LTB 075/19 – Royal Mail Engineering – Urgent Safety Brief – Parcel Sorting Machine Isolation Standards:
No. 075/2019
1 February 2019
Our Ref: C38/19
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Engineering – Urgent Safety Brief – Parcel Sorting Machine Isolation Standards:
This is a reminder to Royal Mail Engineering CWU Reps and members to read the attached brief in detail very carefully and ensure they are fully familiarised with the ‘Mandatory’ Safe Working Procedure.
In November there was a serious ‘Near Miss’ on a Parcel Sorting Machine which was caused by Engineers (Technicians) not following the correct isolation procedure detailed on the Standard Maintenance Procedure (SMP).
Before starting any procedure on any machine please ‘Stop & Think’, ask “Do I understand the isolation produce for this task and do I have the equipment I need to perform this task safely?”
Any issues that come to light should be raised immediately and under no circumstances should any short cuts or chances be taken when completing work on machines. All Engineering staff must work safely all the time – every time.
REMEMBER:
- Due to a recent recorded near miss on a Parcel Sorting Machine (PSM), Engineers performing maintenance routines and corrective actions are reminded that they must ensure they use the correct Level of Isolation prescribed in the Standard Maintenance Procedures (SMPs).
- Where multiple SMPs are being carried out at the same time the highest level of Isolation for those SMP’s must be employed.
- Failure to comply with meeting the required Isolation Levels Standards could result in an accident and injuries sustained, a breach of the Health & Safety at Work Act could be committed and management may consider subjecting offenders to Royal Mail’s Conduct Code due to the serious nature of a blatant disregard of the Safe System of Work and the Law. The CWU does not want members putting themselves in that position!
Attachment:
RM Engineering Safety Brief No 0001
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
19LTB075 Royal Mail Engineering – Urgent Safety Brief – Parcel Sorting Machine Isolation Standards