Fine over Royal Mail yard accident
Communication workers’ union, the CWU, has called on Royal Mail to work with its safety reps after the company was hit by its biggest ever safety fine — £1.6 million.
Royal Mail was prosecuted after a CWU member, employed as a yard marshal, was struck by a 7.5 tonne vehicle in a mail centre yard in December 2014. He was knocked unconscious and suffered serious injuries including a fractured jaw and ribs.
The court heard Royal Mail had failed to undertake suitable and sufficient risk assessments and monitoring, provide adequate safety information, training, instruction and supervision, and maintain safe workplace transport arrangements including road markings and signage.
The judge said the company’s breach of health and safety law had resulted in a high likelihood of harm and it had failed to put in place industry-recognised safety measures.
CWU national health and safety officer Dave Joyce pointed to a catalogue of deaths and serious injuries at Royal Mail over recent years, many of which, union safety reps said, could have been avoided.
“Royal Mail needs to take action and work with CWU safety reps to improve safety standards,” Joyce added.