LTB536/21 Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 018) – Delivery Customers Premises, Electric Car Battery Cables Trip Hazard
No. 536/2021
8 December 2021
Our Ref: V4/21
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 018) – Delivery Customers Premises, Electric Car Battery Cables Trip Hazard:
Audience:
All Royal Mail and Parcelforce Delivery and Collections Workers.
Priority:
Immediate.
Overview:
With the surge in ownership of electric vehicles, trailing cables are presenting an increasing risk to employees delivering and collecting to our customers’ homes and premises.
Key Messages:
Employees must use Dynamic Risk Assessment – Look – Consider – Decide when approaching properties. Electric vehicles increase the risk of trips from trailing cables.
Description, Issue, Impact and Effect:
Trailing electric car charging cables running from charging points to electric cars parked in the front of customers’ homes can present a growing number of trip hazards, leading to falls and injuries. With dark mornings and evenings and the increased frequency of charge point installations, a new charge point may appear with little or no notice. Stay vigilant, ‘Look-Consider-Decide.’
Learning Points:
- Delivery and Collection workforce members should always take the safest route to access the delivery/collection point and should not step over any trailing cables. Always avoid and walk around them. Staff should Follow the RM Delivery Safe System of Work (SSoW) at all times.
- Delivery ‘Blackspur RT340 torches’ are available to the workforce and can be ordered via the Uniform Employee App or at the following link:- https://detail.dimensions.co.uk/royalmail for delivery and collection employees operating in hours of darkness.
Conclusion – Key Management Activities – Unit PiC Action Required
- Managers to request Postmen/Postwomen OPGs to notify them of any addresses that have trailing cables across the access to a delivery or collection point in order to ensure this is reported on the WRAP system.
- Managers to use the USO SharePoint to write to customers if electric car charge point, trailing cables present a hazard.
- Unit PICs to ensure the SHE Flash is cascaded/briefed/shared with all delivery/collection workers and is clearly displayed in key locations.
- Managers to ensure staff have Delivery Torches.
Attachment:
- Copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash FY21 018 including images.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
SHE Flash FY21 018 Customers Premises Electric Charging Cables Trip Hazard