Printer-Friendly Page
Industrial Relations
Home
Departments & Divisions Industrial
Relations Safety & Health S&H News Archive
Home
Departments & Divisions Industrial
Relations Safety & Health S&H News Archive 
Departments & Divisions Industrial
Relations Safety & Health S&H News Archive Mike Morris, Director |
|
Corey Thompson, Safety & Health Specialist |
|
Safety & Health News Archive
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]
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]
APWU Urges Locals to File OSHA Complaints Over Electrical Hazards
(10/27/09) The APWU has sent a letter to local presidents in regard to electrical hazards related to the Postal Service's failure to comply with OSHA Subpart S Electrical Standards. The letter explains the Union's efforts to force the Postal Service to comply with these standards, and includes a complaint package that contains everything locals need to file OSHA complaints regarding these hazards. The union is urging locals whose members are exposed to these hazards to file complaints with their local OSHA offices.
Click here for a copy of the letter, the complaint package and a fillable OSHA-7 complaint form.
APWU Urges Locals with DBCS Machines to File OSHA Complaints
(03/30/09) The APWU has sent a letter to local presidents in regard to ergonomic issues related to Delivery Bar Code Sorter (DBCS) operations. The purpose of this letter is to explain the attached information and the APWU’s intent to have multiple OSHA complaints simultaneously filed by locals with DBCS machines, nationwide. APWU has made many attempts to discuss and correct known ergonomic risks and hazards associated with the operations of the DBCS machines. Although we have had some success, the Postal Service continues to refuse to discuss identified ergonomic risks and hazards. [read more]
OSHA Releases Ergonomic Strategic Partnership Report for Denver P&DC
(05/21/08) The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Strategic Partnership Program has released their Ergonomic Verification Report for the Denver P&DC's Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process. The Verification Team visited the Denver site on Oct. 25-27, 2007. The overall evaluation of the process as it is functioning at the Denver P&DC was overwhelmingly positive. You can read the OSHA report and an APWU Summary of the report by clicking the preceding links.
APWU Guide to
Local Negotiations 2011
(05/20/11) The APWU Industrial Relations Department has produced a Guide
to Local Negotiations that contains a wealth of information to assist
locals in bargaining over Local Memorandums of Understanding (LMOUs) under
the 2010-2015 National Agreement.
[read more]
Union, Management Agree
To Timeline for Local Negotiations
(05/18/11) In the wake of the ratification of the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the APWU and USPS have agreed to a timeline for local negotiations, Director of Industrial Relations Mike Morris, has announced. [read more]
New USPS "Observation of Work Practices" Forms Appealed to Arbitration
(05/05/08) The APWU has appealed to national-level arbitration the creation of two new USPS "Observation of Work Practices" forms. It is the union's position that the observation forms are redundant and also conflict with Chapter 8 of the ELM and Section 8-14 of the Handbook EL-801, Supervisors Safety Handbook. Furthermore, it is the union's position that these forms are records covered under the Privacy Act; however, the Postal Service was unable to identify the System of Records under which these forms would be protected.
Click here for a copy of the Appeal to Arbitration and the Union's 15-Day Statement
Implementation Process Agreed To For
Off-Site Safety and Health Inspections
(04/25/08) Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding MOU Re: Off-Site Safety and Health Program found on page 324 of the 2006 National Agreement requiring the National Joint Labor Management Safety and Health Committee to create an implementation process to ensure employees in off-site locations are fully protected by the Postal Service’s Safety and Health Program, the parties agreed to the following implementation process ... [read more]
Click here for a listing of detached mail units (DMUs)
MRSA – Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Facts and Information
(10/31/2007) Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia). [read more]
National Safety-and-Health Program Renewed
(09/10/07) The APWU and USPS announced Sept. 10 that they have renewed their commitment to the Voluntary Protection Program, which is designed to improve safety and health at postal facilities and to reduce accidents and injuries. In an Aug. 30 agreement, the union and management agreed to extend the process for three years. [read more]
Efforts to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries Show Positive Results
(This article first appeared in the September/October 2007 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
Postal Service employees are experiencing fewer ergonomic injuries since the formation of an OSHA-organized labor/management partnership in 2003. The partnership among the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the APWU, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and the USPS not only has helped to reduce the number of injuries, it has saved money. [read more]
Postal Service Issues New Safety Talk on Recognizing Suspicious Materials
(10/13/06) The Postal Service has issued a new safety talk concerning Suspicious Mail and Unknown Powders or Substances to be given on Friday, October 6, 2006. This is one of a three-part series to be given each first Friday of October, November and December of 2006.
Avian (Bird) Flu
(06/05/06) The Postal Service has issued an updated “Safety Talk” covering the mailing of birds and avian flu. In addition, the following information is provided to give you further information and to address concerns regarding protecting yourself.... [read more]
USPS Revises Standard Operating Procedures for Handling Hazardous Materials
(02/23/06) The Postal Service has revised its Standard Operating Procedures for the Handling of Hazardous Materials. The new procedures are effective immediately and may not be altered in any way by local management. These procedures apply to acceptance, handling and transportation of mail containing or believed to contain hazardous materials, and provide detailed instructions for the actions that must be taken to minimize potential hazards during processing, distribution and transportation.
USPS Instructs Facilities Not to By-Pass
Biohazard Detection Systems On Their AFCS
(12/14/05) The APWU recently became aware that postal facilities with the Biohazard Detection System (BDS) on their Advanced Facer-Canceler Systems (AFCS) machines have made local decisions to by-pass the AFCS and utilize alternate canceling equipment (such as a Micro Mark or NEC).
The APWU notified postal headquarters of this serious breach of security. In response, USPS headquarters issued a December 9, 2005 policy to all Managers and Operations Support (Area) instructing them to ensure that all stamped mail meeting the processing specifications for the AFCS be processed on the AFCS.
Hurricane Katrina
(09/09/05) Safety and health in the wake of a natural disaster is a major concern. The storm and subsequent flooding in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana has and will continue to place postal workers in dangerous environments for many months to come. These dangers will be present not only at work but in other public places and at home. The following information is provided to heighten your level of awareness and provide some basic guidelines for protective measures you should take.... [read more]
