Juneau Post Office Gets OSHA Stamp of Approval for Delivering Safety, Health
The U.S. Postal Service's Juneau Mendenhall Post Office became OSHA's latest star--the highest level in the agency's Voluntary Protection Programs--when the Alaska facility was recognized this week for delivering excellence in employee safety and health.
The primary work performed at the Juneau Mendenhall Post Office includes collection, sorting, delivery, and distribution of U.S. domestic and foreign mail. The site is a 24-hour operation, operating six days a week in two shifts with variable start times. It has limited automated mail sorting capability and an average daily mail delivery volume of more than 33,000 pieces. Revenue from retail services at the facility total approximately $1,560,000 annually. The 86 employees on site are represented by the American Postal Workers Union and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association.
"Management and labor working together has resulted in an injury and illness rate that is 86 percent below the national average for the postal industry," said Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's regional administrator in Seattle. "The Juneau Mendenhall Post Office demonstrates excellence in effective safety and health management."
The star designation came after an OSHA onsite review of the facility's safety and health programs in September 2008, interviews with employees, and a complete tour of the worksite.
The Juneau Mendenhall Post Office facility is one of more than 2,160 worksites in 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management commitment and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place, and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join VPP. OSHA says VPP companies achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for other companies in their respective industries.