POSTIES are at risk of accidents because Royal Mail is not providing them with suitable shoes, the Communication Workers Union conference heard yesterday.

The union overwhelmingly endorsed a call for new entrants to the workforce to be immediately provided with footwear “suitable for delivery” or a voucher to buy it themselves so they are not left “out of pocket.” T

he motion, passed at the CWU’s postal section conference yesterday, also calls for delivery workers to be issued with waterproof clothing.

CWU postal executive member Tony Bouch said: “It’s absolutely unacceptable that in Royal Mail, a FTSE 100 company, new entrants have to wait 12 weeks for this part of their uniform.”

At the union’s telecoms sector conference, delegates raised fears about asbestos in BT telephone exchanges.

A motion accepted by the telecoms executive said recent storm damage to an exchange had led to concerns among workers that the deadly substance is not being managed properly.

Workers said some buildings had not been inspected for “several years” despite a legal requirement for premises to be checked every six to 12 months.

Asbestos was traditionally used to coat telephone cables, and alteration and repair work meant that exposure was more likely than in most workplaces.

A number of recent legal cases have seen telecoms workers historically exposed to asbestos awarded six-figure sums in compensation.

People who inhale asbestos dust can contract the cancer mesothelioma decades later.

BT said it took the issue of asbestos “very seriously” and had already taken steps to reinstate its asbestos forum.

A spokesman said: “We intend to work closely with the union to ensure this approach is effective.”