OSHA Inspection: US POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Sep 14, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 excessive heat while delivering the mail. Such exposure(s) may lead to serious and life-threatening heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion: On or about June 15, 2015, at job sites located on mail routes in and around Georgetown, SC, the United States Postal Service exposed employees walking their mail routes ("park and loop") to the recognized hazard of working in excessive heat. With the afternoon temperatures reaching 97 degrees, the humidity up to 49%, the heat index at 109 degrees, and the area under a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service, a letter carrier collapsed after walking his route for approximately 5 hours between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM. He was transmitted by EMS to a local hospital and placed in ICU overnight. He was not released from the hospital until the evening on the following day. The hospitalized employee experienced symptoms which were indicative of heat stroke. Heat illness symptoms reported by other carriers included light headedness, fast heart beat, dizziness, profuse sweating, high body temperature, nausea/vomiting, thirst, weakness, and muscle spasms.   Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include, but are not limited to implementing an adequate heat stress management program with measures to address the recognized hazard of exposure to excessive heat, and which prepares employees to recognize, prevent, respond to and report heat-related illness symptoms. Such a program should address the following: a. Establishing work/rest cycles and ensure employees take breaks in the shade or in a cool, climate-controlled areas. b. Establishing provisions to ensure the presence of potable (safe for drinking) water or other beverages and instructions to employees regarding the importance of drinking it regularly. c. Providing procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency situations and procedures for first aid to be administered immediately to employees in those situations. c. Establishing work rules that instruct employees to report to management heat stress symptoms and seek assistance and evaluation when experiencing them. d. Training managers and supervisors in the proper initial response to employees reporting heat-related illness symptoms, which may include: instructing them to stop work, drink water, rest, get to a shady and cool place, and call 911. e. Requiring trained managers or supervisors to go into the field to conduct in-person evaluations of employees complaining of heat-related illness symptoms, and arrange for medical attention or other assistance as necessary. f. Going into the field to check on employees when National Weather Service heat advisories are in effect. g. Conduct health risk screening training to ensure employees are aware that the use of medications, drugs and alcohol, as well as those with certain health conditions may experience increased risk of developing heat-related illnesses. Employees should be encouraged to consult with their doctor/pharmacist regarding this matter.  h.Training managers, supervisors, and employees in the measures to take to prevent heat-related illnesses, how to recognize in themselves and others the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and the procedures to follow when they or others are experiencing heat-related illnesses. Such training should be conducted annually in advance of the hot weather season and throughout the season when excessive heat is predicted. All managers, supervisors, and employees should be required to confirm their receipt and understanding of the training and records of said training should be maintained.