OSHA Inspection: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Issued

Jul 21, 2026

Abate by

Sep 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $15,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(C) Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; and  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D) Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.  a) On or before January 27, 2026, at the United States Postal Service Regional Processing and Distribution Center, 5910 South Brookville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219, the employer did not provide authorized employees servicing and maintaining the Matrix Regional Sorter (MaRS), including Strand 5 conveyor and sorter components, with procedures from USPS or contractor Retina that identified the specific placement of each energy?isolating device required for de-energization, specified the type of lockout device required, detailed the specific removal and transfer steps for isolation devices, or included the testing requirements necessary to verify de?energization. Employees were exposed to 480?volt electrical hazards and the unexpected energization of moving conveyors and their components.

Issued

Jul 21, 2026

Abate by

Sep 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  On and prior to January 27, 2026, at the United States Postal Service Regional Processing and Distribution Center, 5910 South Brookville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219, the employer did not ensure that authorized employees assigned to service and maintain the Matrix Regional Sorter (MaRS), including but not limited to Strand 5 components, received training in the recognition in the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control. Maintenance employees who were assigned to perform preventive maintenance, jam clearing, troubleshooting, and replacement of rollers, belts, bearings, and other components on conveyor and sorter equipment could not identify all the isolation points and electrical disconnects necessary to achieve a zero energy state while working on the MaRs exposing those employees to hazardous electrical and mechanical energy, including but not limited to 480?volt electrical hazards and unexpected conveyor motion.

Issued

Jul 21, 2026

Abate by

Sep 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  (1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.  (2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage.  (3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  (4) Lockout or tagout device application. (4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.  (5) Stored energy. (i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.  (d)(6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and reenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a) On or about 01/27/2026, the employer did not ensure that each employee performing servicing and maintenance tasks, such as changing a bearing and adjusting a plastic flap on the MaRS's strands shoe sorter and while standing on the end conveyor (conveyor C), had performed d1-d6 of the requirements. As a result, employees were exposed to caught in hazards from unexpected start up.