OSHA Inspection: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Feb 6, 2025

Abate by

Feb 21, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $9,102 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.176(a): Use of mechanical equipment. Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked:  USPS Parcel Support Annex, 1720 Chaparral Rd., Henderson NV: On or about August 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that employees accessing the breakroom, operating sorting machinery or receiving/processing parcels were protected from hazards created by inadvertent/unintentional contact with Toyota electric sit-down fork trucks and other mobile equipment operations. Pathways and other walking areas were not clearly marked to maintain separations between pedestrians and vehicle traffic.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 6, 2025

Abate by

Mar 5, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $9,102 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(7):Industrial trucks were not examined before being placed in service:  Parcel Support Annex(PSA) Henderson, NV: On or about August 9, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that inspections of the company's powered industrial trucks (e.g.: Toyota electric sit-down fork truck aka FT #10) were completed by operator(s) prior to the trucks being placed into service. Operators and others working in the immediate vicinity were potentially exposed to struck by and other hazards associated with PIT operations.

Issued

Feb 6, 2025

Abate by

Mar 26, 2025

Penalty

Initial $82,750 · Current $40,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(3)(ii)(I): Powered industrial truck operators did not receive initial training in other unique or potentially hazardous conditions of the workplace that could affect safe operation:   On or about August 9, 2024, all the PIT operators working at the Las Vegas Parcel Support Annex (PSA) had received PIT training through the main Las Vegas plant that was in compliance with OSHA standards. The PSA and main Las Vegas plant used the same type of PIT vehicles to perform the same type of operations (the distribution and processing of mail), so additional training for operators between substantially similar facilities is not required under the standard. However, where there are specific differences between the facilities, like the main plant having marked permanent aisles/passageways for PIT and pedestrian traffic, compared to the unmarked PIT aisles/passageways at the PSA, additional training on that specific topic may be required. On August 9, 2024, a PIT operator at the PSA that had not been familiarized with the facility?s configuration and layout of the PIT lanes, specifically the areas and locations where PITs are prohibited from driving or parking due to the close proximity to employees using the restrooms and break area. Because the PIT operator was not familiar with the layout of the unmarked PIT aisles, employees in the immediate vicinity were exposed to struck-by hazards. On August 9, 2024, an employee was hospitalized and sustained permanent disabling injury after being struck by Toyota electric fork truck that was operated by an employee that had not been familiarized with the PIT lanes and zones at the Las Vegas PSA.

Issued

Feb 6, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178 (l)(6): Certification. The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation:  On or about August 19, 2024, the employer certified that each PIT operator at the Las Vegas PSA had been trained and evaluated at the Las Vegas main plant as required by this paragraph (l).  Employer will provide certification of training for all PIT operators at the Las Vegas PSA regarding the following abatement measures put in place following the August 9, 2024, PIT accident: ?The installation of bollards protecting employees using the restroom and employee break area. ?The placement of a red line on the floor marking ?No PITs Allowed.? ?The posting of signage indicating ?No PITs Allowed Beyond this Point.? ?The yellow markings painted on floor indicating permanent PIT aisles/passageways.