OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $7,252 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 from caught-in/between by hazards.   a) USPS Knoxville Facility, outside dock/main facility: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, the employer exposed an employee to a crushed by hazard, in that the employee was not wearing a seatbelt while operating a Toyota Forklift on the loading dock.  b) USPS Knoxville Facility, outside dock/main facility: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, the employer exposed an employee to a crushed by hazard, in that the employee was not wearing a seatbelt while operating a Toyota forklift on the loading dock.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Abate by

Jan 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $5,425 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) U.S. Postal Service, Conference Room: On or about 9-13-2022 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to an electrical/fire hazard, in that the power tap, providing power to 8-battery chargers for management/supervisor radios, was overloaded.  b) U.S. Postal Service, Men's (Management) Restroom: On or about 9-13-2022 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to slips, trips, falls, and struck-by hazards, in that the emergency light was modified to be powered by a flexible cord that was plugged into an outlet.  c) U.S. Postal Service, Women's (Management) Restroom: On or about 9-13-2022 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to slips, trips, falls, and struck-by hazards, in that the emergency light was modified to be powered by a flexible cord that was plugged into an outlet.  d) U.S. Postal Service, Main Aisle connecting to the management offices: On or about 9-13-2022 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to slips, trips, falls, and struck-by hazards, in that the emergency light was modified to be powered by a flexible cord that was plugged into an outlet.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Abate by

Jan 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $82,870 · Current $58,009 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3):Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  a) USPS Knoxville Facility, South Dock: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to a fire hazard, in that pallets of mail were placed in front of the exit leading out at the south dock, obstructing the emergency exit, and preventing workers from evacuating in the event of an emergency.   The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.37(a)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1289696, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 03/12/2018, with respect to a workplace located at 360 Ventura Avenue, Oak View, CA 93022.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.37(a)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1295472, citation number 1, item number 1-a and was affirmed as a final order on 05/11/2018, with respect to a workplace located at 4600 Aldine Bender Rd, Houston, TX 77315.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.37(a)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1499223, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 01/28/2021, with respect to a workplace located at #100 Borinquen Ave, Trujillo Alto, PR 00976.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Abate by

Jan 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $62,155 · Current $43,508 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks were being placed in services after the examination showed condition(s) adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle:   a) USPS Knoxville Facility, outside dock: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to a crush/struck by hazard, in that the Powered industrial trucks being operated with non-functioning strobe lights and back-up alarms were not inspected prior to use.   The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.178(q)(7), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1379205, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/10/2019, with respect to a workplace located at 7755 East 56th Avenue, Denver, CO 80266.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.178(q)(7), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1409769, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 1/10/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20066.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.178(q)(7), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1537755, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/20/2021, with respect to a workplace located at 1675 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94615.  The U.S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.178(q)(7), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1581592, citation number 1, item number 2b and was affirmed as a final order on 4/20/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 24760 South Main Street, Carson, CA 90745.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Abate by

Jan 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  a) USPS Knoxville Facility, mail sorting area: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, areas around the ceiling and the airducts were extremely dirty and had visible mold around the ducts.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s)  a) USPS Knoxville Facility, inside roll-up door: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, the lockout/tagout device placed on the electrical control switch for the inoperable roll-up door did not have a tag identifying the owner of the device.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a) USPS Knoxville Facility, MTE dock: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, an energized electrical cord was used as a permanent source to charge employees personal devices.

Issued

Dec 20, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(i):Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket):  a) USPS Knoxville Facility, MTE dock: On or about 9-14-2022 and at times prior, an energized extension cord was being used in the workplace that had damaged to the outer insulation cover.