LTB668/16 ROYAL MAIL, PARCELFORCE AND RM INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS OPERATIONS 2016 –
No. 668/2016
14 November 2016
Our Ref: C1/16
ROYAL MAIL, PARCELFORCE AND RM INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS OPERATIONS 2016 – TEMPORARY DEDICATED PARCEL SORT CENTRES (PSCs), OUTHOUSES AND MARQUEES – HEALTH AND SAFETY:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
This is to inform and update Branches and Area Health and Safety Representatives that for the fifth year running, Royal Mail Opps, Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail International are setting up and opening a dedicated, nationwide network of temporary ‘outhoused’, parcel sort centre hubs and outhouse, overflow, relief sites as part of the 2016 Christmas operations, to deal with and handle the significantly increased traffic volumes and to sort a significant proportion of the parcels/packets Royal Mail handles before distribution around the UK and final delivery.
The temporary network will handle a significant proportion of the additional parcels/packets from the normal sorting network of Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres, enabling
Royal Mail to cope adequately with the increased volumes of parcel/packet traffic as a result of the continued growth of online retail shopping as effectively as possible, providing Royal Mail with increased capacity and flexibility needed as well as reducing the potential for congestion in Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres that sort parcels, cards and letters at the busiest time of the year. The set up will also enable the operation to cope better in the event of any severe weather conditions.
Discussions have taken place with Royal Mail Group and Parcelforce in relation to Health and Safety at the Temporary Outhouse Christmas Sort Centres and Satellite Offices and the Joint Statement attached has been agreed with Royal Mail Group Director of Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing. This applies to all temporary offices and operations and ensures the full access and involvement of CWU ASRs in order to be fully consulted and to undertake Health and Safety Inspections, pre-start and ongoing safety spot-checks once operational and to be fully involved, working with RMG Safety Team, Property Team and Operational Management, to deal with any Health, Safety, Welfare and working environment issues both before and during occupation.
All the relevant safety documents agreed with CWU by the Royal Mail Group Central Safety Team which have gone out to all Regions, Areas and the Safety Teams are attached.
The agreed Royal Mail Group (Including Parcelforce Worldwide and RM International)/CWU Joint Statement provides a strong commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, safe work methods and safe equipment at the temporary outhouse offices, Hubs, Marquees etc., for all staff, and ensures the provision of information, training, supervision and fit for purpose equipment needed to achieve this.
Operational Management supported by the RMG Safety Team will take responsibility for health and safety procedures, working with CWU Area Safety Representatives.
RMG/CWU Joint Statement:
The Joint Statement covers:- staff safety training & information including site induction training, statutory H&S notices in place, manual handling training, new/temp employees and visitors, safe systems of work, environmental controls, adequate heating and lighting safe place of work, risk assessment, housekeeping, safe machines, plant and equipment, fault reporting, noise and dust control, fire safety and evacuation plan, first aid, ensuring all accidents and near misses are reported and investigated, emergency procedures, joint workplace safety inspections and monitoring. Site access and involvement of CWU safety representatives, workplace transport and yard risk controls, continued effective vehicle & pedestrian segregation on site, PPE, emergency procedures and workplace monitoring.
Safety Documents:
I also attach several safety documents agreed with us by the Royal Mail Group Central Safety Team which have gone out to all Royal Mail Regions, Safety Directors and Safety Teams and which they have been asked to complete when introducing additional outhouses or temporary structures to support their Christmas operation. These are:-
(1) Safety Assessment and Concurrence (SAC1) Project/Programme/Product Form
(2) Temporary Accommodation Health & Safety Checklist General
(3) Temporary Accommodation Health & Safety Checklist Marquees on existing sites
(4) Guidance Note For Persons In Control (PIC) Where Temporary Heating is Provided
SAC1 & Risk Assessments:
Completion of the SAC 1 in particular may lead to the requirement to review a number of risk assessments in light of changes being introduced, for example:-
- Yard – Primarily to ensure continued effective vehicle & pedestrian segregation on site.
- Workplace – To identify and record any other significant risk issue inside the building.
- First Aid – Some of these sites can be remote and require first aid provision to be made.
- PPE – Potentially a number of risks at the site in terms of vehicle/pedestrian segregation
- and with adjacent properties who share the yard.
- Work equipment – Normal work equipment may not suit some premises/environments.
- Fire risk assessmentincluding Fire evacuation plans – essential.
Royal Mail will also be ensuring the following points have been considered:-
- Site induction training – Everyone will be new to the premises.
- Statutory notices in place – See the new H&S notice board standard.
- Accident reporting procedure – Arrangement in place to allow reporting of accidents and near misses.
- Heating- FM directive followed for temporary heaters.
- Housekeeping standards – To minimise the risk of slip & trip accidents.
- Manual handling training – For all the temporary staff.
This set of clear arrangements will help overcome problems experienced in the past with Christmas ‘Outhouses’, ensuring better H&S standards, joint working and problem solving.
Outlined below are the Royal Mail Opps, Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail International locations of the Christmas Outhouses and additional buildings and Marquee Accommodation being used for the Christmas period.
1. Royal Mail Opps Temporary Christmas Outhouse, PSCs and Marquees – Relief Sites.
(a) Royal Mail Opps Parcel Sort Centres
South East PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Tetris Building, |
Go Live 31 Oct, Inward 28 Nov. |
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours
|
Atherstone PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Riverside Road, |
Go Live 21 Nov. |
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours
|
North West PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Sandbrook Park, |
Go Live 31 Oct. Inward 31 Oct. |
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours
|
North East PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Unit 3, |
Go Live 7 Nov. Inward 7 Nov. |
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours
|
South Wales PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
RM Parcel Centre, |
Go Live 21 Nov. Inward 5 Dec |
TBC |
Swindon PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Triumph Building, |
Go live 21 Nov. Inward 14 Nov. |
TBC |
Scotland PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Blackburn Rd, |
Go live 7 Nov. Inward 7 Nov. |
TBC |
West Midlands PSC |
Opening Date |
On Site Details |
Express House, |
Go Live 21 Nov. Inward 5 Dec. |
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours |
(b) Royal Mail Opps Outhouses
Chelmsford Outhouse |
Unit 2, Gunfleet Business Pk, Brunel Way, Severalls Pk, Colchester CO4 9QX. |
Jubilee Outhouse |
6 Horton Road, Poyle, Slough SL3 0AT. |
Norwich Outhouse |
35 Barnard Road, Norwich NR5 9JB. |
Medway Outhouse |
Royal Mail Rochester Walk Bundling Centre, Fort Bridgewood, Maidstone Rd, Rochester ME1 3AU. |
South Mids Outhouse |
Former Royal Mail Milton Keynes Mail Centre, Dawson Road, MK1 1AA |
Nottingham Outhouse |
Royal Mail Derby MPU, Midland Rd, Derby DE1 1AA. |
Ipswich Outhouse |
Royal Mail Ipswich East DO, Foxtail Rd, Ipswich IP3 9SE. |
Inverness Outhouse |
50 Seafield Rd, Inverness IV1 1SG. |
Dunfermline Outhouse |
Unit E, Pitreavie Ind Est, Dunfermline, KY11 8UT |
Tyneside Outhouse |
Kings Park, Fifth Avenue, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0AF |
Sheffield Outhouse |
Old B&Q Site, Greenland Rd, Sheffield S9 5HE. |
Bristol Outhouse |
6010 Western Approach, WA Distribution Pk, Avonmouth, Bristol BS35 4GG. |
(c) Royal Mail Opps Marquees
Site |
Croydon MC |
Romford MC |
Peterborough MC |
Jubilee MC |
Manchester MC |
Warrington MC |
Chester MC |
NWMMC |
Birmingham MC |
Swindon MC (2) |
Dorset MC |
Exeter MC |
Truro MC |
2. Parcelforce Worldwide Temporary Christmas Outhouse Satellite Relief Depots:
There will be 7 Autumn/Xmas Pressure Parcelforce Worldwide relief sites this year:-
North Essex Satellite (Based at the Southern Cull)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be Friday 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from Satellite will be all CM13-15 & ALL SS codes
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 4,500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by satellite depot
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by North Essex LD
Welwyn Garden City (moving selected codes to North Essex LD)
- Go Live date will be Saturday 19st November
- Last day of operation will be Friday 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from Satellite will be EN9-11
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by North Essex LD
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Welwyn Garden City LD
Gatwick Satellite (Based at the Sovereign Park, Sutton – shared with LSW Sat)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be Friday 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from Satellite will be RH1-9, 12, 13, 18 & 19
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 2,500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by satellite depot
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Gatwick LD
London South West Satellite (Based at the Sovereign Park, Sutton – shared with Gatwick Sat)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be Friday 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from Satellite will be KT1-7 & SM1-7
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 2,500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by satellite depot
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by London South West LD
London Central Satellite (moving postcodes to London NW)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be Friday 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from Satellite will be SW3,5,6,7 and 10 and W2 and 9
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 2,500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by London NW
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by London NW
Glasgow Satellite (Based at MacLellan Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be 20th January
- Postcodes delivered from satellite will be KA1-30, PA1-19 and G51-53 and 58
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 4500+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by Glasgow LD
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Glasgow LD
Coventry Satellite (Based at MPC, Siskin Park West, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November (p.m.)
- Last day of operation will be 23rd December
- Postcodes delivered from satellite will be CV31-37 and 47, NN5, 7 and 11, OX15-17
- Estimated number of items to be handled – 3600+
- Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by Coventry LD
- Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Coventry LD
3. International Temporary Christmas Outhouse Satellite Relief Depots:
There will b
e 4 Christmas Pressure RM International Outhouse, satellite, relief sites this year:-
Coventry IPSC (Based at MPC, Siskin Park West, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November
- Last day of operation will be 8th January
Sandringham Road (Based at Sandringham Road, Hounslow)
- Go Live date will be Monday 14th November
- Last day of operation will be 20th January
NHCDC Hatfield (Based at Northern Home Counties Distribution Centre, Hatfield)
- Go Live date will be Monday 21st November
- Last day of operation will be 8th January
Hatton Cross (Based at Hatton Cross Centre, London Heathrow Airport)
- Go Live date will be Wednesday 21st December
- Last day of operation will be 18th January
Attachments:
- RMG/CWU Joint Statement 2016
- Parcel Sort Centre Operational Plans & Contacts
- Marquees on existing sites OH
- PIC Temporary Heating Guidelines
- Temporary OH Document
- SAC1
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer