017 is set to be the hottest year on record, according to a global forecast by the Met Office. The Met Office long-range prediction forecast suggests that by the end of 2017 we will have seen four record years in a row for temperatures with this month hitting 35C (95F).

Don’t Underestimate The Dangers Of Sun Poisoning

Everybody loves to make the most of it when the sun comes out, which is great as sunlight is good for the bones and for our overall health. However, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause inflammation of the skin, otherwise known as sunburn. Extended overexposure can lead to sun poisoning, which is a more severe form of sunburn. Unfortunately, most people underestimate the potential danger of sun poisoning. If you’ve spent too much time in the sun and are feeling sun poisoning symptoms, don’t just dismiss them. You need immediate care to alleviate these symptoms and prevent potential long term effects.

Why is Sun Poisoning Dangerous?

Sunburn or sun poisoning early in life puts you at a higher risk for developing skin cancer later on. However, frequent overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun causes untold damage to the skin and eyes. It increases the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness and also causes the skin to dry out leading to premature wrinkling and scarring.

Recognizing Sun Poisoning Symptoms

If you’ve stayed out in the sun too long, some of the immediate symptoms of sunburn that you will see are that you feel dehydrated and your skin is red, flushed and tender and even the slightest touch causes pain. A few days after the exposure, your skin may begin to blister or swell or peel or in severe cases, it may develop rashes or welts. Limited exposure to the sun may have milder symptoms that could range from skin redness to skin irritation or mild pain.

Prolonged overexposure to the sun could cause sun poisoning, which has more severe symptoms.

Severe sunburn or sun poisoning can cause symptoms such as the following:

Fever and chills

Headache

Dizziness or disorientation

Dehydration

Nausea

Facial Swelling

Rapid breathing and rapid pulse

Pain and tingling

Skin redness, severe blistering and soreness

Shock with loss of consciousness

Heat stroke (Heat stroke is a severe form of hyperthermia and is considered a medical emergency)

Risk Factors for Sun Poisoning

The intensity of your sun poisoning symptoms depends upon several factors including:-

Your skin type: Lighter coloured skin is more susceptible to sun burn.

The time, duration and season of the exposure: UV rays are strongest at noon and immediately before and after noon (between 10 am and 3 pm) and especially so in summer and spring.

Medications you may be taking: Some drugs are sun-sensitizing and have been proven to increase a person’s susceptibility to sun poisoning.

Measures for Preventing Sun Poisoning

The best way to prevent sun poisoning is to avoid spending too much time in the sun, especially in direct sunlight in the middle of a hot summer’s day. When you do go out in the sun, wear protective clothing – a large brimmed hat, loose long-sleeved shirt and long trousers and wear protective sunscreen over all exposed parts of the skin. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated while spending time in the sun. While mild sunburn can be easily managed by drinking a lot of water and applying a dampened cloth over the affected areas followed by application of a soothing cream, if you have the symptoms of sun poisoning, it is best to seek medical care as soon as possible.

Skin Cancer – Facts, Prevention & Detection

Almost all skin cancers are caused by over-exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) from the sun and/or sunbeds.

All skin types can be damaged by exposure to UVR. Damage is permanent, irreversible and increases with each exposure.

Skin cancer is the UK’s most common and fastest rising cancer.

Malignant melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults (aged 15-34) in the UK.

More people die from skin cancer in the UK than Australia.

Over 80% of all Skin Cancers are caused by over-exposure to the Sun and/or Sunbeds making the majority of all skin cancers preventable with sun safety measures.

The UV Index

The UV Index provides a daily forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun. The index provides UK intensity levels on a scale of 0 to 10+, where 0 is minimal risk and 10+ means very high risk. The aim of the index is to warn people of increased risk and encourage them to change their behaviour in order to protect themselves against risks of skin cancer and skin damage. The UV Index does not exceed 8 in the UK (8 is rare; 7 may occur on exceptional days, mostly in the two weeks towards the end of June). Indices of 9 and 10 are common in the Mediterranean area. However even the moderate exposure category level requires people to take precautions.

The UV index can be checked on the TV Weather Forecasts, at the BBC or at the Met Office Website at:-

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/health/public/uvindex#?tab=map&map=MaxUVIndex&zoom=5&lon=-4.00&lat=55.71&fcTime=1464566400

UV index

Index

Exposure & Met Office Advice

1-2

Low – Safe to be outside

3-5

Moderate – Wear a wide-brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and use Sunscreen – Cover up, Seek Shade – Drink Plenty of Water

6-7

High – Wear a wide-brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and use Sunscreen – Cover up, Seek Shade – Drink Plenty of Water

8-10

Very high – Wear a wide-brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and use Sunscreen – Cover up, Seek Shade – Drink Plenty of Water

11

Extreme – Wear a wide-brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and use Sunscreen – Cover up, Seek Shade – Drink Plenty of Water

CWU “Sun Smart & Skin Safe” Campaign Pocket Fact Cards and Posters

These cards and posters have been produced for CWU Branches, for distribution to all our outdoor workers and workplaces as part of our Union’s annual campaign to lift the awareness of our members to the now very serious growing risk of sun burn and skin cancer as well as heat stress, stroke and dehydration.

Branches and Regional Health and Safety Forums can purchase additional posters and pocket fact cards from CWU HQ:

A batch of 10 posters = £1.40; and 50 posters = £7.00

A batch of 10 pocket fact cards = 68p; and 50 pocket fact cards = £2.89

Contact details for orders: Debby Akerman Post and Repro Department at CWU HQ dakerman@cwu.org T: 0208 971 7218

Attachments:

Sun Smart Leaflet/Pocket Card

Sun Smart Poster

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Email Attachments – Click to download

Attachment 1 – LTB358/17 Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn Warning:

Attachment 2 – Sun Smart Poster

Attachment 3 – Sun Smart Skin Safe Fact Cards

New Structure in Delivery 

Following our joint communication sent out on 12th June, we wanted to keep you updated on the discussions that are taking place regarding the delivery structure changes and what it may mean to you.

 

As you are aware, changes to the leadership structure are underway within the Delivery operation, introducing Operations Managers and Performance Coaches to replace Head of Delivery Performance, Delivery Sector Managers (DSMs) and Optimisation Champions. Following recent assessments, for these roles, the candidates are now being informed of their personal outcomes.

 

With regards to your roles, DSM support, consultation has commenced between Royal Mail and the CWU to consider the impact and potential changes to the administrative support roles as a result of the new structure. These discussions are at an early stage and as such no final decisions have been made.

 

Both parties are committed to working jointly with the aim of creating defined roles equipped to best support the new Delivery structure within a timely manner.

 

Discussions between Royal Mail and the CWU will continue over the coming weeks and we will keep you updated with progress.

 

This will be a challenging time for all of our colleagues in Delivery and we are fully committed to jointly providing support to all our administrative support colleagues who will be affected by the design changes over the coming weeks.

 

If you have any questions please contact either Royal Mail at delivery.simplify@royalmail.com

or your Union via Andy Furey’s office at lsheridan@cwu.org