OSHA Files Complaint against 350 Postal Facilities
The U.S. Department of Labor's solicitor filed a complaint on July 6 against the U.S. Postal Service for electrical work safety violations. The complaint, which asks the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to order USPS to correct electrical violations at 350 facilities, marks the first time the department has sought enterprise-wide relief as a remedy.
The request for enterprise-wide relief is based upon the discovery of numerous, similar electrical work safety violations in the course of OSHA investigations of USPS mail processing and distribution facilities across the country. These violations increase the risk of injury from electrical shock, including electrocution. While today's complaint arises from violations discovered in the Providence, R.I., facility, the requested remedy would apply to all 350 USPS processing and distribution centers, all of which contain similar equipment.
"When the same safety violation is discovered in multiple locations of an organization, we need an enterprise-wide remedy to protect workers from the hazard," said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith. "The Department of Labor will seek other opportunities to utilize this remedy."
OSHA's inspections have revealed numerous violations of similar worker safety standards at USPS facilities throughout the nation. The complaint alleges that USPS's actions demonstrate an enterprise-wide policy that resulted in ongoing systemic electrical work safety violations. OSHA says USPS failed to adequately train workers in recognizing electrical hazards and how to work safely around such hazards, and did not provide workers with the appropriate tools and personal protective equipment to avoid injury or death while working around and on electrical equipment. The complaint also seeks $558,000 for the eight willful and four serious violations discovered in Rhode Island.
"Even though it was aware of the hazards, USPS failed to institute the necessary measures to protect its workers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "The complaint filed today seeks to put a stop to this irresponsible behavior."