OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Nov 25, 2015

Abate by

Dec 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2): Exit accesses were not at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points:  (a) "Hershey Annex" - At carrier cases C013 and C014, stacks of corrugated plastic mail totes sat in the aisle that constituted the exit access, reducing the exit access width to 24 inches to 26 inches wide, interfering with the ability of employees to exit in an emergency, on or about July 13, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Nov 25, 2015

Abate by

Dec 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route:  (a) "Hershey Annex" - Materials and equipment, including, but not limited to, corrugated plastic mail totes, stacks of bundled mail and a manual pallet jack with a skid, sat in the aisle between the parcel bins and carrier cases, in the entrance opening to the carriers cases, and/or in the opening leading into the "Hershey Annex," all which constituted part of the exit access for the Hershey employees.  This material and equipment in the exit access interfered with the ability of the employees to exit in an emergency, on or about July 13, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Nov 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $3,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(c)(2): The emergency action plan did not include procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments:  (a) 5901 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - The employer relocated the Hershey Post Office (except for the retail operations), including equipment, to the Lower Paxton Township Post Office.  The employer did not update the exit route assignments on the fire exit floor plan to include the addition of the Hershey operations and the reconfiguration of the Lower Paxton Township operations to accommodate the addition of the Hershey operation, on or about July 7, 2015.  Corrected during the inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Nov 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(f)(1): The employer did not review the emergency action plan with each employee covered by the plan when the employee was assigned initially to a job:  (a) 5901 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - The employer relocated the Hershey Post Office (except for the retail operations) to the Lower Paxton Township Post Office.  The employer did not review the emergency action plan for the Lower Paxton Township location with the employees relocated from the Hershey location when the Hershey employees initially started working at the Lower Paxton location, on or about July 7, 2015.  Corrected during the inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Nov 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $20,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employees were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:    (a) South (Rear) Dock - A set of double doors had an illuminated exit sign above them.  These doors had slide latches used for locking the doors to secure the building and prevent intruders from entering from the outside.  The employer required that these doors get locked with the slide latches during times of building occupancy.  The slide latches, located at the tops of these doors, also locked the doors from the inside, requiring that employees have knowledge of how to operate the slide latches, interfering with the ability of employees to exit quickly in an emergency, on or about July 7, 2015.    (b) East Dock - Two sets of double doors had illuminated exit signs above them.  These doors had slide latches used for locking the doors to secure the building and prevent intruders from entering from the outside.  The employer required that these doors get locked with the slide latches during times of building occupancy.  The slide latches, located at the tops of these doors, also locked the doors from the inside, requiring that employees have knowledge of how to operate the slide latches, interfering with the ability of employees to exit quickly in an emergency, on or about July 7, 2015.    The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.36(d)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 314111154, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 7, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 140 Main Street, Irwin, Pennsylvania  15642.     Corrected during the inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.