Royal Mail is urging customers to take action promptly to avoid potential delivery disruptions. Failure to comply could lead to a suspension of deliveries to your address. According to information on the Royal Mail website, incidents of dog attacks on postal workers have increased by 2% in the past year, resulting in a total of 2,197 reported cases or an average of 42 attacks per week across the UK.
Although the number of severe injuries decreased by 10% to 74 cases, the company emphasizes that the overall frequency of these incidents remains unacceptably high, with some employees sustaining permanent or disabling injuries. To address this issue, implementing simple measures can help ensure timely deliveries and safeguard the well-being of staff members. One such measure involves using a concise postcard stating ‘I have a dog,’ which signals to the delivery person to wait until the dog is secured before proceeding.
In a letter addressed to customers, Royal Mail emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safe delivery of items. The letter highlights the significant impact of dog attacks on postal workers, with approximately 2,000 incidents occurring annually. In cases of such attacks, the company is required to involve the police and may suspend deliveries to the affected address to mitigate potential risks of further attacks.
The company seeks support from pet owners and outlines key reminders, including the top postcode areas with the highest instances of dog attacks on postal workers. These areas include Sheffield (S postcode), Portsmouth (PO postcode), and Kent/Sussex/Surrey (TN postcode), among others, where incidents have either increased or remained consistently high over the years.
Lizz Lloyd, the Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, underscores the severity of dog attacks as a significant safety concern for postal workers. She emphasizes the need for public cooperation in securing pets before mail deliveries and affirms the company’s commitment to safety training and awareness campaigns. Community involvement is essential in reducing the risks associated with dog attacks on postal workers.