National Men’s Health Week 2016 – Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The Men’s Health Forum, an independent body founded by The Royal College of Nursing in 1994, has confirmed that National Men’s Health Week 2016 will run from Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June and this year’s theme is Beat Stress.
We all get stressed. The question is: what do you do about it?
This is the theme of Men’s Health Week 2016.
It matters because if we don’t release stress, it can turn into something more serious.
There are many things we can do to beat stress: exercise, sing, dance, laugh, play or listen to music, paint, write, volunteer, learn something new and lots more.
The Men’s Health Forum’s message to men is: talk about how you beat stress, talk about what causes it. Talk to your mates, talk to your family. And if you want to talk to a professional try the Men’s Health Forum’s new Beat Stress service – free text chat with experts trained in beating stress, no names, no hassle. They will be launching the service during the week.
There’s still time to take part in Men’s Health Week. Sign up online to access the resource pack and keep up to date with the week at https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw. The resource pack for the week is available to those who have signed up for the week and it contains posters, graphics and briefings to help you with the week.
If there’s anything else that you need now or during the week, please don’t hesitate to contact the Men’s Health Forum via their email https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/contact.
Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB368 National Men’s Health Week 2016 – Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June.docx

Attachment 2 – Mens Health Week Poster.pdf

CWU Accounts 2015
Further to LTB 212/16 dated 6th April 2016 and LTB 250/16 dated 22nd April 2016.
Please find attached the details of the monies that make up Branch Funds. 
The attached document lists each Branch with the brought forward balance from 2014 and the closing balance for 2015. This demonstrates the movement in each account for the financial year 2015.
Additionally please find attached the Financial Statement required by Section 32A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended, for the period 1st January – 31st December 2015.
Please can you ensure that this information is brought to the attention of the members of your Branch. 
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
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 365/16 – CWU Accounts 2015

Attachment 1 – Branch Balances

Attachment 2 – Section 32A Financial Statement

Dying to Work’ Campaign – Motion 57(2016) – Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guide
This is an update report to branches on the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign, further to LTBs 260/16 dated 26 April 2016 and 581/15 dated 7 September 2015.
Motion 57 was accepted at 2016 Conference instructing the NEC to provide regular updates on the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign and to raise awareness amongst our members in the workplace.
The TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign called for all TUC affiliated Unions to support the campaign and to raise the profile of the campaign and to pledge to promote the new campaign which is designed to support those workers fighting for their right to work whilst coming to terms with their terminal illness, seeking to achieve dignity and respect that terminally ill workers deserve. A lot of workers with a terminal diagnosis decide that they want to continue working as long as they can, either because they need the financial security or because they find that their work can be a helpful distraction from their illness. Whichever choice a person makes, they should be able to expect help and support from their employer. Unfortunately the experience of many workers is that their employer is either unsympathetic or puts up barriers to them continuing in work.
Representations have been made to Royal Mail and BT, and this update is in relation to the discussions with Royal Mail Group’s Head of Health who I am pleased to report has given positive support to our campaign.
See attached letter dated 25 May from Judith Grant Royal Mail Group Head of Health confirming that she is progressing with two Royal Mail policy Standards, discussed at our last meeting and is progressing with the attached documents to ensure that the principles in the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign are covered in Royal Mail’s policy standards. The Summary document attached is good at the moment but the Guidance document attached needs some amendments and so Judith Grant will be progressing this with the RM Group HR Policy team to ensure that the company is giving the best advice to managers to enable them to support someone with a terminal illness. I will issue a further LTB once the attached Policy Documents are updated.
However an important extract from the attached Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guidance is as follows and is in line with what the ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign aims to achieve:-
Continuing to work

It is quite common for employees who are diagnosed with a terminal illness to carry on working, even whilst having treatment. Royal Mail will do everything it can to support them to carry on working for as long as they feel able.
If they want to stay at work, there are a few things that they should discuss with their manager, including:

• Any time off you they will need for medical appointments or treatment.

• Whether they wish to consider reducing their hours or applying for flexible working.

• How their illness may affect the type of work they can do and what alternative work may be available.

• Whether the advice of the Occupational Health Service is required to assist with finding suitable alternative work.
It’s important for the employee to regularly meet with their manager to discuss how they are coping with work and whether any further adjustments need to be made. There may be circumstances when adjustments cannot be met.
Further updates will be published in due course.
Further information:- Dying to work campaign: http://www.dyingtowork.co.uk

Yours sincerely
  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 364/16 ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign – Motion 57(2016) – Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guide:

Email from Judith Grant

Terminal Illness Guide

Terminal Illness Summary

UNI WORLD POST AND LOGISTICS CONFERENCE – 2016
The UNI World Post and Logistics Conference will take place in Dublin, Ireland on 13/14th October 2016.
Please find attached the Election Regulations, Nomination Forms and Candidates Consent and Biographical Details Form. These must be completed and returned by 21st June 2016.
The nomination entitlements are as follows:
Branches with members in the Postal Constituency: 
1 NEC Member from the Postal Constituency

3 Lay Members from the Postal Constituency (One of whom must a woman and one of whom must be under the age of 30 at the date of the conference)

The timetable for the election is as follows:
Nominations open: 7 June 2016               
Nominations close: 21 June 2016 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers: 28 June 2016

Ballot closes: 12 July 2016 (14:00)
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
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 360/16 – UNI World Post and Logistics Conference – 2016

Attachment 1 – Regulations 2016

Attachment 2 – Nomination Form 2016

Attachment 3 – Candidates Consent & Biographical Details Form 2016

RM/CWU Dog Awareness Week 2016 – Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July – Dog Attack ‘Hot-Spots’ – Top 10 Postcode Areas & Top 10 Delivery Offices: Hotspots: 
To: All Branches with Postal Members 
Dear Colleagues,
To remind you, LTB 348/16 informed Postal Branches, Area Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums that the RM/CWU Dog Awareness Week has moved back one week to Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July.
LTB 290/2016 issued on 12 May appealed to all ASRs to positively assist the 2016 Dog Awareness Campaign by approaching members who have been attacked to request their support for the campaign by agreeing to be ‘Case Studies’ during Dog Awareness week and volunteering to speak to the press and media about their experience. Local and Regional Press are particularly interested in the personal angle for stories they run and it could mean the difference between getting important coverage to raise awareness of customers about the need to be responsible dog owners and keep their dogs under control so avoiding attacks on postal workers.
To make Dog Awareness Week 2016 a success it is vital that we are able to make reference to local cases of Postal Worker victims of dog bites to encourage the local press to take an interest and run stories that raise awareness. These stories will include advice to customers which will help to reduce dog attacks on Postmen and Women occurring in the future. 
CWU HQ and Royal Mail HQ are jointly appealing to anyone who was bitten or attacked by a dog, particularly in the last year or so, to volunteer to have the details of their case used in the local media and to talk to a press reporter either in person or over the telephone. This could include a feature on radio or television or an article in a newspaper. 
The support of members willing to do this could mean the difference between an article being printed in the newspaper or not being run at all as the press and media always prefer to speak to someone who has experienced the type of incident the article is all about.
Would Area Safety Reps, Area Delivery Reps and Branches please assist with encouraging members to come forward to support the campaign.
We now have the national dog attack statistics for 2015/2016 and I reproduce below from the national league table the Top Ten Postcode areas – those with the most dog attacks on postal workers and the Top Ten Delivery Office units with the most dog attacks on employees in the past year 2015/2016.
Royal Mail and the CWU are specifically interested in obtaining volunteers from these areas and offices to support Dog Awareness Week and to agree to be Case Studies for the Press and Media. WOULD ASRs COVERING THESE POSTCODE AREAS AND THOSE ASRs COVERING THE DELIVERY OFFICES PLEASE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO VISIT OFFICES AND CANVASS SUPPORT SEEKING VOLUNTEERS PLEASE.
Volunteers details should be forwarded directly to:
Nick Burns RMG Safety Engagement Manager. Contact details:-

Mobile: 07801091380

Email: Nicholas.Burns@royalmail.com

Top Ten Postcode Area Hotspots
Postcode Area
Number of dog attacks in the Area
Delivery Office in PCA with largest no’ of dog attacks
NG
68
Newark – 8 attacks
PE
65
Orton Southgate – 15 attacks
Northern Ireland
57
Belfast North – 7 attacks
TN
56
Tonbridge – 10 attacks
RG
54
Reading, Bracknell & Newbury – 7 attacks each
LS
51
Aireborough – 7 attacks
S
51
Barnsley – 8 attacks
PL
50
West Park – 12 attacks
GU
49
Guilford, Camberley and Farnham – 6 attacks each
NE
48
Blaydon on Tyne & Jarrow – 7 attacks each
Top Ten Delivery Office Hotspots
Delivery Office
Number of Dog Attacks
Wrexham DO
15
Orton Southgate DO
15
Bath DO
13
Basingstoke DO
13
West Park DO
12
Taunton DO
12
Lincoln DO
12
Chelmsford DO
12
Chippenham DO
11
Edinburgh West DO
11
Thanks for your help and support.
Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB354 RM CWU Dog Awareness Week 2016 – Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July – Dog Attack ‘Hot-Spots’.docx

Lithium Battery Parcel Fires and Explosions – Romford Mail Centre Wednesday 27.4.16 & London, Piccadilly W1 Delivery 6.5.16:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
This is an update report to Branches further to LTB 278/16.
As reported in LTB 278/16 a package containing a Lithium Battery caught fire and exploded in Romford Mail Centre on 27 April causing minor damage. The Fire alarm was activated and the Mail Centre was evacuated. There were no injuries of any kind. The minor explosion and fire was quickly controlled and the packaging and surrounding materials were put out by use of fire extinguishers.
Subsequently a further incident occurred when a Mail Bag containing a similar item burst into flames, whilst being carried by a Postmen/OPG to a customer’s address whilst making deliveries in the Piccadilly W1 area. The bag of Mail items and Parcels were destroyed in the Fire. The member dropped the bag and retreated to a safe distance when the fire occurred and was unharmed. The Mail bag and contents were severely damaged and destroyed.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) attended both scenes and dealt with the fires before giving the all clear.
The two incidents have been taken extremely seriously by Royal Mail, the Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and Fire Service and extensive investigations have been undertaken and they continue.
Royal Mail’s Security and Dangerous Goods Teams have been keeping the Health, Safety & Environment Department fully updated on progress of the investigations and discussions have taken place regarding the necessary course of action.
The two items have now been identified as similar items, sold by the same seller on eBay, the world famous on-line auction and marketplace website. The two items are poor quality, Lap Top Computer, Lithium Batteries, manufactured, distributed and posted from China via an International Import company with links to Switzerland.
The Fire Service and Police have completed their examination of the items and the Police were satisfied through their investigations that these were not terrorist related incidents but instead were shoddily made Lithium-ion batteries with faulty circuitry, which are known to have been the cause of a series of unrelated incidents involving fires and minor explosions. These batteries have been fitted in cheap versions of the new type self-balancing “hoverboard” scooters as well as being sold as replacement or counterfeit laptop batteries where the batteries overheat, explode and cause fires.
The Civil Aviation Authority investigation aims to determine whether the items were posted by Airmail which is strictly prohibited. Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, Lose Lithium-ion/polymer batteries without equipment are prohibited as cargo on passenger aircraft. This could lead to a CAA prosecution of the seller and distributor if evidence is forthcoming.
If the items were sent within the UK then that breaches Royal Mail’s Restricted and Prohibited Goods Rules and in that case Royal Mail Group’s Security and Dangerous Goods teams will investigate prosecution of the seller and distributor for reckless endangerment or Health and Safety Offences with enforcing authorities.
Royal Mail Group’s Security and Dangerous Goods teams have been constantly in contact with EBay, as have the above mentioned authorities. Royal Mail has requested the removal of Royal Mail as a preferred carrier for this type of item from any sellers operating on eBay and monitoring of sellers to prevent new ones using Royal Mail. EBay have been co-operating with Royal Mail in that respect.
Royal Mail has also raised the matter with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which sets the rules for international mail exchanges and monitors the standards and activities of international Postal Services and sets procedures for accepting and controlling dangerous goods.
Such packages incorrectly posted, containing prohibited goods are not always easily identified. Such incidents are rare but Members should be vigilant and report any suspect packages if they come to their attention and management should follow the “Stay Calm/Be Aware” guidance and call CPC or the Security Help Desk for further advice and call the Emergency Services as required.
Water Fire Extinguishers have little effect on Lithium Battery Fires but wetting the surrounding area can prevent fire spread as a precaution pending attendance by the Fire Service.
Further updates will be published in due course.
Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB353 Lithium Battery Parcel Fires and Explosions.docx

SPDO Health and Safety Inspection and Workplace Risk Assessment Programme by Royal Mail Property Division Update:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Further to the e-mail communication to ASRs on 4 April and LTB 305/16 dated 17 May, this is an update for Area Health and Safety Representatives and Branches on the progress of the nationwide programme of SPDOs (Scale Payment Delivery Office) Health and Safety Inspections and Workplace Risk Assessments being carried under the direction of Royal Mail Property Division’s Risk & Compliance Team by two appointed Buildings Surveyors and Safety Compliance Consultant Companies, AECOMM and ARK.
The national inspections have been designed to focus on the safety arrangements of the operational working facilities for Royal Mail’s employees; including compliance areas such as Fire Safety and Alarms, work equipment, access arrangements, Electrical/Gas/Oil installations, Emergency Lighting, Water Management and Legionella control, Asbestos Surveys, Lift equipment (such as passenger and goods lifts), General Risk assessment (including Fire Risk Assessment) and welfare facilities etc.
As you are aware, RM Property has been rolling out an SPDO Programme of health and safety inspections across circa 650 SPDO sites nationally. The programme commenced in early April and is scheduled to complete by mid/late June with the exception of the extreme northern locations.
As previously reported, Royal Mail Group Property and the Union fully share concerns regarding the conditions of some SPDO Units and the need to deal with any sub-standard working conditions and poor working environments in order to achieve and maintain statutory health and safety compliance.
Attached for your information is a copy of the summary programme of SPDO Inspections which have been completed across each of the three RM Regions and schedule of those to be completed over the forthcoming month of June. Some units still have dates for inspections to be confirmed. 
RM Property has issued instructions that the detailed information should also be shared locally with the SHE team, PiC’s/Unit Managers, CWU ASRs and Unite CMA ASRs.
So far around 50% of the circa 650 SPDO sites have had a health and safety inspection by the appointed Consultants and the rest are due to be completed by mid/end of June.
Royal Mail Property Division, Risk & Compliance Team hold a weekly conference call with the Buildings Safety Consultants and the SHE team leads from all three regions (listed below) to provide updates on SPDO Programme and to deal with queries.
Summary of SPDO site H&S Inspections completed and Outstanding:-
Region
Completed
Outstanding
Total
East
178
54
232
West
59
62
121
North
95
173
268
 
If ASRs require any information regarding the SPDO Inspection Programme, dates and times for their postcode areas, please contact the following Buildings Safety consultants companies via Email:-
AECOM
North Region (Inc. Northern Ireland): – alaistair.tolson@aecom.com (Contact is Alaistair Tolson)
ARK
East & West Regions:- projectsupport@arkworkplacerisk.com (Contact is Yaz Ozcan)
 
The RMG Safety Health and Environment (SHE) Team have appointed three Regional leads and ‘one-stop’ Contact and Liaison Points, should ASRs have any questions, enquiries, input or issues they wish to ensure are addressed during the programme, as follows:-
Jayne Callaghan-Jarvis (East)
Email: jayne.f.callaghan-jarvis@royalmail.com
Tel: 07553377561
Matthew Chappell (West)
Email: matthew.chappell@royalmail.com
Tel: 07553383433
Freddie Warnock (North)
Email: freddie.warnock@royalmail.com
Tel: 07841076475
 
The RM Group Property Contact in case of Inspection/Buildings Risk Assessment Programme queries is:- 
Richard Bennion
Email: Richard.bennion@royalmail.com
Tel: 07776994419
The Royal Mail Property Division, Risk & Compliance Team have stated clearly that;
• The SPDO Programme of Inspections Schedule are fixed dates to ensure an efficient programme of completion. 

• A communication and ‘Briefing Pack’ was sent out to all SPDO’s Managers, Ops Managers and SHE Team. Managers were requested to ensure all employees who work in the SPDO’s and CWU ASR’s are fully briefed and aware of the programme. 

• RM Property has no issues with Cluster Managers/DOM’s/PiCs/Unit Managers, SHE team or CWU ASRs being present on the date of the Health and Safety inspections, attending as per the consultant’s schedule.

• Any reports produced from the inspections will be shared with Post Office Limited as part of the ‘Mailwork’ specification in order to discuss and arrange remedial action involving their agents/local Postmasters, property owners/leaseholders.

• All SPDO Inspection Programme schedules and communications have been shared with Ops, SHE, GP, POL, CWU & CMA. 

• Any queries or comments around the programme dates and times should be directed to the consultants via the email addresses above. 

• ASRs should check the dates of the proposed inspections on the programme and confirm their attendance with Ark/AECOM if they want to be present on the date of the visit. The Regional SHE Team Leads and the RM Property Risk & Compliance Team are not directly involved in the visits being scheduled or completed. The date of the visits are pre-agreed with the sub-postmaster and completed on the dates on the schedule. 
Attachment:

SPDO Inspection Programme_Scheduling Royal Mail 270516
Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB352 SPDO Health and Safety Inspection and Workplace Risk Assessment Programme.docx

Attachment 2 – Copy of SPDO Inspection Programme_Scheduling Royal Mail 270516 (2).xlsx