OSHA Inspection: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

Apr 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $59,115 · Current $0 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.   Location: Worksite  On or about November 20, 2024, employees were exposed to asbestos hazards while working to unblock the doorway access between the stock room and battery room and the asbestos-containing floor tiles in the stock room were disturbed, where the employer did not ensure that a competent person conducted an exposure assessment before the work started, to be able to assess expected employee exposure during the operation. The operation exposed and disturbed an area of approximately 31.5" x 34" of the stock room floor tiles containing 10% chrysotile asbestos and created dust and debris when a sawzall was used to cut a desk that was standing on the floor, causing vibration in the floor tiles. Additional disturbance was caused by removing desk portions and desk legs, by dragging a cabinet over the area, and by employees walking back and forth over the exposed asbestos-containing floor tiles to move vehicle parts and batteries from one room to the other.   The employer has previously failed to assess employee exposures before initiation of an operation as seen below in prior violations (also cited under the alternative General Industry 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i):  a) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1713346 citation number 1 item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on 1/2/2025, with respect to a workplace located at 1 Central Street, Norwood, MA 02062.  b) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1640228  citation number 2 item number 2 with an inspection date of 12/15/2022 with respect to a workplace located at 1020 SE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214.  c) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for an Other-than-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1458590 citation number 2 item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 6/15/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 20711 Holt Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044.  d) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1278348 citation number 1 item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 7/18/2018 with respect to a workplace located at 200 South Park Avenue, Herrin, IL 62948.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

Apr 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1101(k)(3)(ii)(B): The employer did not inform employees who performed work under 29 CFR 1926.1101 of the location and quantity of asbestos containing material and/or presumed asbestos containing material present in the area.  Location: Worksite  On or about November 20, 2024, employees were exposed to asbestos hazards when the asbestos-containing stock room floor tiles were disturbed in order to unblock the doorway access between the stock room and battery room, where the employer did not inform the employees that the stock room floor tiles contained asbestos. The operation exposed and disturbed an area of approximately 31.5" x 34" of the stock room floor tiles containing 10% chrysotile asbestos and created dust and debris when a sawzall was used to cut a desk that was standing on the floor, causing vibration in the floor tiles. Additional disturbance was caused by removing desk portions and desk legs, by dragging a cabinet over the area, and by employees walking back and forth over the exposed asbestos-containing floor tiles to move vehicle parts and batteries from one room to the other.   The employer has previously failed to inform employees of the location and quantity of asbestos-containing material present before initiation of an operation, as seen below in prior violations (also cited under the alternative OSHA General Industry OSHA Standard):  a)The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1713346 citation number 1 item number 2 a and was affirmed as a final order on 1/2/2025 with respect to a workplace located at 1 Central Street, Norwood, MA 02062.  b)The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1640228  citation number 2 item number 2 with an inspection date of 12/15/2022 with respect to a workplace located at 1020 SE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214.  c) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for an Other-than-Serious violations of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1458590 citation number 2 item number 2, and 1910.1001(j)(3)(iii) citation number 2 item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 6/15/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 20711 Holt Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044.  d) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1278348 citation number 1 item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 7/18/2018 with respect to a workplace located at 200 South Park Avenue, Herrin, IL 62948.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

Apr 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1101(k)(8)(vii): After the building owner or employer identified previously installed presumed asbestos containing material (PACM) and/or asbestos containing material (ACM), labels or signs were not affixed or posted so that employees would be notified of what materials contain PACM and/or ACM, and/or the employer did not post signs in lieu of labels, and/or ensure, to the extent feasible, that employees who come in contact with these signs or labels could comprehend them.  Location: Worksite  On or about November 20, 2024, employees were exposed to asbestos hazards when accessing the janitor's closet, where a USPS asbestos label consisting of a blue capital letter "A" within a blue triangle with yellow background on a white label was in poor condition, and the employer did not ensure that those who come in contact with this label could comprehend the label. Employees that have not received asbestos training from the employer that included information regarding the USPS asbestos label being used would not be able to comprehend the label, even if in good condition. Additionally, the employer did not ensure that a label or sign was affixed or posted to notify employees that the stock room floor tiles contained asbestos until after the work operation to unblock the doorway access between the stock room and battery room was complete. The operation exposed and disturbed an area of approximately 31.5" x 34" of the stock room floor tiles containing 10% chrysotile asbestos and created dust and debris when a sawzall was used to cut a desk that was standing on the floor, causing vibration in the floor tiles. Additional disturbance was caused by removing desk portions and desk legs, by dragging a cabinet over the area, and by employees walking back and forth over the exposed asbestos-containing floor tiles to move vehicle parts and batteries from one room to the other.   The employer has previously failed to inform employees of the location and quantity of asbestos-containing material present before initiation of an operation, as seen below in prior violations (cited under the alternative OSHA General Industry OSHA Standard):  a) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1640228  citation number 2 item number 2 with an inspection date of 12/15/2022 with respect to a workplace located at 1020 SE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214.  b) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for an Other-than-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1458590 citation number 2 item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 6/15/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 20711 Holt Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044.  c) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1278348 citation number 1 item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 7/18/2018 with respect to a workplace located at 200 South Park Avenue, Herrin, IL 62948.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

Apr 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1101(k)(9)(vi):Training for employees performing Class IV operations did not include available information concerning the locations of thermal system insulation and surfacing asbestos containing material and/or presumed asbestos containing material, asbestos-containing flooring materials, or flooring material where the absence of asbestos has not yet been certified; and instruction in recognition of damage, deterioration, and delamination of asbestos containing building materials; and did not take at least 2 hours.  Location: Worksite  On or about November 20, 2024 a custodial staff employee performing Class IV housekeeping work cleaning dust and debris at the facility was exposed to asbestos hazards, where the employer failed to ensure that 2 hour Asbestos Awareness training containing all of the required elements specified in this standard was received by the employee.  The employer has previously failed to ensure employees that are performing OSHA Class IV asbestos operations are properly trained, as seen in previously cited violations as noted below (cited under the alternative OSHA General Industry Standard):  a.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1637632, citation number 1, item number 1 with an inspection date of 12/7/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 2130 N Kilpatrick St, Portland, OR  97217.  b.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for an Other-than-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1537592, citation number 1, item number 2a and was affirmed as a final order on 09/14/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 3775 Industrial Blvd, West Sacramento CA 95799.   c.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1567325 citation number 1 item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on 5/5/2022 with respect to a workplace located at 300 Packerland Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54303  d.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1369230 citation number 1  item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 11/22/2019 with respect to a workplace located at 11600 E. Washington Street, Cumberland, Indiana, 46229.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

Apr 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1101(l)(4)(i):Waste and debris and accompanying dust in an area containing accessible thermal system, surfacing asbestos containing material (ACM) or presumed asbestos containing material, or visibly deteriorated ACM was dusted or swept dry, or vacuumed without using a HEPA filter.  Location: Worksite  On or about November 20, 2024, employees were exposed to asbestos hazards when the asbestos-containing floor tiles in the stock room were disturbed in order to unblock the doorway access between the stock room and battery room, where the employer did not ensure that a vacuum with HEPA filter was used to clean up dust and debris during the operation. The operation exposed and disturbed an area of approximately 31.5" x 34" of the stock room floor tiles containing 10% chrysotile asbestos and created dust and debris when a sawzall was used to cut a desk that was standing on the floor, causing vibration in the floor tiles. Additional disturbance was caused by removing desk portions and desk legs, by dragging a cabinet over the area, and by employees walking back and forth over the exposed asbestos-containing floor tiles to move vehicle parts and batteries from one room to the other.   The employer has previously failed to use a vacuum cleaner with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to collect all debris and dust created in all operations covered by 29 CFR 1926.1101, as seen below in prior violations (cited under the alternative OSHA General Industry standard):  a.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1640228, citation number 2, item number  1, and for a Serious violation of equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(4), citation 1, item number 1, with an inspection date of 12/15/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 1020 SE 7th Ave., Portland, OR  97214.  b.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1637632, citation number 1, item number 2 , with an inspection date of 12/7/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 2130 N Kilpatrick St, Portland, OR  97217.  c.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1537592, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on 09/14/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 3775 Industrial Blvd, West Sacramento CA 95799.  d.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1368195 citation number 1 item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 11/6/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 5108 West 74th Street Edina, MN 55435.  e.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1367868 citation number 1 item number 1a, and its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(8) under citation number 1 item number 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on 11/5/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 4048 Lakeland Avenue North Robbinsdale, MN 55422.