PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Low level letter boxes and back injuries (16 October 2024)

That this House notes that low level letter boxes cause back injuries to postmen and women each year, force postal staff to stoop to ground level whilst carrying mail items and thus can cause back strain; further notes that low level letter boxes also present an increased risk of dog bites; also notes that the Communications Workers Union are calling for a standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level and that they have been campaigning to outlaw low level letterboxes for many years, first raising the issue back in 1958; also notes that the EU standard requirement is for letterboxes to be at a height accessible to postal workers, significantly reducing possible injuries such as dog bites, fingers being trapped, or back strain caused when bending excessively or repeatedly to reach ground level boxes; also notes that this has not been enshrined into UK building standards and that low level letter boxes have been outlawed in many European countries, such as the Republic of Ireland in 2001; also notes that 154,000 days were lost in sick leave from Royal Mail in 2022 due to back pain, costing the Royal Mail £16 million, and that injury could be minimised by legislation to cover the manufacture of all new and replacement doors to have standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level; and calls on government to promote the EU standard.

Sponsored by:
Mike Amesbury (Independent)