LTB 506/21 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 016) – Dog Bites Through The Letter Box – Finger Bitten Off
No. 506/2021
23 November 2021
Our Ref: P18/21
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 016) – Dog Bites Through The Letter Box – Finger Bitten Off:
Audience:
All Royal Mail and Parcelforce Delivery Workers.
Priority:
Immediate and Important.
Overview:
A Postman had half his index finger bitten off whilst posting a P739 ‘Something For You’ Card through a letter box. Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment Group have issued urgent ‘Safety Flash’, number FY21 016, (copy attached), which urgently reinforces the important message to all of the Royal Mail and Parcelforce Delivery workforce NOT TO PUT FINGERS THROUGH THE LETTER BOX!
Key Messages and Learning Points – IMPORTANT:
A Postman had half his finger amputated down to the second knuckle after severe dog bite through the letter box.
Please Note the following:
- There have been 1000 serious finger and hand injury dog bites through the letter box in the last 5 years, many losing fingers or part fingers – so don’t under estimate the risk!
- Always use a Posting Peg whenever you can whilst delivering mail to addresses where a dog is present, especially with items such as P739 Cards and similar items.
- NEVER put your fingers through a letterbox.
- Many Dogs will quietly, silently and stealthily ‘stalk’ their intended victim, not making a sound and then attack the mail and the hand pushing it through the letter box. Even the usually noisiest of dogs can do this. A dog can be there behind the door even if you can’t see or hear it. Never take it for granted. Never make assumptions. A dog could be there even if you think there isn’t one!
- ALWAYS carry your posting peg – Royal Mail will supply them and replace them – Royal Mail cannot replace bitten off fingers!
- ALWAYS follow the Deliveries Safe System of Work.
Description, Issue, Impact and Effect:
A postman was delivering parcels to an address where he knew there was an aggressive dog which he saw through the window and heard on occasions barking and growling aggressively. However, on the day in question he assumed that the dog wasn’t in the house as he couldn’t either see or hear it on this occasion. Instead the house was silent. After leaving the parcels in a safe place at the rear of the house, he then posted the P739 ‘something for you’ card through the letter box and as he did, the dog attacked him biting off his right index finger up to the second knuckle (See attached Photo – WARNING graphic image). The postman made the mistake made by many others in wrongly assuming that there was no dog in the house and he put his fingers through the letterbox instead of using a ‘Posting Peg’.
Key Management Activities:
- Brief the Safety Flash to all staff.
- Ensure the SSoW is communicated to all staff.
- Ensure all Dog Hazards are reported using WRAP and Walk Logs are updated.
- Ensure all delivery staff have a posting peg and the office has a stock of replacements.
- Visit the RMG SHE dog attack hazard web pages.
- Focus safety conversations on dog attacks.
Attachment:
- Copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash FY21 016.
- Image of the Postman’s injury (Warning Graphic Image).
Conclusion – Key Activity – Unit PiC Action Required
Unit PICs to ensure the SHE Flash is cascaded/briefed/shared with all delivery workers and is clearly displayed in key locations.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Att: SHE Flash FY21 016 Dog Attack Amputation
Att: Martin Jones Postman Stoke On Trent DO Dog Bite Through the Letter Box…