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Mike Morris, Director |
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Corey Thompson, Safety & Health Specialist |
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Safety and Health
The Industrial Relations Director is charged with responsibility for the health and safety of all divisions of the Union. Article 14 of the National Agreement requires management to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees covered by the agreement. To achieve this end, the contract provides for the establishment of joint safety and health committees at various levels throughout the Postal Service.... [read more]
For assistance with Safety and Health matters, contact Corey Thompson, APWU Safety & Health Specialist, at (202) 842-4273.
Latest Safety and Health News
OIG Issues Report
On USPS Health and Safety Program
(12/30/11) An audit report conducted by the Postal Service’s Inspector General’s Office (OIG) on the USPS Health and Safety Program, released Nov. 14, is limited in both scope and depth and is thus of little value in assessing the agency’s overall efforts to promote a safe workplace, the union has determined. [read more]
Safety Hazard on
APPS Prime Function
May Cause Serious Injury and Loss of Life
(12/15/11) APWU members are advised not to use the “prime function” to pre-load belts on APPS (Automated Package Processing System) machines.
According to Management Maintenance Order (MMO) 153-11, the load and incline belts may start operating without warning lights and horns. [read more]
Hurricane Irene
(08/26/11) Click here for the latest newsbreaks and other information provided by the Postal Service.
OSHA Safety Violations Continue
USPS Slammed for Electrical Hazards,
Under-Recording Illnesses, Injuries
(02/24/10) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
continues to charge the Postal Service with “willful and serious” safety
violations in postal facilities across the country because
of electrical safety hazards. As of late December, OSHA had
issued citations at 31 facilities, and ordered the USPS to
pay fines of more than $6 million.
[read more]
OSHA: DBCS Machines Pose Risk to Workers’ Health
(01/14/11) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has hit the Postal Service with another unwelcome finding: Delivery Bar Code Sorter machines pose a direct risk to workers’ health, and there is a “general lack of understanding about the hazards and injuries” associated with the equipment among postal managers. [read more]
OSHA: USPS Fails to Keep Proper Records of Injuries
(01/11/11) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) slammed the USPS again for safety violations — this time for under-recording workplace injuries and illnesses. [read more]
Safety Talk on Recognizing, Handling Suspicious Mail
(01/07/11) Following the explosion of several mail pieces in Maryland and Washington, DC, the USPS has issued a Safety Talk that instructs employees how to react to suspicious packages. APWU President Cliff Guffey is encouraging union members to follow the guidelines and to exercise caution. [read more]
Safety & Health Resource Kit CD Now Online
(08/10/10) The Safety and Health Resource Kit CD that has been distributed at the last three APWU conventions has been updated and placed online on the APWU website. To view the S&H Resource Kit, click on the "S&H Resource Kit" link on the left hand navigation menu on the Safety and Health Page. The kit is intended as a resource to assist APWU officers, stewards and safety reps in carrying out their duties related to safety and health issues. At the top left are categories that you can use to browse the contents of this Resource Kit. These categories represent a broad overview of the kit's contents. At the bottom left are links to specific safety and health topics. These topics represent a slice of the information in the kit related to specific issues. It should be noted that some documents are outdated and have been provided only as historical records. In addition, some of the documents listed do not have links — they have been included because they exist and are applicable to the subject matter. We will continue to research these documents and will update links with any documents we find.
Safety ‘Happy Talk’ Just Isn’t Enough
(This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
Postal officials frequently brag about their commitment to workers’ safety, but their actions don’t always line up with the “happy talk.” A recent example is management’s refusal to grant the union access to the USPS Safety Toolkit, a computer-based program that is integral to management’s safety, health and environmental program. Initially, the Safety Toolkit (STK) was a simple system management used to store documents related to safety, health, and environmental issues. Over time, however, it has evolved into a sophisticated system that is an essential component of the safety program itself. [read more]
Other Safety and Health Issues
Stand-Up Talks
(Updated 12/15/11/07)
This is a link to Postal Service safety-related stand up talks for which the national union has been officially notified. Safety talks that are given by management that are not listed here have not been provided to the national union.
Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process - ERRP
(Updated 04/06/06)
The Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process was started in the summer of 2003 following the signing of an MOU between the USPS, APWU, OSHA and the NPMHU. The agreement provides an outline and goals of the process and defines the obligation and responsibilities of the parties to reduce the number of injuries and ergonomic-related hazards.
Voluntary Protection Programs - VPP
(Updated 09/10/07)
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) is intended to promote effective worksite-based safety and health. In the VPP, management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.
In the wake of the Anthrax crisis of 2001, the Postal Service has begun installing Bio-Detection Equipment in a number of plants throughout the country. The BDS basically works by collecting a continuous air sample on a specific piece of mail processing equipment. The machine performs a rapid DNA test of the collected sample and sends the test results electronically to Postal officials.
Ventilation Filtration Systems - VFS
Following the Anthrax attacks of 2001, it was determined that the Anthrax spores became "aerosolized" as they passed through specific "pinch points" on mail processing equipment. The Ventilation Filtration System (VFS) is designed to collect and contain these and other potentially hazardous airborne particulates that may be released during the automated processing of mail.
Homeland Security Threat Advisory Codes
The current terrorist threat level as determined by the Department of Homeland Security, and an explanation of what the codes mean.
This is a list of safety and health related links on the web.
