OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,740 · Current $5,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(a): The conductors and/or equipment required or permitted by this subpart were not approved:    a) Carrier Case 85 - The employer failed to ensure that all pieces of electrical equipment, such as the orange extension cord with multiple power taps, were accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.      No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:    a) Carrier Case 85 - The employer failed to ensure that all pieces of electrical equipment, such as the black extension cord with yellow plug ends running behind Carrier Case 85, were free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm.  The female end of this cord showed exterior signs of damage to both the outer casing of the plug with evidence of missing plastic and burns, as well as, to the "hot" prong receptacle.      No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap:    a) Carrier Case 82 - The employer failed to ensure that flexible cords, such as the cord for the Patton Industrial Fan, were used in continuous lengths without splice(s).      No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,300 · Current $1,650 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:    a) Carrier Case Area - The employer failed to ensure that flexible cords, such as the electrical drop down cords near Carrier Case 40, were supplied with strain relief to prevent pull from being transferred to joints and terminal screws.  The drop down on the south side of Carrier Case 40 was being pulled towards the Carrier Case by a strap, which put additional strain on the joints and terminal screws.     b) Carrier Case Area - The employer failed to ensure that flexible cords, such as the electrical drop down cords near Carrier Case 8, were supplied with strain relief to prevent pull from being transferred to joints and terminal screws.  The drop down on the east side of Carrier Case 8 was wrapped around obsolete telephone conduit, which put additional strain on the joints and terminal screws.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $16,500 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:    a) Carrier Case 30 - The employer failed to ensure that electrical equipment, such as the 4-outlet relocatable power tap that was powering a light for Carrier Case 28, a radio and a phone charger, was being used only to power audiovisual equipment as permitted under its listing and labeling.      b) Carrier Case 32 - The employer failed to ensure that electrical equipment, such as the 4-outlet relocatable power tap that was powering a fan with a missing back plate and a phone charger, was being used only to power audiovisual equipment as permitted under its listing and labeling.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.      The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 995658, Citation 1, Item 2, and was affirmed as a final order on October 29, 2014, with respect to the workplace at 100 Plaza Court in Groton, Connecticut.

Issued

Mar 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:    a) Sort Area - The employer failed to ensure that all electrical equipment, such as the Patton Industrial Fan, was provided a permanent, continuous and effective path to ground through the use of devices such as a grounding pin.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.      The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5), which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 1005084, Citation 1, Item 1a, and was affirmed as a final order on December 11, 2014, with respect to the workplace at 201 E. Ludington in Ludington, Michigan.