Written question asked by Mike Amesbury (Independent (affiliation)) on Friday, 18 October 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. It was answered by Alex Norris (Labour) on Monday, 28 October 2024 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Letter Boxes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential relationship between the height of letter boxes and back injuries for post men and women.

Answer: I recognise that postal workers may be at risk of repetitive strain injury or inconvenience caused by letterboxes or letterplates that are inappropriately positioned in doors. Guidance on letterplate specifications is already referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently invited the Building Safety Regulator to consider how guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning might be set out more clearly so that it is easier to understand, has greater prominence and takes into account safety, ergonomics and efficiency for postal workers. People who use ADQ will be directed to BS EN 13724:2013 Postal services: apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates, setting out a standard positioning and recommended height.

Secondary information