AUSTRALIA Post will equip mail delivery employees with citronella spray as dangerous dogs continue to present safety risks to team members nationwide – with Moree listed as a major hotspot.

The decision follows an alarming number of dog-related incidents in the past six months, with more than 44 postal workers a week falling victim to threatening dogs.

Australia Post general manager of safety, Russell Munro, said the organisation is constantly looking for ways to better protect frontline team members.

“Moree in New South Wales is one of many hotspots where the number of roaming and unrestrained dogs has created dangerous conditions for our posties,” Mr Munro said.

“We’ve identified a safe citronella spray deterrent that has proven largely effective in de-escalating incidents.

“When our people continue to end up in hospital, we have a responsibility to act and this is a last resort measure.

“The safety of our team members is a core value at Australia Post. Despite public awareness efforts and rigorous safety protocols, we continue to see alarming rates of dog-related incidents.

“The best way to avoid dog attacks is to ensure your dog is safely secured behind a locked door or gate when your Postie arrives with your parcel,” Mr Munro said.

Despite repeated appeals for dog owners to secure dogs during deliveries, new Australia Post data reveals more than 1150 dog-related incidents have occurred in the past six months – highlighting the growing concern for the physical and psychological wellbeing of employees.

The non-harmful, water-based citronella spray has been introduced as a last-line-of-defence measure to protect team members from imminent attack.

Building on successful international use-cases, Australia Post conducted an extensive two-phase trial in some of the worst-affected areas, finding the spray was 80 per cent effective in causing dogs to retreat, leaving postal workers unharmed.

When deployed, the deterrent temporarily distracts the dog, giving staff crucial moments to move to safety and call the owner for help.

The growing frequency of parcel deliveries has led to almost 40 per cent of dog incidents taking place on a customer’s property – half of those when a front door is opened for a parcel delivery.

Dog incidents occurring on the street account for 57 per cent of all cases.

Roaming dogs are a particular concern, accounting for 39 per cent of all street incidents.

Half of all other cases on the street were unrestrained dogs escaping a property to attack a postal employee.

The citronella spray program will prioritise high-risk regions first, with employees to be equipped with the spray by the end of July.

The program will then be extended to parcel delivery drivers, and all team members will be trained on how to use the spray safely and only as a last resort.

Following the rollout, Australia Post will continue to analyse incident data and conduct regular reviews of risk management practices.

Staff will undergo briefings on how to use the deterrent safely, following strict protocols for use.