Staying safe

Monday 25 June marks the start of our sixth Dog Awareness Week, our campaign to raise awareness of attacks on our postmen and women.

In the last year, 82% of attacks on postal workers happened at the front door or in the garden and we are appealing to all dog owners to think TWICE when the postman calls.

During the summer and particularly during the school holidays, dogs are more likely to be loose playing with children in the garden or able to access the front door when the postman calls.

Managers should familiarise themselves with our dog attack guidance, which requires colleagues to highlight all dog hazards in their walk log through the Walking Risk Assessment Plan (WRAP) system.

Every day colleagues should indicate dog hazards by writing a ‘D’ on the letter addressed to the house where a dog is known to reside as a reminder when visiting the property.

To help reduce dog attacks all units must ensure:

• Walk logs are up to date
• Dog hazards are marked on the frame with a yellow sticker
• All colleagues know the delivery or collection Safe System of Work (SSOW)
• A ‘D’ for Dog is marked on mail addressed to properties where a dog is known to reside
• Posting pegs are issued to all colleagues who require one.

Managers can access the Dog Attack Risk Control Matrix here.

Survey

An ‘Understanding Dangerous Dogs and Human Reaction’ research survey has been created by a Newcastle University student with the support of Royal Mail Group and the CWU.

The findings of this project may be helpful in reducing the number of dangerous dog attacks in the UK that are reported by colleagues delivering post.

Click here to take part in the survey, which should take around five minutes to complete.