Royal Mail vehicles – safety always first
Postal February 16 2017
“According to official Royal Mail stats, there were 112 handbrake-related vehicle rollaway’ incidents over the last 12 months, and a total of 533 since 2013,” said CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce.
The week commencing Monday 20th February is Royal Mail/CWU road vehicle safety week and this year’s campaign is focused specifically on warning of the dangers of handbrake-related rollaways and safe parking on hills, slopes and inclines.
Leaflets and posters giving information and advice are being distributed and displayed prominently in workplaces across the country throughout the week and this will also be flagged up during worktime learning sessions.
CWU assistant secretary Davie Robertson said that the union’s postal department “fully supports the campaign.
“Pressures on our drivers have never been greater and their safety is of paramount importance,” he continued.
“In recent years we have also had to deal with a number of conduct cases relating to rollaways, so it’s imperative that our members fully understand the correct procedures to protect themselves, other road users and the general public.”
Dave Joyce warned that, “a van weighing several tons running away out of control can cause death, danger and significant damage to people and property – and we don’t want our members learning the hard way how important it is to park their vans safely on a hill or slope and even on the slightest of inclines or gradients.
“Drivers are sometimes in a rush or have other things on their mind whilst performing their deliveries or collections working within a busy schedule but we want our members never to forget that safety must always come first,” he concluded.
During the week both Royal Mail and CWU are promoting The “HIT” Acronym: Remember “HIT”
Handbrake Firmly On.
In Gear (First Gear Uphill – Reverse Gear Downhill)
Turn The Wheels(Away From Kerb Uphill – Towards Kerb Downhill)