OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(1)(i): Where exposure monitoring was required under 29 CFR 1926.1101, the employer did not perform monitoring to determine accurately the airborne concentrations of asbestos to which employees were or potentially were exposed:  (a) 3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, MPE Mechanics conducted Class III Asbestos activities during the removal of the Tray Management System (TMS) and the staging Buffers by chipping, prying and breaking up asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, where the employer had not conducted a negative exposure assessment and they did not conduct any monitoring to determine what concentrations of asbestos the workers were exposed to.  (b)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up broken/crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, a Class IV Asbestos Activity, and where the employer had not conducted a negative exposure assessment and they did not conduct any monitoring to determine what concentrations of asbestos the workers were exposed to.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(3)(iii): Dust and debris containing asbestos containing material and presumed asbestos containing material were dry swept, shoveled or removed by other dry clean-up methods:  (a)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, a Class IV Asbestos activity and the material was in a dry state.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 14, 2018

Penalty

Initial $369 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(iii): The employer did not inform employees who performed housekeeping activities in area(s) which contained ACM and/or PACM of the presence and location of ACM and/or PACM in such area(s) which might have been contacted during such activities:  (a)  Throughout Facility - On or about September 6, 2017, Custodians were potentially exposed to ACM and/or PACM while performing housekeeping duties on the main work floor and other floor locations in which some contained broken and/or missing asbestos containing floor plank/tiles and asbestos containing mastic and the employer had not made them aware of all the locations of ACM and/or PACM.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(iii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1172566, citation number 2, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on October 23, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 37021 Broadway Avenue, Matheson, CO 80830.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $101,629 · Current $75,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(2)(i): The employer with a work operation covered by the asbestos standard did not ensure that a "competent person" conducted an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the operation to ascertain expected exposures during that operation or workplace:  (a)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area -  On or about August 24, 2017, MPE Mechanics conducted Class III Asbestos activities during the removal of the Tray Management System (TMS) and the staging Buffers by chipping, prying and breaking up asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, a Class III asbestos activity and no negative exposure assessment had been conducted nor did the employer did not ensure that a competent person conduct an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the work operation.  (b)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks and no negative exposure assessment had been conducted nor did the employer ensure that a competent person conduct an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the work operation.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(2)(I), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1076013, citation number 1, item number 4, and was affirmed as a final order on September 14, 2015, with respect to a workplace located at Sinking Spring Post Office 4100 Penn Avenue Sinking Spring, PA 19608.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(2)(I), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1006785, citation number 1, item number 4, and was affirmed as a final order on April 22, 2015, with respect to a workplace located at Main Street Station 1883 Main Street, Springfield MA 01101  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(e)(1): All Class I, II, and III asbestos work was not conducted within regulated areas:  (a) 3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, MPE Mechanics conducted Class III Asbestos activities during the removal of the Tray Management System (TMS) and the staging Buffers by chipping, prying and breaking up asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, and the work activity was not conducted within a regulated area.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard  29 CFR 1926.1101(e)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1006785, citation number 1, item number 3a  and was affirmed as a final order on April 22, 2015, with respect to a workplace located at 1883 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01101.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(1): For employees who use respirators required by 29 CFR 1926.1101, the employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complied with the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.1101(h):  a)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area -  On or about August 24, 2017, MPE Mechanics conducted Class III Asbestos activities during the removal of the Tray Management System (TMS) and the staging Buffers by chipping, prying and breaking up asbestos containing asphalt floor planks without being provided with respirators, not utilizing a wet method and no negative exposure assessment had been conducted.  (b)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks without being provided with respirators, not utilizing a wet method and no negative exposure assessment had been conducted.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 911665, citation number 1, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on September 19, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at U.S. Postal Service - Evansville, 800 Sycamore Street, Evansville, IN 47708.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 9, 2018

Penalty

Initial $40,651 · Current $12,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(i): The employer did not ensure participation in the asbestos training program by each employee who was likely to be exposed to asbestos in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), or for each employee engaged in Class I through Class IV asbestos operations:  a)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area -  On or about August 24, 2017 MPE Mechanics conducted Class III Asbestos activities during the removal of the Tray Management System (TMS) and the staging Buffers by chipping, prying and breaking up asbestos containing asphalt floor planks and the employer did not ensure that they had been provided with training.  b)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, a Class IV Asbestos activity and the employer did not ensure that they had been provided with training.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 911665, citation number 1, item number 3a, and was affirmed as a final order on September 19, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at U.S. Postal Service - Evansville, 800 Sycamore Street, Evansville, IN 47708.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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

Feb 22, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $50,815 · Current $12,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(l)(2): Asbestos waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, equipment, and contaminated clothing consigned for disposal was not collected and disposed of in sealed, labeled, impermeable bags or other closed, labeled, impermeable containers:  (a)  3rd Floor Work Floor Buffer Area - On or about August 24, 2017, Labor Custodians and Mechanics used brooms to sweep up crumbled asbestos containing asphalt floor planks, a Class IV Asbestos activity and they placed the waste material into a regular unlabeled trash can.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(l)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1006785, citation number 1, item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on April 22, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 1883 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01101.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet), in addition, documentation demonstrating the 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.