[Closed] Duty of care for paperboys/girls

If he's acting on behalf of them, yes.

In 198x I did a milk round whilst doing my A Levels, we had some very harsh winters back then and my School tried interve to stop me doing it, stating the weather was too cold/extreme to work in.

When I was young I reached the dizzying heights of "morning assistant"

Part of my job was to ensure all paperboys/girls had functioning lights prior to their papers for the day being issued. No lights no papers , no pay. And extra pay for who ever has to cover for you.

You were also issued with a hi viz vest and a big orange bag. If the big boss saw you out and about without either it would result in getting pulled up.

Partially because he cared but mostly because he was shit scared of being sued by parents

Often wondered this too, although if my daughter was doing a paper round, there's no way I'd let her do it without lights, never mind what the guy from the shop does.

I would imagine the motorists insurers would be dragging the shop owner into the fray. See it round here as well though.

I did a milk round as a pocket money earned as a kid in the 80s and the school never batted an eyelid, despite hours that were very illegal. Mind you, 4am starts on a Saturday weren't the schools problem. Used to be great being first out in the morning after overnight snow fall. Till the milk froze and came out the top of the bottle.

I take it he has no parents? But yes the shop should take some responsibility too.

I had a bright fluorescent bag when I did mine.

although if my daughter was doing a paper round, there's no way I'd let her do it without lights, never mind what the guy from the shop does.

You want the paperboy job and the money that goes with it? Right, conditions are decent lights, reflective clothing and a helmet (I know, I know). I believe parental consent is required for kids doing paper rounds, so that's their lever. Maybe they hate their kid, though. I hadn't thought of that 😥

What is the world coming to etc etc etc

Hi
Yep shop guy definitely has a responsibility.
The paperboy/girl works for him. Health and Safety at Work Act applies fully.
Although as said above parents should do more too
Cheers
Steve

I thought it was just pensioners who delivered papers nowadays.

When I was a printed information distributor (back in 1864) I had a massive flouro orange bag. Lights on the bike too. Back when lights were like this....

[img] [/img]

😀

Back in my day... 😀

Even in early 80s we were given hi-vis stuff you chucked on over jacket, bright bag, and later an alarm in case of attack.

A fraction of the traffic on the road though, and was in a sleepy Devon town. Could have gone around ninja style and wouldn't have been a problem. Sometimes needed stealth to chuck the paper through the door and run off before you got accosted for being late or missed their house the other day.

Eveready bike lights and no helmet 😀

Biggest health & safety issue was probably the weight of the Sunday papers.

Blimey! I remember those. Everready? Illuminated nothing...

Those lights where dire, memories of riding around with dim fading lamps and not having enough pocket money to buy new batteries. The kids had it made these days with their LEDs!

Yep, had those Ever Ready lights on my stuck-in-3rd-gear Chopper.

My biggest health and safety issues was braking too hard, shooting forward off the banana seat and tearing my knackers off with the gear lever....[img] [/img]

Think there might still be a set of those in my mum and dad's Cupboard of Old Crap, I'd like to fill them with modern LEDs and lipos....

I used to do my paper-round on foot. But I could have walked round the corner and jumped on a bike with no lights or reflectors. Difficult for the shop to control?

i would say the parent is responsible for letting the child leave the house like that. My old man was a newsagent and had spare lights and provided a day-glo/reflective paper bag though.