OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Sep 27, 2002

Abate by

Oct 30, 2002

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that clerks and
mailhandlers were exposed to improperly accepted and transported
hazardous, restricted or
perishable items.:
In the following instances, clerks and mailhandlers were not protected
from potential
exposures to improperly shipped mail as classified under the United States
Postal
Service's Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail from
area postal
offices and the processing and distribution facility where the hazardous,
restricted and
perishable items were mixed with the envelopes and packages.
a)Culling Belt - On or about June 2002, a mailhandler picked up an
improperly
shipped package containing a vial that was labelled as a test for Lyme
Disease.
b)Culling Belt - On or about July 06,2002, a mailhandler was potentially
exposed
to blood when an improperly shipped envelope containing a blood sample was
found mixed in the mail stream prior to passing through the rollers.
c)Opening Unit - On or about June 2002, a supervisor improperly hand
carried
packages containing oil sample jars from the Target Mail Hamper to the Main
Rack where clerks worked.
d)Opening Unit - On or about July 2002, a mailhandler found an improperly
shipped chemical specimen package that came in clear plastic marked "Chain
of
Custody" mixed in with the mail stream.
e)Opening Unit - On or about July 2 to September 10, 2002, mailhandlers
have
been continuously exposed or potentially exposed to improperly shipped
items
destined for a lab in Augusta marked "STD" specimens from Albion, Bangor,
Old
Town, Presque Isle and Waterville.
f)Opening Unit - On or about July 2 to September 10, 2002, mailhandlers
have
been continuously exposed to damaged and leaking water samples.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method correct
this hazard is:
Train personnel, such as but not limited to mail clerks from the area
postal offices and
transporters, processing and distribution personnel at all levels to
comply with the standards,
regulations, policies and procedures in acceptance of, transporting and
handling of hazardous,
restricted or perishable items.
A section of the training is to include a review and enforcement of the
following:
1.The facility's own hazardous or perishable items programs; and
2.The supervisory responsibility of having Publication 52 - Acceptance of
Hazardous,
Restricted, or Perishable Matter and Handbook EL 812 - Hazardous Material,
distributed
to all employees whose duties require acceptance of and handling
hazardous, restricted
or perishable items.

Issued

Sep 27, 2002

Abate by

Oct 30, 2002

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to untrained or inadequately trained personnel improperly or
did not investigate
mail considered suspicious or having questionable labelling. :
In the following instances, untrained or inadequately trained personnel
improperly or did
not  investigated mail items considered suspicious or having questionable
labelling:
a)Culling Belt - On or about July 6, 2002, the procedures for
investigating a letter
containing suspicious spilled white powder were not followed.
b)Opening Unit and Sawtooth - On or about April 2002, an item identified
with the
words "liquor" were lined out was not investigated and improperly shipped.
c)Opening Unit and Sawtooth - On or about June 12, 2002, an expediter did
not
investigate and improperly transferred an item marked "Kahlua", which is a
liquor, from the Opening Unit to a hamper with mailable items.
d)Opening Unit and Sawtooth - On or about September 10, 2002, an item from
Ohio with the words "liquor" were lined out was improperly investigated and
improperly re-shipped.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method correct
this hazard is:
Train personnel, such as but not limited to mail clerks from the area
postal offices and
processing and distribution personnel at all levels shall to comply with
standards, regulations,
policies, procedures with items considered suspicious or having
questionable labelling.
A section of the training is to include a review and enforcement of the
following:
1.The facility's own hazardous, restricted or perishable items program: and
2.The supervisory responsibility of having Publication 52 - Acceptance of
Hazardous,
Restricted, or Perishable Matter and Handbook EL 812 - Hazardous Material,
distributed
to all employees whose duties may require acceptance or handling of
hazardous or
perishable items.