LTB 619/17 – ROYAL MAIL, PARCELFORCE AND RM INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS OPERATIONS 2017 – TEMPORARY DEDICATED PARCEL SORT CENTRES (PSCs), OUTHOUSES AND MARQUEES – HEALTH AND SAFETY
No. 619/2017
15 November 2017
Our Ref: C1/17
ROYAL MAIL, PARCELFORCE AND RM INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS OPERATIONS 2017 – TEMPORARY DEDICATED PARCEL SORT CENTRES (PSCs), OUTHOUSES AND MARQUEES – HEALTH AND SAFETY
To: All Branches with Postal Members
Dear Colleagues,
This is to inform and update Branches and Area Health and Safety Representatives that for the sixth 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 2017 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 have gone out to all Regions, Areas and the Safety Teams and 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 assessment including 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) Temporary Outhouse & PSC Buildings / Sites:
| Req Name | Property | PCD |
| SE PSC | Rockware Ave, Greenford | UB6 0AA |
| MK Outhouse | Dawson Road, MK | MKI 1JN |
| Atherstone | Riversdale Road, Atherstone | CV9 1LP |
| Inverness Outhouse | 50 Seafield Road, Inverness | IV1 1SG |
| NW PSC | 27 Leacroft Road, Warrington | WA3 6JP |
| Chelmsford Outhouse | Thurrock 111, Weston Avenue, Grays | RM20 3FJ |
| Scottish PSC | 16 Blackburn Road, Bathgate | EH48 2EY |
| Jubilee Outhouse | Unit 5, The Summit Centre, Skyport Drive, Heathrow | UB7 OLJ |
| SW PSC | Cribbs Causeway Distribution Centre, Bristol | BS10 7TL |
| Norwich Outhouse | 3A Diamond Road, Norwich | NR6 6AN |
| Leeds PSC | Normanton 108, Don Pedro Avenue, Normanton | WF6 1TD |
| Sheffield Outhouse | Former B&Q Greenland Road Darnall Sheffield | S9 5HL |
| Tyneside Outhouse | Unit 2, Kings Park, Thames Valley, Gateshead | NE11 0AF |
| Dunfermline Outhouse | Unit E, Pitreavie Ind Est, Dunfermline | KY11 8UT |
| NDC PAR | Sainsbury’s Distribution Centre, Drift West Brassey Way, Kilsby, Northampton | CV23 8BQ |
| Peterborough PAR | Peter Brotherhood Ltd Papyrus Road Peterborough | PE4 5HG |
| Exeter MC PAR | B&Q adjacent to the MC | |
| Truro MC PAR | Car park at Kernow House, Harvey Road, Truro | TR1 2XP |
| Rugeley DO PAR | Tailors Lane Car Park, Taylors Lane, Rugeley | WS15 2BX |
| Southampton MC PAR | Fourth floor multi storey car park, Southampton International Airport, Southampton | SO18 2NL |
| Exeter VOC | Area 7 Greendale Business Park Woodbury Salterton, Exeter | EX5 1EW |
| SWDC VOC | Plot 8020, Western Approach Distribution Park, Govier Way, Avonmouth | BS35 4GG |
| SDC VOC | Units A-C, Excelsior Park, Canyon Road, Wishaw | ML2 0EG |
| East Mids VOC | Land at Hillside, Gotham Road, Kingston on Soar, Nottingham | NG11 0DF |
| NHCDC VOC | 31-35 Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City | AL7 3BQ |
| Carlisle VOC | Carlisle Railfreight Terminal, Brunthill Rd., Kingstown Industrial Estate, Carlisle | CA3 0EH |
| PRDC VOC | Unisys GMH Site, Harrow Road London | NW10 8NS |
(b) Marquees:
| Site | Address | Postcode |
| NW Midlands MC Marquee | Sun Street, Wolverhampton | WV1 1AA |
| Amesbury DO Marquee | 20 London Road, Amesbury | SP4 7EW |
| Exeter MC Marquee | Osprey Road, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter | EX2 7XX |
| Manchester MC Marquee | 77 Oldham Road, Manchester | M4 5AA |
| Dorset MC Marquee | Witney Road, Poole | BH17 0AA |
| Kingswood DO Marquee | Hanham Road, Bristol | BS15 8PN |
| Bristol Fishponds DO | Unit 3 New Station Way, Fishponds, Bristol | BS16 3ZZ |
| Cinderford DO Marquee | Woodside Street, Cinderford | GL14 2NQ |
| Warrington MC Marquee | Orion Boulevard, Great Sankey, Warrington | WA5 3XA |
| Carlisle MC Marquee | Junction Street, Carlisle | CA1 1AA |
| Peterborough MC Marquee | Papyrus Rd , Werrington , Peterborough | PE4 5PE |
| Birmingham MC Marquee | St Stephens Street, Birmingham | B6 4AA |
| Preston MC Marquee | Pittman Way, Preston | PR2 9GG |
| Glasgow MC Marquee | 20 Turner Road, Glasgow | G21 1AA |
| Swansea MC Marquee | Siemens Way, Swansea | SA1 1AA |
| Southampton MC Marquee | Mitchell Way, Southampton | SO18 2XX |
| Nottingham MC Marquee | Padge Road, Beeston, Nottingham | NG9 2RR |
| Chester MC Marquee | Jupiter Drive, Chester | CH1 4PA |
| Truro MC Marquee | Newham Industrial Estate, Newham Road, Truro | TR1 1AA |
| Jubilee MC Marquee | Godfrey Way, Hounslow | TW4 5XX |
| Romsey DO Marquee | 15 Church Street, Romsey | SO51 8XA |
| Swindon 1 | Rowland Hill Close | SN3 5TQ |
2. Parcelforce Worldwide Temporary Christmas Outhouse Satellite Relief Depots:
There will be 3 Autumn/Xmas Pressure Parcelforce Worldwide relief sites this year:-
North Essex Satellite (Based at the Southern Cull – Old ELDC, Oliver Road, Grays, Thurrock, RM20 3ED)
· Go Live date will be Monday 06th November (p.m.)
· Last day of operation will be Friday 22nd December
· Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by satellite depot
· Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by North Essex LD
Gatwick Satellite (Tannery Road, Tonbridge, TN9 1RF)
· Go Live date will be Monday 13th November (p.m.)
· Last day of operation will be Friday 22nd December
· Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by Gatwick LD
· Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Gatwick LD
Glasgow Satellite (Based at Unit 4 – Block K, Westway Industrial Park, Porterfield Road, Renfrew, PA4 8DJ)
· Go Live date will be Monday 13th November (p.m.)
· Last day of operation will be Friday 22nd December
· Saturday Deliveries – Being performed by Glasgow LD
· Sunday Deliveries – Being performed by Glasgow LD
3. International Temporary Christmas Outhouse Satellite Relief Depots:
There will be 2 Christmas Pressure RM International Outhouse, satellite, relief sites this year:-
577 Sandringham Road, Heathrow Cargo Centre, Airside, TW6 3RF
· Go Live date will be Monday 20th November
· Last day of operation will be Tuesday 09th January 2018
KanBan (Export Storage), Budds Lane, Bordon, GU35 0JE.
· Go Live date will be Monday 20th November
· Last day of operation will be Tuesday 09th January 2018
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Safety Assessment + Concurrence (SAC1) v4.4
National Guidance Document for Temporary Heating (Guidance to Person in Control) updated Nov 2017 v1