MP SUPPORTS C.W UNION CAMPAIGN TO OUTLAW LOW LEVEL LETTERBOXES

Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP Michael Connarty has pledged his support for the Communications Workers Union campaign to outlaw low level letterboxes. The C.W.U are striving for the European Standard (EN13724) to be added to U.K building regulations- this requires letterboxes being at a height accessable to postal workers,significantly reducing possible injuries such as, dog bites,fingers being trapped or back strain caused when bending excessively to reach ground level boxes.

This issue was first raised as far back as 1958 when the British Standards Agency deemed it appropriate that letter boxes be at a proper height for “ergonomic and safety reasons”unfortunately it was not enshrined into building standards Law and fifty one years and various campaigns later the problem still exists. The union stresses that it does not expect householders or businesses to change their doors immediately- rather they hope government will see merit in minimalising the risk of injury to its members in passing legislation to cover the manufacture of all new and replacement doors

A similar campaign run by the C.W.U s. sister union in the Republic of Ireland resulted in all low level letterboxes being banned back in 2001 and given the fact that Royal Mail has by Law an obligation to deliver to each of the 27 000 000 UK addresses the C.W.U feel the time has come to standardise letter box height well above ground level.

The MP who has a history of championing postal workers rights said “I would support the idea of letter boxes being placed at a reasonable height.I have never been impressed by arguments for low level letter boxes. The surveys show they are actually a danger to Posties and should be banned".