Royal Mail Group January 2018, Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign, Launch W/C 15 January – Slow Manoeuvring and Reversing Safety Campaign
– Managers Responsibilities
To: All Branches with Postal Members
Dear Colleagues,
The Royal Mail Group (RMG) Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign, commences next week,
week commencing 15 January 2018.
Further to the earlier communication to all Royal Mail Group CWU ASRs, this LTB is to provide the detailed information and documentation on the campaign, which CWU is fully supporting.
Following consideration of arrangements last year, there is now one National Road
Safety Week in November which is the UK National ‘BRAKE’ and ‘THINK, and ‘RoSPA’ supported Road Safety Week.
RMG working with the CWU supplement this with Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign and the first 2018 Campaign, launching next week (W/C Monday 15 January) is the first one that concentrates primarily on ‘Managers Responsibilities’. Previous campaigns were aimed more specifically at drivers.
The Campaign theme is ‘Slow Manoeuvring and Reversing Safety – Manager’s Responsibilities’.
The HSE state that a third of all road traffic accidents in the UK involve someone who is at work. Last year over 500 people workers were killed, 5,000 seriously injured and 40,000 slightly injured in vehicle collisions at work.
Managing road risk is also a fundamental part of an employer’s legal and moral duty of care towards its workforce and members of the public.
Nearly one quarter of all deaths involving vehicles at work occur at slow speed during
reversing. (Health & Safety Executive). Slow speed collisions are a particular issue for
Royal Mail Group accounting for 50% of all our Road Traffic Collisions (RTC). Many reversing accidents do not result in injury but low speed collisions may injure pedestrians, other vulnerable road users, cause third party collisions and cause costly damage to vehicles, equipment and premises. Most of these incidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions.
During this Road Safety Campaign RMG and CWU jointly aim to reduce these types of
RTCs with Royal Mail and CWU working together focusing on these types of collisions so that drivers can be coached, trained and supported.
Attached is a ‘Joint Statement’ signed by myself and Shaun Davis Royal Mail Group
Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability.
CWU is fully backing the Campaign based on our discussions on the campaign approach and attached documents.
The Road Safety Campaign documents attached are:-
• RMG/CWU Joint Statement.
• A Managers Letter signed by Shaun Davis, Steve Cameron UK Operations Director and Gary Simpson Managing Director Parcelforce Worldwide.
• Special Campaign Poster.
• Managers Guidance Note.
• Managers Checklist.
• Managers WTLL.
During this Road Safety Campaign the aim is to reduce these types of RTCs with
Royal Mail and CWU working together focusing on these types of collisions so that drivers can be coached, trained and supported.
We will be focusing on three key areas:
• Safe site
• Safe vehicle
• Safe driver
The Campaign:
Managers will be carrying out Driver and Vehicle Safety SMATs, Yard Safety SMATs and Yard Risk Assessments.
• Area Safety Reps will be asked to carry out Safety Inspections concentrating on Slow Manoeuvring, driver and vehicle safety and yard safety.
• A Special Poster, Guidance Note, Checklist and WTLL will be circulated to all Units (Copies are attached).
• Managers, SHE Advisors and Area and Workplace Safety Reps are encouraged to work together on the campaign.
• ASRs and WSRs will be fully involved, consulted and will input into the campaign locally. This will be referred to in the documentation and Joint Statement.
• There are two new training courses available to Drivers, who are encouraged to attend these courses. They are the ‘slow manoeuvring course’ and ‘one hour driver safety short course’. (Note: It has been agreed that ASRs can attend theses course to familiarise themselves with the content and promote the courses amongst driver members).
The Campaign is not tied to just one week and we want the focus on the campaign
to be sustainable so ASRs, SHE team and Operational Managers can focus on the issue and programme the WTLL, Poster distribution, Checklist Use, Yard Assessments, SMATs and safety Inspections with best effect to most suitable local timetable and arrangements.
• The Joint Statement states: “ASRs and WSRs will be fully involved, consulted and will input into the campaign locally.”
• The Managers Checklist states: “Consult and fully involve the CWU Area Safety Rep and Workplace Safety Rep on the above. Invite them to carry out a Safety Inspection when you carry out your SMATs.
• Work jointly on improving Driver and Yard Safety. ASRs/WSRs can attend the slow manoeuvring course to familiarise themselves with the course and encourage drivers to attend.
• The Managers Guidance states: “Fully involve, consult and work with CWU Area Safety Reps and Workplace Safety Reps, taking into account their valuable input and the findings of their Workplace Safety Inspections and Reports.” The WTLL states that Managers should work with the ASR and WSR and should request assistance with presenting the WTLL as well as jointly viewing the campaign film prior to the WTLL and prepare for the session and questions that may be received.
Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the safety of the workforce is paramount. Vehicle and driver safety, road risk, slow manoeuvring and reversing safely are top priorities for us all.
Please support this Road Safety Campaign – Would ASRs and WSRs pro-actively engage the SHE Team and Operational managers to get involved and lift the profile of the Campaign in line with the RMG/CWU Joint Statement. Thanks for your support.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
WTLL Slow Manoeuvring Parking and Reversing
Guidance for Completing a Slow Manouevre SMAT
Joint Statement RS Campaign Jan18
