OSHA cites Urbandale, Iowa postal facility for violations
URBANDALE, Iowa-
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Des Moines Area Office cited the postal facility for two repeated and one serious safety violations.
The citations follow an October 2015 OSHA investigation of a complaint alleging forklift operators were handling unstable loads and driving forward with no clear path of visibility.
The inspection found that employees were exposed to crushing and struck-by hazards associated with operating powered industrial trucks.
The facility is part of the national system of highly mechanized and automated mail processing with a transportation network dedicated to handling and moving standard mail, periodicals, package services and other mail classes.
Quote: “Each year, thousands of workers are injured – some fatally – while operating forklifts. Employers with workers who move materials with forklifts must ensure loads are stable, and pathways are clear to prevent injury,” said Larry Davidson, OSHA’s area director in Des Moines.
Proposed Penalties: $88,000
USPS cited for using defective forklift at main post office in Des Moines -2014
OSHA levies $46,200 in proposed penalties against U. S. Postal Service in Des Moines, Iowa
Citations issued: April 6, 2016
like Alfred E Newman said: “what me worry”! OSHA will never see that $88 thousand. po is hard up for money don’t you know! if you go to the dictionary and look up the word corruption……you will see a picture of the post office.
I need to keep the mail moving regardless of your safety, I don’t pay the fine so it ain’t my problem.
Besides the fact they (Management ) does rush the operations, the facilities that were kept open have consolidated so much there is no room. The isles are crammed with equipment and it is an accident waiting to happen.
There is no safety. Safety is an imaginary idea that
the tools and thugs use to their advantage. They
look the other way when someone works unsafe
but it benefits Management. Let there be an accident
or injury and you can bet that the tools and thugs
will be handing out discipline. Fire them all
Firing all the Mailhandlers is a bit harsh! Maybe a few days off?
$88,000 is not enough punishment for these criminals, 3 million a pop should get their attention……if not raise the amount until it does. in our plant they threaten you for taking FMLA sick leave, I have been to the Department of Labor, wages and hours division………yet they still disregard the cease and desist letters.
2017 Postal Deregulation Act is the only real answer. I would rather work for UPS or FDX………..this place is beyond help! its a lost cause!
typical po. They are ALWAYS rushing everyone to the point of unsafeness, yet they preach safety all the time, but it is nothing more than chatter. They really don’t care about safety til someone gets hurt, then they try to MAKE it your fault when the put so much pressure on the employees to go go go.