Royal Mail and Parcelforce (Including Fleet and Engineering etc.) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Protective Clothing and Footwear Provision and Supply Issues:

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has continued to receive enquiries regarding the provision and supply of those items of protective clothing and footwear which fall within the Royal Mail and Parcelforce uniform ranges and the specific Technical Services Grades ranges that fall under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (PPE) Regulations 1992 (as amended 2002). (Note: Regulation 2(1) in these Regulations determines that ‘personal protective equipment (PPE)’ means all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him/her against one or more risks to his/her health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective.)

Unfortunately, and sadly, some ill-chosen, misplaced an odd comments made by Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson on the company’s garbage ‘Workplace Social Media Facebook Website’ has been a cause for concern amongst CWU reps and members generally, particularly in relation to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and particularly for the delivery workforce members working outdoors as the winter months approach bringing potential extremes of low temperatures, cold and wet weather. This has led to a number of complaints and enquiries being received at the CWU/HQ Health, Safety and Environment Department.

Following discussions with the Royal Mail Group Head of Assets and National Uniform Manager, we have been assured that despite any issues that may arise in relation to the supply chain, transitioning from the old to new uniform range or uniform reviews etc., the supply of PPE items will continue to be provided as normal and there should be no issues for the workforce in obtaining PPE items such as stormproof jackets, high-Viz garments, waterproof leggings and safety footwear etc. These items are part of the BAU (Business As Usual) process and not part of the new uniform rollout. There may be a few sizes showing as out of stock on the Uniform Portal, however there is a message advising that the order should be placed and it will be fulfilled with an alternative, equivalent, similar specification, ‘off the shelf’ product.

Note:

Under Section 2(1) of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended), ‘personal protective equipment’ means all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him/her against one or more risks to his/her health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective. Under Section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, no charge can be made to the worker for the provision of PPE which is used only at work. Section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: “No employer shall levy or permit to be levied on any employee of his any charge in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of any specific requirement of the relevant statutory provisions”. Section 9 applies to these regulations because they impose a ‘specific requirement’ – i.e., to provide PPE.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB429 RMG and Parcelforce (Including Fleet and Engineering) PPE – Protective Clothing and Footwear Provision and Supply Issues

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Important update session for members to watch on catch up.

Facebook https://fb.watch/gueD7jAaOY/

YouTube https://youtu.be/R51csYZUTbg

Twitter https://twitter.com/cwunews/status/1586704465037361152?s=46&t=Z-Z347vjrBG_f0E1pJHczQ

2022 Dispute Relating to Royal Mail Group Breaking the “Pathway to Change” and Associated National Agreements and Protections for CWU Represented Grades Employed by Royal Mail Group Consisting of Royal Mail, Parcelforce and Fleet

The CWU’s Postal Executive met today, Friday 28^th October 2022 and have determined there is a need for further strike action, which we have notified the company of.  The strike will cover:

• All duties and scheduled attendance commencing between the period at or after 04:00 on Monday 14^thNovember 2022 and before 04:00 on Tuesday 15^th November 2022. The industrial action will be discontinuous.

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

Yours sincerely,                                                                   Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                                                                            Dave Ward

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                  General Secretary  

 LTB 427.22 2022 Dispute Relating to RMG Breaking the Pathway to Change and Associated National Agreements and Protections for CWU Represented Grades Employed by RMG consisting of RM Parcelforce and Fleet

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2022 DISPUTE RELATING TO CWU PAY CLAIM FOR CWU REPRESENTED GRADES EMPLOYED BY ROYAL MAIL GROUP, CONSISTING OF ROYAL MAIL, PARCELFORCE AND FLEET

The CWU’s Postal Executive met today, Friday 28^th October 2022 and have determined there is a need for further strike action, which we have notified the company of.  The strike will cover:

• All duties and scheduled attendance commencing between the period at or after 04:00 on Saturday 12^thNovember 2022 and before 04:00 on Sunday 13^th November 2022. The industrial action will be discontinuous.

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

Yours sincerely,                                                             Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                                                                   Dave Ward

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                  General Secretary  

22LTB426 2022 DISPUTE RELATING TO CWU PAY CLAIM FOR CWU REPRESENTED GRADES EMPLOYED BY ROYAL MAIL GROUP CONSISTING OF ROYAL MAIL PARCELFORCE AND FLEET

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Royal Mail’s Customer Service Points (CSP) – Workplace Questionnaire

Branches will recall Letter to Branches (LTB 317/22) issued on the 22^nd of Julysetting out a review by Royal Mail on Customer Service Points (CSP) estate and opening times, which followed an earlier review by the company on CSP arrangements held May of 2021.

Whilst these two former reviews had been covered by agreed National Statements and supporting documentation, it should be noted that these reviews took place against what was an increasingly poor state of industrial relations within Royal Mail. Nonetheless, the Postal Executive took the view that this was the right decision at the time, to have in place and to provide our Representatives with an agreed framework to engage with local management on these reviews, which ensured that any wider duty/individual member’s issues were dealt with via the relevant National Agreements, including safeguard individuals within units who are covered by the Equality Act.

Since then, the Outdoor Department has remained extremely aware that Royal Mail continues to review CSP arrangements driven by a narrative that has developed since the Covid Pandemic that any hours used in this area is wasted cost and a drain on the company’s finances.

Accordingly, we have been advised by Royal Mail that they are now due to undertake a further review of the future of CSPs in each Delivery unit, which is to take place within less than three months of the last set of CSPs changes.

Attached for the attention of Branches and Representatives is a Royal Mail document entitled: Customer Service Points (CSP) Review Questionnaire, which local management will now be asked to complete and submit. The questionnaire is seeking feedback in a number of general areas such as:

• Other (non-parcel collection) work – so PO Boxes, account drop off, Relay engineers etc.
• Current spend (hours) in the CSP and how it is resourced – duty, SA, OT
• Tech hardware – if we are able to roll out a SPS type solution everywhere, we need to make sure offices are set up for it
• CSP staff preferences – if there is a big change in CSPs, would they be looking for redeployment (and if so, are they fit & able to undertake delivery work) or would they be interested in VR (obviously not binding on either side – just an indication).

In response to this latest development, we have advised Royal Mail that we will not support this further review at national level, as we believe its only aim is to justify further reductions in CSP arrangements across deliveries. Equally, we have also expressed real concern at the questionnaires ‘CSP staff preference’ section, which will only serve to unnecessarily cause concerns with individual members who perform these duties and roles; in addition, this section simply reveals the real background aim of the overall questionnaire.

As such, we are advising Branches and Representatives not to get formally involved in this Customer Service Points (CSP) Review Questionnaire if approached by local management.  

However, and in setting out this position for our Representatives, we are fully aware that individual members who perform CSP roles are also due to be directly approached as part of the questionnaire. Therefore, and in a further exchange of correspondences, Royal Mail has confirmed with the Outdoor Department that no pressure should be applied by any local managers to individuals to partake in the questionnaire and the ‘CSP staff preference’ section in particular, and that involvement sought is purely voluntary.

If members choose to be involved in this questionnaire and request CWU representation accordingly, our Reps should as per normal accompany and support the members as necessary, but on a ‘without prejudice’ basis due to the union’s wider position.  

The CWU has consistently and will continue to challenge Royal Mail over their ongoing position of simply wanting to reduce CSP opening hours and reduce this service for customers. The union holds the view that instead of seeking to reduce CSPs access for customers, this should be seen as a real opportunity to grow and expand further commercial and service offerings, helping to both generate innovation along with income for the company.

We are also further concerned that the continued attempts by Royal Mail to reduce CSPs arrangements and opening hours will further erode the company’s ability to support those members who require adjusted duty arrangements and those covered under the Equality Act.

For a company that continues to bellyache about the need to innovate and grow new customer services, it has remained backward thinking on the value of Customer Services Points and has shown a clear absence of understanding of this important service to customers and the considerable revenue streams already linked to CSPs.

Sadly, this LTB sets out a further challenge for the union and our members on the future direction of Royal Mail and again highlights a simple lack on the part of the company to genuinely invest and seek to grow our industry.

Whilst we will keep Branches and Representatives advised of developments, any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 532, email address: njones@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 425-22 – CSPs Workplace Questionnaire (Final)

CSP Questionnaire Guide V.4

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Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 41 – October 2022:

Introduction

The Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) came into existence as a result of funding from Battersea and Wandsworth TUC. The GJA was launched to promote skills training and job creation to meet the needs of Britain’s rapidly growing low carbon sectors and to green the whole economy. The transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy can drive sustainable economic recovery and job creation in every part of the country as well as making existing jobs more secure. But this requires a more strategic national and local approach to deliver the workforce skills needed and to stimulate demand for clean energy and energy efficiency services.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises at a national and local level to build the broadest possible support for the policies, investment, partnerships and commitments needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises with training bodies, colleges, universities, employers, local and national Government, trade unions, housing associations, campaign and community groups – to build the policies, investment and partnerships needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

GJA ‘free’ Courses:

The GJA runs a number of ‘free’ courses on the environment for Trade Union Reps in different parts of the UK which have been attended by a number of CWU Reps with details published in the newsletter. Link to GJA Courses:https://greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/courses/

GJA Founder Graham Petersen:

The founder GJA Secretary and Newsletter editor was Graham Petersen who is well known to the CWU and has a long standing working relationship with the Union. He is a former TUC tutor and course designer who created safety reps training courses and the successful TUC Occupational Health & Safety Diploma Course. He was the head of the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College before retirement from the post and has been a visitor and guest speaker at CWU events and meetings. After 30 editions, Graham stood down at the GJA AGM last year and has handed over to Paul Atkin as newsletter editor and Tahir Latif as GJA Secretary. Graham remains a GJA Steering Group member and is now working part time for the Wales TUC having recently written a publication for them ‘Greener workplaces for a just transition – a Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists’ which was circulated by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department.

Paul Atkin Editorial GJA Newsletter Issue 41 – ‘Enough is enough. Truss on the skids’

In this edition Paul Atkin in his editorial focuses on the scale of the growing crisis, pointing to the floods in Pakistan and the hurricane impacts on Florida showing that climate breakdown is beginning to hit us on a bigger scale, making recovery increasingly hard. The urgency of action has never been more apparent and we are in a period of damage limitation, in more ways than one says Paul.

Liz Truss used to work for Shell. It might be argued that she still does. It’s no accident that the Tory Government, heavily influenced by climate change sceptics, is imploding, thanks to its application of economic theories associated with Right Wing Think Tanks that share offices – and sometimes brain cells – with the Global Warming Foundation who exist to defend the over consumption of the top 1% and 10%, responsible respectively for 26% and 48% of global emissions growth since 1990 and whose rising wealth threatens to take us beyond 1.5C by 2030 regardless of what the rest of us do. These could well be described as “vested interests masquerading as think tanks” and they do indeed spend a lot of time taxiing from town houses in London to BBC (and other) studios “to dismiss anyone challenging the status quo”. Borrowing to fund tax cuts and letting the fossil fuel producers off with no tax on windfall profits is the action of what one business investor called “a doomsday cult”, with another commenting that buying UK Government Bonds now requires “a moron premium”. So, we have a government on the skids, and, as the pound sinks slowly in the West and Liz Truss scuttles from car crash interview to car crash interview with that frozen face and pocket full of lead balloons, anything they announce from here on can be undermined by the opposition simply stating “we will undo this”. There is a lot to undo. (Paul Atkin).

Contents GJA Newsletter 41:

• Editorial: Enough is enough. Truss on the skids.
• TUC Fringe Meeting and Motions Guide
• Net Zero Scrutiny Review
• Party Conference Round Up; Labour. Greens
• Retrofit in the West Midlands and Leeds
• The elephant in the room that just isn’t going away – air pollution
• School Leavers Climate Literacy. The only way is up?
• Teach the Future launch Curriculum for a Changing Climate
• Global Climate Jobs Conference
• Forthcoming Conferences
• Actions
• Green Bites

Quote of the Month:

“This is the undeniable truth of our age. It is cheaper to save the planet than destroy it.”

(Ed Miliband MP)

Attachments: 

• See attached copy of the GJA Newsletter No.41 for October 2022.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB424 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 41 – October 2022

GJA-Newsletter-41-Oct-2022

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CWU Low Level Letter Box Campaign:

This is an update for Postal Branches on the continuing work and campaigning being undertaken by the Health, Safety & Environment Department on this important subject, further to LTBs 040/22, 98/19 and 142/2019.

The Communication Workers Union, on behalf of postmen and women, has campaigned for the introduction of new legislation to stop low-level letter boxes being installed in new-build houses for many years.

In addition to our campaigning in the House of Commons to get the UK Government to amend Building Regulations and Standards, we have now made representations to the devolved administrations, taking the matter up with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly.

In January 2019, following meetings and briefings in Westminster, Chelmsford MP Vicky Ford introduced a Private Members’ Bill in the UK Parliament, in support of the CWU campaign. The Bill, namely the ‘Low-Level Letter Boxes (Prohibition) Bill was heard before a full House of Commons on Wednesday 16 January 2019. The Bill was supported by all political parties and was unanimously accepted by the Government and MPs. Mrs. Ford subsequently withdrew the Bill, on the basis of an undertaking given by Government that they accepted the Bill’s intention and that it would be referred to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee who would include low-level letter boxes within a formal review of Building Regulations.

Since then however, progress has been painstakingly slow and of course the interruptions of ‘Brexit’ and the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic’ have indeed slowed that progress further. The Health, Safety and Environment Department has however continued to press for action from government ministers and current minister Paul Scully MP, Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for London who recently responded in a letter dated 14 October 2022 as follows:

14 October 2022

Please accept my apologies for the delay in this response.

There is clear continued interest in guidance and regulation for low level letterboxes, given it creates a risk of injury to many where letter boxes are too low.

Since last writing on 14 September 2021, we have made progress in our research work. We have conducted survey work and laboratory testing looking at reach ranges for everyday activities, including the specific activity of posting and picking up letters at different level options. This research will soon complete. This relates to postal workers but also residents of all abilities collecting their mail. Research is needed to develop robust data and evidence will enable this department to support future policy decisions for possible improvements, simplification, and changes to statutory guidance and so that people can have confidence in regulatory standards.  This research is an integral step towards updating the clarity of statutory guidance supporting the Building Regulations.

You will appreciate how statutory guidance supports the Building Regulations and references the Door and Hardware Federation’s technical specification TS 008:2012. This in turn refers to the British and European standard relating to letter boxes: BS EN 134724: 2013 Postal services.  Apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates. These independent standards are presently referred to by Approved Document Q: Security – Dwellings. Guidance for letter plates is to be positioned in a range of 700mm up to 1700mm and the TS008:2012 drawings for a door recommend a letter box height of 1100mm. Our commitment is in taking the steps to evidence and make statutory guidance for doors clearer.

You will be pleased to know that our ergonomic study of using low level letter boxes will soon complete. The research work will inform our review of statutory guidance supporting Part M and help in turn to inform guidance for any future review of Approved Document Q. Doors with letter boxes feature in both these guidance documents and we continue working to make guidance clearer based on data and research.

I trust this information is helpful and I thank you for writing on this important matter.

Paul Scully MP, Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for London

Nearly four years have gone by since MP Vicky Ford’s Bill was passed in the House of Commons.  The Minister’s assurance that the Government’s sponsored research work and ergonomic study of low level letter boxes will soon be completed and that this will inform the Government’s review of statutory guidance to the Building Regulations is welcome.

Around 750,000 homes have been built across the UK in the last 4 years and with no ‘mandatory’ regulation controlling letter box height in place, many have been built with low level letter boxes which cause so many problems for Royal Mail delivery workers.

The CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department has had to challenge and fight each of these developments, brought to our attention on a piecemeal basis, with representations to the local authorities, lobbying counsellors and local MPs, challenging developers and builders etc., hoping they’ll accept our case and change their plans. We have won a number of these battles to our great credit but it’s hard going at times and hard to keep pace with these home building developments which are sprouting up everywhere across the UK.

We’ve made it clear to the Minister again, that in the view of the CWU, the case is well made for regulating letter box heights and for the banning of low level letter boxes. Past research resulted in European Standard (EN13724) which sets a minimum height of 70cm for letter boxes (2 feet 3½ inches). There’s really no case for or good reason for further delays. The current European Standard covering private letter boxes sets out and specifies for ergonomic and safety reasons the height, positioning and design of letter boxes in order that the safe delivery of mail can be made by postal workers and others without the risk of injury.

EN 13724 ‘Postal Services – Apertures Of Private Letter Boxes And Letter Plates’ specifies the requirements and the test methods of the apertures for the delivery of letter post items when fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. It takes into account security, impregnability, safety, ergonomics and performance for the recipient, and safety, ergonomics and efficiency for postal delivery personnel. It allows the daily delivery in good condition of a great majority of post items.

The Union has been assured that; “Postal workers’ safety in the review of building regulations is included as part of Government’s commitment in bringing about the biggest improvement in building and fire safety for a generation.” The assurance is of course welcomed – but the big question remains – when will we see the needed legislative changes?

At least we are making progress, all be it slowly. We will continue our campaigning and keep the pressure on Government at every opportunity. Branches will continue to be updated.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB423 CWU Low Level Letter Box Campaign

Response

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Government Response to the House of Commons DWP Select Committee’s Asbestos Report and Recommendations:

Introduction:

LTB 190/2022 reported that following an inquiry, the Department for Work and Pensions House of Commons Select Committee of MPs had published its report into how the Health and Safety Executive manages the continued presence of asbestos in UK buildings. That report was attached to LTB 190/2022 and was welcomed by the TUC, CWU, all Trade Unions and asbestos victims campaign groups. On the other hand, the recently published Government and HSE response (copy attached) is to put it mildly, extremely disappointing and weak.

Background to the House of Commons DWP Select Committee Inquiry Report and Recommendations:

Despite the importation, supply and use of asbestos being banned in the UK since 24th of November 1999, twenty-two years later this toxic mineral still plagues public health, being linked to multiple diseases. Asbestos remains the largest single cause of work-related fatalities, with more than 5,000 deaths each year from diseases including Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer and Asbestosis.

Vast quantities of asbestos remain inside workplaces and public and private buildings throughout the UK because asbestos was used heavily in construction up until the 1980’s where it now still remains in-situ. The UK today remains a storehouse of asbestos. There are six million tonnes of asbestos in the UK, most of which can be found in over 1.5 million buildings across our public estate, including our hospitals and schools. This means that many people are still exposed to the potential dangers of asbestos on a daily basis. While workers are no longer manufacturing or installing asbestos, the substance continues to be the UK’s number one occupational killer, causing more than 5,000 deaths a year – a deadly legacy from the past.

The DWP Select Committee raised concerns last year with the Government about the UK’s policy on managing asbestos in buildings, following the publication of a report by ‘think tank Respublica’. In response, the Minister for Employment confirmed that the HSE would be reviewing the effectiveness of the regulations for managing asbestos.

The inquiry examined the current risks posed by asbestos in the workplace, the actions taken by the HSE to mitigate them and the results of the inquiry and final report feed into the Government and Health and Safety Executive’s asbestos regulations review aimed at looking into how asbestos can be handled more safely. Evidence has pointed to there being widespread non-compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 in the UK and a lack of information on the full extent of how much harm asbestos is causing. The UK has some of the weakest standards in Europe, while also having some of the highest Mesothelioma rates and there is widespread non-compliance with asbestos control law. Shockingly UK nurses and teachers are 3 and 5 times more likely to develop Mesothelioma because of the asbestos in the buildings in which they work.

Trade Union Support for DWP Select Committee Inquiry Report and Recommendations:

The inquiry and Select Committee’s final report, published in April was welcomed by the CWU, TUC and all UK trade unions who collectively have adopted a policy of seeking ultimate removal of asbestos from UK buildings. The Select Committee report (see LTB 190/2022), supported the Trade Union position on eradication by calling on the Government to agree a deadline for all asbestos to be removed from all public and commercial buildings.

The Government and HSE Negative Response to the DWP Select Committee Inquiry Report and Recommendations:

The Government and HSE have now published their response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s report on the management, removal and disposal of asbestos in public buildings.

The House of Commons DWP Work and Pensions Select Committee Chair, Stephen Timms MP stated “The Government’s response to the Select Committee report is extremely disappointing.” He added; “The Government argues that fixing a deadline for asbestos removal would increase the opportunity for exposure, but the risk is likely to increase anyway with the drive towards retrofitting of buildings to meet net zero aspirations. Setting a clear target should just be one part of a new properly joined-up strategy. This strategy should prioritise the highest-risk buildings and urgently boost the evidence base for the safe removal and disposal of a material that is still the single greatest cause of work-related fatalities in the country.”

Leading campaigners, industry bodies, and MPs heading the inquiry are without exception disappointed with the lack of concrete action being taken – with regulators seeming to kick several key recommendations for reform into the long-grass.

The recommendations put forward in the Work and Pensions report were both sensible and timely, and yet they have been almost completely rejected by the Government. To put it bluntly, the UK has one of the worst asbestos legacies in the world – and our current lack of an informed strategy for dealing with this is shocking. For any project involving old buildings it will mean increased costs, delays, and even untimely deaths. Industry, campaigners, patient organisations and Trade Unions are united in their disappointment of this missed opportunity.

In the report, published on 21^st April 2022, the House of Commons DWP Work and Pensions Select Committee of MPs from all political parties suggested a suite of reforms that could radically improve asbestos regulations in the UK. These included:

• Creating a ‘National Asbestos Database’ to record all asbestos currently remaining in public buildings – including type, quantity, risk factor, etc.
• Changing the current policy of ‘management in-situ’, which is best described as a sticking plaster for a holding policy. Other nations have enacted prioritised, scheduled removal of asbestos from ‘at-risk’ buildings – the UK should follow suit.
• Developing a National Asbestos Strategy between the Government and the HSE, which would coordinate efforts to remove asbestos from high-risk settings. (This would include CLASP-type schools; prefabricated structures built in the 50s & 60s with large quantities of amosite – ‘brown asbestos’).
• Creating a robust research framework into the measurement of asbestos exposure using more advanced techniques than are currently practiced.

Unfortunately, the Government/HSE response shows little movement on any of these areas. On the recommendation for a phased, prioritised removal of asbestos from at-risk buildings – the Government says: “The Government could only advocate a proactive course of action in this area if there is compelling evidence that the, undoubted, increase in exposure to asbestos workers that will result from active removal, possibly prematurely, is justified in terms of reducing risk of exposure to building users. At present this evidence is not there.” This is despite much recent research showing an increase in ‘secondary exposure’ to asbestos, especially in older-build schools and hospitals.

According to HSE statistics released earlier this month on Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, And Lung Cancer in Britain, asbestos-related deaths have now climbed to over 5,000 each year. In 2020, there was 2,544 Mesothelioma deaths in total, with a similar number of Lung Cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos.

Nurses and teachers are now 3 to 5 times more likely to develop Mesothelioma than the general UK population, while pupils are up to 10 times more likely to be exposed than teachers.

One of the most basic problems is that the HSE doesn’t actually know how many buildings in Great Britain contain asbestos, where it is, what condition it is in, or how it is being managed. Consequently, the HSE cannot regulate for the safe management of asbestos.

The Government/HSE response was equally negative about the potential of a National Asbestos Database for improving this position. It suggested that a new central register would require significant resources merely to duplicate existing information and undermine the requirement on duty holders to manage asbestos – whilst providing no clear indicator to the public that the risk of asbestos has been mitigated. This misrepresents the purpose of a proposed National Asbestos Database, which could:

• Help collate data taken from asbestos surveys on the location and condition of asbestos in non-domestic buildings – which the HSE is currently unable to do.
• Establish an evidence base for challenging the HSE’s assumption that the current policy of leaving asbestos in-situ is the safest option.

Industry bodies are now in the process of collating survey data from accredited asbestos consultants. Even in its raw form, this significant data sample reveals that there are many more buildings than the 300,000 which the HSE believe contain asbestos, and that the condition of this asbestos is poor – with over 70% of asbestos materials reported to be damaged. Re-inspection survey data confirms that much of this is not being addressed over 12 months later. Evidence that the policy of duty holders and management in-situ is not working.

The Asbestos Testing and Consultancy (ATAC) and the National Organisation of Asbestos Consultants (NORAC) – the recognised trade bodies for UKAS accredited inspection and survey organisations expressed their disappointed with the response provided by the Government to the Work and Pensions committee. It was apparent to the two asbestos surveying trade bodies that what was being presented to the committee by Government and the HSE was not what they were seeing on the ground. The two organisations’ collective memberships have provided data on almost 750,000 asbestos items that were inspected between October 2021 and March 2022 and based on criteria determined by the HSE, almost 70% of these items were damaged. ATAC/NORAC added that they fail to understand why the Government has chosen to reject calls for a national database in addition to mandatory accreditation for asbestos surveyors as this would highlight the full extent of the problem facing the UK, one which has been ignored for decades. The Government responded positively following the 74 deaths that tragically occurred at Grenfell Tower with the establishment of a dedicated regulator, yet with almost 100 deaths occurring weekly as a result of past asbestos exposure and little understanding on the long term consequences of low level exposure, the Government chooses to ignore the recommendations of the Works and Pensions committee.

Mesothelioma UK – National asbestos-related cancer charity – expressed their disappointment with the Government response and invited those Government decision makers to come and spend a day with one of their nurses or to attend a patient support group and explain why the Government has made a choice to not prevent future generations dying of Mesothelioma. It’s the asbestos that must go, not more people.

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) condemned the Government response and stated that the stark reality is that the UK has Europe’s biggest problem with asbestos, and the UK needs a proper strategy to deal with it. Things will get worse as buildings and building elements near the end of their lives decay, and more work is done by tradespeople that could disturb asbestos in order to meet climate change goals. Nurses, teachers and people in social housing are going to die from hideous, but avoidable diseases. People have a right to know about the poisons in their homes and work-places. Setting a goal which means that only one more generation of children goes to school with the risk of asbestos exposure and the last unnecessary death will only be a century away, does not seem overly ambitious.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health Asbestos Report – October 2015

Seven years ago the APPG on Occupational Safety and Health published a report which backed the TUC call for asbestos removal when the TUC and CWU demanded immediate action. The all-party group of MPs accused the Government of complacency on the risks of asbestos in buildings and called for an asbestos eradication law. The report entitled ‘The asbestos crisis: why Britain needs a new law’ was published seven years ago this month by the House of Commons Occupational Safety and Health All-Party Parliamentary Group of MPs. The MPs committee said then, 7 years ago, that Government is being “far too complacent about asbestos.” The TUC General Council stated that they were 100 per cent behind the asbestos eradication campaign. If we do nothing, then it is future generations that will pay. We need to act now.  Around 40,000 men and women have died of asbestos related Mesothelioma since the UK asbestos ban in 1999. The Government rejection of the 40-years deadline to eradicate all asbestos from UK buildings which the Unions think is a moderate timescale is appalling.

Conclusion

Everyone should be safe at work. Asbestos exposure at work continues to cause thousands of deaths every year. Asbestos is still with us in workplaces and public buildings across the country. As a result, more than 22 years after the use of asbestos was banned, hundreds of thousands of workers are still put at risk of exposure every day. People are mistaken if they think asbestos is a problem that has already been solved. Asbestos is still very much present, and the risk of exposure is with us every day. There’s no cure for asbestos related diseases but it’s preventable for future generations with the removal of asbestos from all UK buildings. The Government’s blunt rejection of the recommendation firstly from the All-Party Parliamentary Group of MPs on Occupational Safety and Health in 2015 and now in 2022 from the House of Commons DWP Work and Pensions Select Committee of MPs for a dedicated programme for the phased removal of asbestos in public buildings is appalling and a dereliction of their duty to the UK public and working people.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB422 Government Response to the House of Commons DWP Select Committee’s Asbestos Report and Recommendations

Government Response to Work Pensions Select Committee Report on HSE Approach To Asbestos Management 2022

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Royal Mail Group (SHE) Alert GP SA 2022 001 – DVSA Spot Check Visits To Examine Transport & Distribution Managers & Drivers HGV Fleet Vehicles Pre-Use Safety Checks Compliance and Management of the PMT1 Fault/Defect Reporting Procedure:

What Happens When The DVSA Visit?

The DVSA will attend, usually in the form of a Traffic Examiner (TE) or a Vehicle Examiner (VE). The Traffic Examiner will focus on the vehicles’ documentation and the Vehicle Examiner will look at the vehicle maintenance regime.

This is a wake-up call for all managers as the DVSA examiners will put the system to the test and will miss nothing. If dissatisfied they can issue warnings, they can suspend the Operators ‘O’ License and ground the fleet and they can interview managers under caution and bring criminal prosecutions for failures considered to be offences under the law.

The DVSA Vehicle Examiner will typically inspect the fleet and the maintenance records. They may want to know that all Preventative Maintenance Inspections (PMIs) and MOTs are done on time and to a good standard, and all drivers and manager pre-use checks are carried out and that fault/defects are properly identified and rectified. A Traffic Examiner will typically also want to see tachograph records and evidence that drivers are not committing offences.  Failure to fully co-operate or obstructing a DVSA officer can be a criminal offence.

Background and Description 

Royal Mail Group’s Safety Team have issued RMG SHE Safety Alert GP SA 2022 001 following an announcement earlier this year that the DVSA will be stepping up unannounced Safety Inspection visits to HGV Fleet Operators’ premises and that Royal Mail and Parcelforce Vehicle Operating Centres, Depots and Offices have been included in this programme.

See attached the copy of the SHE Alert issued to all Distribution Managers, Transport Managers, Traffic Office Managers etc., in local and national Fleet Operation functions and bases.

The programme of unannounced DVSA visits have been concentrating on a review of HGV vehicle pre-use checks and management of the PMT1 Fault/Defect reporting and rectification procedure.  As part of Royal Mail’s Operators Licence (‘O’ Licence) obligations, Royal Mail and Parcelforce need a robust, compliant pre-use safety check procedure which includes tyre checks, defect procedure and effective vehicle management.

As a precaution prior to any further unannounced DVSA visits or DVSA roadside vehicle stops, the Royal Mail SHE Team have highlighted the importance of the above procedure and the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department is reminding all CWU Reps and CWU members/drivers of the importance of their role and obligations to carry out vehicle pre-use checks and to report all vehicle and trailer faults and defects in the correct way.

IMPORTANT: Whilst the driver is responsible for the condition of the vehicle when in use and conducting daily walk-around checks, transport managers also have an obligation to ensure vehicles are roadworthy.

Impact and Accident/Injury Risks 

Completion of vehicle pre-use checks (by both drivers and managers) is fundamental to the operation of a safe fleet. Defective or un-roadworthy vehicles significantly increase the risk of accidents, collisions and subsequent casualties.

Key PiC/Transport/Distribution/Unit Managers Actions, Messages, Learning Points

• Failure to adequately manage vehicle pre-use checks, fault reports and inspections can result in suspension of the Royal Mail/Parcelforce ‘O’ Licence meaning that vehicles are ‘grounded’. Individual ‘O’ Licence holders may be subject to investigation by the Traffic Commissioner and may be prevented from managing fleet operations and can be prosecuted.
• Every Royal Mail driver duty has a time allowance built-in for drivers to complete pre-use checks, which must be recorded in vehicle logbooks. The detail of required checks are covered in the vehicle logbook.
• This is a mandatory requirement, and it is the driver’s responsibility to complete and record those checks.
• Managers have a responsibility to ensure that vehicle checks take place, this is achieved by:

1)   Ensuring all duties have adequate time built in for checks to be completed.

2)   Ensuring all drivers have been trained to complete and record vehicle checks, and to report defects.

3)   Completing observations to visibly monitor completion of checks – these can be incorporated into First Class Safety Conversations and recorded as ‘vehicle checks fully and effectively completed’.

4)   Completing Manager’s Vehicle Checks – a minimum of 20% of the fleet must be checked by a manager each week. Managers should check logbooks to ensure vehicle checks are recorded by all drivers who used the vehicles. Managers must also complete their own vehicle check – this is not expected to identify any       faults, but to ensure that drivers complete adequate checks. The Manager’s Check must also be recorded in the vehicle logbook.

• Where defects are identified, they must be reported to the workshop using the PMT1 fault report process.
• Un-roadworthy vehicles with faults and defects must not be operated and taken out on the road.
• Brief and display the content of the Safety Alert to all HGV Drivers – re-fresh the message and remind drivers periodically (including agency drivers).
• Incorporate the key messages and learning points into ‘First Class Safety Conversations’.

CWU ASR/WSR Action:

Please ensure that this Safety Alert is communicated/reminded and brought to the attention of all HGV member drivers and that all appropriate managers are reminded of their obligations and the need to ensure that all drivers get the message (including agency drivers) and that they deploy the above actions including manager’s vehicle pre-use checks.

Attachment: 

• Royal Mail Group (SHE) Alert GP SA 2022 001 – DVSA Spot Check Visits To Examine Transport & Distribution Managers & Drivers HGV Fleet Vehicles Pre-Use Safety Checks Compliance and Management of the PMT1 Fault/Defect Reporting Procedure:

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB420 RMG (SHE) Alert GP SA 2022 001 – DVSA Spot Check Visits To Examine Vehicles Pre-Use Safety Checks

GP SA 2022 001- HGV Manager Vehicle Checks

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