HSE inspections and Royal Mail CSR Audits have continued to identify a wide variation of standards across Delivery Offices nationally in the standard and use of Delivery Walk Logs with confusion regarding required contents, standard practice and good practice. Royal Mail Letters have now issued new guidance on what is now the expected standard for Delivery Risk Assessments, Walk Logs and management monitoring of the processes. The new Guidance provides a minimum standard for Walk Logs, but suggests extra features, that could be added, without detracting from the basic standard Walk log.
Walk Logs are a guide for the Delivery workers to know what his/her walk consists of and some key features to help them to do that walk safely, securely and effectively. A hard copy Walk Log must be kept on every Delivery Preparation Frame and updated frequently. Two good practice ideas for updating Walk Logs have been identified. One is a "Walk Log Changes" form, which the postperson simply fills in. The other is for some WTLL sessions to be dedicated to discussions around Walk Logs, with a requirement for all Delivery people to actually bring their Walk Logs to that WTLL session. A key point is that Walk Logs must not be overloaded. If there is too much in them, they won't be used.
Royal Mail Letters CSR has now composed a list of contents as follows:
A "mandatory" list for every Walk Log,
A list of good practice extras, and A list of what information should not go into Walk Logs but be held elsewhere.
Mandatory Contents of Every Walk Log
- Map of the Delivery Route
- Safe Drops described and shown on the map.
- Toilet locations described and shown on the map.
- The specification for the weight of each pouch, either generic or specific to the Walk.
- A description of the method of delivery (eg HCT, cycle, etc) and the acceleration arrangements.
- The WPQ 1, 2 and 3 Risk Assessments, identifying all hazards of significance.
- Office contact numbers, including emergency numbers.
- Guidance to any hard to find locations.
- Outputs and advice drawn from the follow-up of previous accidents on the Walk.
Good Practice Extra Contents for Walk Logs
- A Walk Summary sheet, or card, to be taken out on the Walk, with the key details that need to be referred to, after leaving the office.
- A hand held wallet for key documents.
- Operational information on time locks, etc.
- Photographs of hazards.
- A map of the wider area to show the Walk in relation to the office.
Information that should NOT got into Walk Logs, to avoid overload
- Redirection List - A separate list to be kept either in a separate folder, or similar enclosure, on the Preparation Frame.
- A-Plus Print-Outs of every Delivery Point - to be kept in a central point for the office, updated by the "A-Plus Duty".
- List of Saturday Retentions - kept on the frame separate to the Walk Log.
- Generic SSoW and Security instructions - kept in one place in the office, or on a Safety Shelf, or on a Safety Notice Board.
Management Monitoring
Self Audits, HSE checks, Union Safety Representatives Inspections and Independent Audits will check a sample of Walk Logs. They should check that the above "Mandatory Contents" are in each Walk Log. If helpful "Good Practice Extras" are found in Walk Logs, then these should be considered as potential sources of best practice, for reference by other Units. If too much information is in Walk Logs, recommendations should be made to slim them down.
Review of this Specification
This will be reviewed at least annually by the Area CSR Leads, under the direction of the Head of CSR.
