LTB 582/16 Low Level Letter Boxes & The CWU ‘Low Level Letter Box Campaign’

No. 582/2016

3 October 2016

Our Ref: C32/16

Low Level Letter Boxes & The CWU ‘Low Level Letter Box Campaign’

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Communications Workers Union has been campaigning to outlaw low level letterboxes for many years. The CWU has been striving for the European Standard (EN13724) to be added to U.K building regulations- this requires letterboxes being at a height accessible to postal workers, significantly reducing possible injuries such as, dog bites, fingers being trapped or back strain caused when bending excessively to reach ground level boxes.

This issue was first raised as far back as 1958 when the British Standards Agency deemed it appropriate that letter boxes be at a proper height. Unfortunately it was not enshrined into building standards Law. Half a century later and several high profile campaigns later the problem still exists. The Union would stress that it does not expect householders or businesses to change their doors immediately – rather we hope government will see merit in minimalising the risk of injury to CWU members by passing legislation to cover the manufacture of all new and replacement doors.

A similar campaign run by the CWU’s sister union in the Republic of Ireland resulted in all low level letterboxes being banned back in 2001 and given the fact that Royal Mail has by Law an obligation to deliver to each of the 28,000,000 UK addresses the CWU feel the time has come to standardise letter box height and safe design well above ground level.

The problems with low level letter boxes is that back injuries to postmen and women occur each year in Royal Mail and delivering to low level letter boxesat the base of a house front door forces postal staff to stoop to ground level whilst carrying mail items and this can cause back strain. Low Level Letter boxes also present an increased risk of dog bites when the mail is pushed through the aperture at ground level.

The CWU therefore considers that the Government should implement the specifications set out in current European Standard (EN 13724) covering private letter boxes. The government has on several occasions rejected calls from the CWU to enact European building regulation standard EN13724 outlawing low level letter boxes by enshrining the standard in Law. In 2002 the European Standard EN 13724 was introduced and states that for “ergonomic and safety reasons” the centreline of the letter box aperture should be at a height between 700 mm (2 ft 3.5 inches) 1700mm (5ft 7inches).

The Union has won the support of Royal Mail Group as well as many influential bodies and organisations during its campaign including the HSE, National House-Building Council, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services.

Sadly, all governments have rejected our call to amend the regulations. This was despite the fact that both the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and Royal Mail supported the Union’s Campaign and the fact that we gained the support of over 100 MPs from all Parties who signed an Early Day Motion to the government supporting the CWU.

Therefore we are left with a situation whereby we have to challenge developments piecemeal and the Union has therefore had to make representations to developers and builders locally,regionally and Nationally on this matter and has been able to successfully convince developers, local authorities at other to change the specifications of front door letter plates and letter boxes when new developments or refurbishments have come to our attention where the EU Standard was not going to be followed and we’ve been able to act in time. However this is not an easy task with large scale house building programmes and developments underway across the UK. In 2014-15 – 125,000 homes were built in the UK and the Government intends to raise that to 200,000 a year totaling a million by the end of the parliament. The risk of more low level letterboxes therefore is an increasing risk.

From time to time it comes to the attention of CWU that the houses being built by developers or estates being refurbished and dwellings are being fitted with front doors which have Low Level Letter Boxes, in breach of the EU Standard.

Despite our great efforts, Low Level Letter Boxes continue to be fitted, much to the disadvantage of our Royal Mail delivery members. Therefore would Branches, Officials, Health and Safety Representatives, Regional Committees and members join together in being vigilant in respect of Housing development in your areas and Regions in order to react quickly to the fitting of low level letter boxes and consider appropriate proactive action that can be taken by way of discussions, meetings and correspondence with Local Authorities and developers in your areas and Regions requesting compliance with the EU letter box standard. Let’s also hope that Brexit doesn’t see this standard along with many other good standards end up on a Tory Government ‘bonfire’ of regulations in a couple of years’ time when the UK formerly exits the EU.

To assist, please see attached:-

Summary Document on European Regulation: EN 13724 for Postboxes (Safety Letterbox Company)
National House Building Council Technical Newsletter To Members – Giving Direction on Compliance with European Regulation: EN 13724
Example (Model) Letters and successful replies from Bovis Homes and Bett Homes.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer