Willful and serious violations total nearly $80K in fines

Employer name: U.S. Postal Service, 204 Fairforest Way, Greenville, South Carolina 29607

Citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued one willful and two serious safety citations to the Postal Service on Sept. 14.

Investigation findings: The willful citation was issued for exposing employees to struck-by hazards by blocking and restricting traffic flow in aisles that are shared by powered industrial trucks and pedestrians. The serious violations include allowing employees to operate a forklift without using seat belts and exposing workers to falls from heights up to 8 feet.

Proposed penalties: $79,900

Quote: “Exposing employees to being hit by vehicular traffic while working in warehouses and distribution centers is never acceptable,” said Darlene Fossum, director of OSHA’s Columbia Area Office. “Management must ensure safety is the top priority when expanding, modifying and consolidating working environments.”

Citations can be viewed at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20151818fs.pdf*

Citation 2 Item 1 Type of Violation: Willful
29 CFR 191 0.1 76(a): Where mechanical handling equipment was used, sufficient safe clearances were not allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways or wherever turns or passage had to be made.

a) Worksite: Aisle ways throughout the building used by powered industrial trucks (PITs) and personnel are blocked by containers of mail and equipment, restricting traffic flow. The lack of space around the equipment exposes pedestrians to struck- by hazards by PITs and other equipment

ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED.

ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM
Date By Which Violation Must be Abated:
Proposed Penalty:
Darlene Fossum
Area Director
09/28/2015
$70,000.00

Citation I Item 2 Type of Violation: Serious
29 CFR 191 O.23(c)(I ): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:Note: Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.

a) Southeast end of the Plant: An employee working on top of the conveyor belt on the APBS #2 machine was exposed to falls of up to 8 feet, 4 inches and he was not protected from falls by guard rails or other proper means.

Date By Which Violation Must be Abated :
Proposed Penalty:
Corrected During Inspection
$4,400.00

Citation I Item 1 a Type of Violation: Serious
OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(J): The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to crushing injuries from a Toyota forklift equipped with roll over protection (ROPS) overturning or from the operator falling out of the forklift due to the fact that the operator restraint systems (seat belt) provided on the forklift was not used by the operator. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is for the employer to require and effectively enforce the use of the operator restraint systems provided by the manufacturer ofthe forklift.

a) Worksite: On or about March 18, 2015; an employee operating the Toyota forklift ID Number 38, was observed not wearing the seat belt provided.

This hazard can be abated by the employer ensuring that the seat belt is in a condition to be used and then ensure that it is used by employees during operation.

Date By Which Violation Must be Abated:
Proposed Penalty:
Corrected During Inspection
$5,500.00