OSHA Inspection: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Jan 5, 2016

Abate by

Feb 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  On or about July 15, 2015, an employee of the United States Postal Service  (USPS) North Side Monroe, LA Post Office was exposed to a high level of ambient heat during the performance of his duty of delivering mail to customers at their homes and businesses in Monroe, LA. During the week of July 13-17, 2015, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory indicating that the seasonal elevated ambient outdoor temperatures were increasing throughout the week, and the afternoon temperatures would range from 91.0 to 93.9 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity levels of 51% to 61% creating a heat index of between 100.2 to 105.4 degrees Fahrenheit.     (a) A city postal carrier had not become acclimated to walking and delivering mail in excessive heat. On the afternoon of July 15, 2015, at approximately 3:09 P.M., a mail carrier delivering mail on a park and route loop experienced extreme muscle cramps and vomiting while walking. The employee walked in the heat and direct sun carrying mail and at times working from an enclosed vehicle without air-conditioning. The temperature/heat index at the time of the cramping/vomiting was 105.4 degree Fahrenheit. At approximately 2:30 P.M. on July 15, 2015, the carrier tried unsuccessfully to reach his supervisor. At the third try, he reached her and informed her of his cramping. At approximately 2:40 P.M. another supervisor telephoned him to determine what assistance was needed to complete his route, and informed him to return to the station because he was not authorized to work more than eight hours. At approximate 2:50 P.M., the carrier started cramping and vomiting severely. At approximately 3:05 P.M. a supervisor arrived and asked a neighbor to call 911 for assistance.          The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 917092, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 04/30/2014, with respect to a workplace located at 20 Forest Street, Medford, MA 02155.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 538158, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/24/2014, with respect to a workplace located at 3525 South Cottage Avenue, Independence, MO 64055.