A highly critical Safety Report has been published on Royal Mail Delivery work across the UK.  

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report details the findings of HSE and Local Authority Safety Inspectors during their 2004 - 2005 programme of visits and investigations.  

The report makes 10 recommendations for change.  

The extremely poor accident record in Royal Mail first came to the attention of the HSE in 1999 when a steadily increasing accident rate was discovered which continued until 2003 when a limited number of inspections took place in Royal Mail delivery offices in various parts of the country at a time when complaints were being made by the Union and Area Safety Representatives. 

With no visible improvements in safety standards, a concerted inspection programme was launched by the HSE in 2004-2005 which produced the report published last week which is heavily critical of Royal Mail's health and safety management.

A number Improvement Notices were issued on Royal Mail during the Inspection programme. 

The HSE's 7 UK Divisions has just completed the second year (2005-2006) of its Inspection Programme with many Branch Areas being visited and Delivery Offices and Outdoor activities inspected. Inspectors from the two enforcing authorities, the HSE and Local Authorities have been involved as responsibility in Royal Mail is "split" between them under current enforcement regulations, HSE enforce on outdoor 'on the street' Delivery work and Local Authorities via their EHO (Environmental Health Officers) enforce on indoor Delivery Office work being responsible for inspecting conditions and working practices inside delivery offices.

 A third year of inspections is also expected to take place during 2006-2007 and the Union's National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce has been involved in discussions with the HSE (Utilities Group) and Local Authority Representatives regarding a continued 

commitment of their Inspector resources. 

Commenting on the report, Dave said "The HSE's findings says a lot about the lack of compliance with safe working methods in Royal Mail Delivery and what's clear from the report is that local Royal Mail managers lack knowledge, commitment and resources and as a result are undermining safe systems of work and have failed to put safety policies into practice. Regrettably, the switch to the Single Daily Delivery and in particular "Job and Finish" has simply made things worse and safety issues have been sidelined in pursuit of 'getting the job done at all costs. Hopefully the HSE involvement and enforcement action will call to account managers top down who have adopted a cavalier attitude to safety."  

In summary the Report's findings were:- 

• There exists a culture of ignoring health and safety if it impedes productivity which goes unchallenged.
• Local Managers inability to manage health and safety a part of their normal activities.
• Local Managers not receiving any health and safety support.
• Local Managers poorly trained.
• Area Managers failing to monitor health and safety and distancing themselves from it.
• Royal Mail's Safety Managers lack independence, support and authority to audit health and safety.
• Even the best performers had room for improvement.
• Improved standards rapidly slipped backwards to poor standards.
• Walk Risk Assessments poor and inaccurate.
• SDD was badly introduced from a health and safety point of view.
• SDD walks did not consider health and safety and the opportunity to include manual handling controls into walk design was wasted.
• The main area of concern was Pouch Weights - a clear policy and procedure to control pouch weights is required.
• Manual Handling risk assessments not done properly.
• "Job and Finish" has led to a culture of overweight pouches to get the walks completed as quickly as possible.
• Slips are the main cause of major accidents and days lost.
• RM delivery staff were expected to cope with surfaces which would not be tolerated in industrial premises.
• Poor Footwear - the footwear policy should be reviewed.
• Dangerous short cuts were taken on walks - stepping over walls, reading whilst walking at an impressive speed due to 'job and finish'.
• Cycles - no proficiency or defensive rider training.
• Cycles with insufficient maintenance and design faults.
• Poor take up of Cycle Helmets.
• No evidence of walks involving Cycle Deliveries having the round designed to avoid or minimise hazards and busy roads.
• Dog Attack Policy has fallen into decline and compliance was poor.
• Car Park layouts poor and pedestrian routes inadequate - leading to a hazardous mix of staff and public using the same areas as Royal Mail vehicles.
• Access routes to loading bays poor.
• Workplace transport management poor.
• Housekeeping poor - floors littered with elastic bands and bag ties - causing slips and several major incidents a year.

Source: CWU Press Release