Injuries Direct - Personal Injury Claims

Postal delivery workers are being given new devices to protect them from the threat of dog attacks.

The action has been taken after it was revealed that the number of attacks on postal workers have risen by almost 20% in the last year alone.

The figures suggest that there were 4,810 dog attacks in 2008/2009, compared with 4,067 the previous year. This equates to 92 post staff being injured every single week because of an aggressive dog.

Now, delivery workers could equipped with a tool that can release compressed air at the dog, which makes a hissing sound designed to scare them and stop them in their tracks.

Trials for the device are taking place in south-east England, and if successful they will be used nationwide.

The new equipment will replace existing peppermint spray which some post staff carry if they feel particularly threatened by a dog on their round.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “This is something we take extremely seriously, and we give training to staff about ways to deal with dogs.”

The Royal Mail currently has its own Dog Attacks Compensation scheme, which covers staff injured in attacks for any missed shifts and over time they may have missed when hurt by a dog.