Virtual training
Our latest dog awareness training project is experimenting with VR (virtual reality) for the first time.
Eight colleagues at West Park delivery office in Plymouth trialled the VR training last month. It will be rolled out to six other units in the coming weeks.
A link to a video will be sent to an office workplace coach, manager or safety representative to download to their mobile phones.
The video can then be watched using a phone and a VR headset.
Online learning manager James Barton said the headsets will be sent to units that have been most affected by dog attacks.
‘We want to make this experience accessible to frontline colleagues so we’ve built it to run on smartphones with a VR headset,’ he said. ‘We are buying 50-60 headsets to be shared across high-impact units.’
Global director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability, Shaun Davis, said: ‘This investment in new training combines new technology and some of our traditional guidance to deliver the learning experience in a completely different way. It allows the user to experience the realism of an attack without any of the risk.’
Postman and workplace coach Duncan Everard added: ‘It will be excellent training for new colleagues particularly. It will give them an insight into the hazards they could face on delivery.’
AVOID
Schools across the country are now on their summer break so it’s vital that colleagues on delivery stay alert and follow our advice on how to AVOID dogs.
It’s vital that we always use and consider the AVOID message to staying safe on delivery:
- A - Avoid interacting with animals
- V - Value yourself. If you feel something isn’t right, stop and assess the situation
- O - Observe your surroundings, and check your walk log before leaving the office
- I - Inform members of your team of any dogs on your round; and
- D - Defend yourself if you are ever attacked by a dog.
