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,
Rockware Avenue,Greenford UB6 OAD

Go Live 31 Oct, Inward 28 Nov.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours

Atherstone PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Riverside Road,
Carlyon Ind Est,
Long Street,
Atherstone CV9 1AU

Go Live 21 Nov.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours

North West PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Sandbrook Park,
Edinburgh Way,
Rochdale OL11 1SA

Go Live 31 Oct.

Inward 31 Oct.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours

North East PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Unit 3,
Gelderd Lane,
Leeds LS12 6AL

Go Live 7 Nov.

Inward 7 Nov.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 24 Hours

South Wales PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

RM Parcel Centre,
LLantrisant,
Talbot Green,
Pontyclun CF72 9FG

Go Live 21 Nov.

Inward 5 Dec

TBC

Swindon PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Triumph Building,
Arkwright Road,
Groundwell Ind Est,
Swindon SN25 5BE

Go live 21 Nov.

Inward 14 Nov.

TBC

Scotland PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Blackburn Rd,
Barthgate EH48 2EY

Go live 7 Nov.

Inward 7 Nov.

TBC

West Midlands PSC

Opening Date

On Site Details

Express House,
Wolseley Drive,
Birmingham B8 2SQ

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:

  1. RMG/CWU Joint Statement 2016
  2. Parcel Sort Centre Operational Plans & Contacts
  3. Marquees on existing sites OH
  4. PIC Temporary Heating Guidelines
  5. Temporary OH Document
  6. SAC1

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer