Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Reviewing the OHS consequences of Separate Bundle Delivery (SBD)

Our team

Andrea Shaw Philip Meyer Rwth Stuckey

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Project purpose

To review the OHS consequences of SBD

Investigate the risks associated with a change to SBD from current delivery systems.

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

We examined:

The delivery equipment designs and modifications proposed

Work organisation issues Work environment issues Procedures and practices

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Our method

Step 1 - Analyse material provided by CEPU

Step 2 - Examine the equipment and observe the trials

Step 3 - Consult with relevant CEPU members and Australia Post staff

Step 4 - Prepare a briefing on our preliminary findings

Step 5 - Prepare a project report

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well being and overall system performance.

IEA

Survey of trial participants

49 interviews (46 men) Ave 8.94 years of service Ave 7.62 years on AP motorbike 39 (80%) full time 41 right-handed

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Locations

NSW– Seven Hills – 6– Lakemba – 15

Queensland– Heathwood – 6– Ashfield – 4

Victoria– Waverley – 12– Seaford - 6

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Organisational environment

Work environment

Equipment

PDO

Eg motorbike, bag, helmet

Eg roads, outdoors, DC

Eg work systems, procedures

External environmentEg industrial relations, OHS legislation, market position, business strategy

Equipment

Environment

Organisation

Organisational systems

Payment system discourages breaks Payment system encourages haste

and shortcuts Differential impact on DODOs and

permanent employees Design process flawed Reliance on administrative controls

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Work systems

Data about Single Bundle Delivery? Missorts in sequenced mail

– Not evident until on round

Alternative methods for merging sequenced and residue mail?

Change in timing of delivery– On the road at high risk times

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Work procedures

Throwing off large letters upside down– Adds to cognitive load in sorting and

delivery (reading upside down)

Dealing with missorts– Reduces service quality

Longer outdoors, shorter indoors – 0.77 longer outdoors, 1.12 shorter

indoors

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Reading upside down

MODAPTS for delivery

Single bundle: 1 A4 and 1 DL letter = 5.340 seconds

Separate bundle: 1 A4 and 1 DL letter = 8.011 seconds

50% increase in time when delivering both sequenced and residue mail

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Workload assessment

Mental demand: 3.21 Physical demand: 3.04 Hurried or rushed: 2.69 Success: 3.94 Hard work: 3.42 Frustration: 2.81

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Indoor work

Unrealistic times for throwing off– Eg expectation that splitting

round into two will not increase time needed for throwing off

Timing of breaks does not allow for rest and nourishment

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Outdoor work

Increased time to deliver – increases exposure to environmental conditions

MSD risks increased Limited opportunity for breaks No prescribed times for breaks

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Bending

Twisting

Twisting and reaching

Reaching sideways

Reaching behind

Hand movements

Motorcycle

Previous design problems exacerbated by SBD

Bag obscures speedometer

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Bag design

Residue mail does not stay in order – return to DC for next day

Mail more exposed to the elements (eg rain)

More frequent replenishment from panniers

Workplaces that treat people with dignity and respect

Equipment

Environment

Organisation