This management alert presents concerns with regard to the U.S. Postal Service’s 911 Emergency Services Policy (Project Number 15RG012HR000). The nation’s 911 system, which has become the backbone of emergency reporting and response, was designed to provide a universal, easy-to-remember number for people to use to reach police, fire, or emergency medical assistance. People can dial the number from any telephone in any location, without having to look up a specific phone number, and the system routes calls to the nearest public safety agency communications center, thereby facilitating a quick and accurate response to emergencies.
According to the Postal Service’s national emergency services policy, when a medical emergency occurs the recommended procedure is to notify Postal Service security or another designee, who will then call 911. The Bay-Valley District facility policy required a supervisor or an employee (if the supervisor is not in the immediate area) to call the postal police.
The Postal Service’s response dated January 12, 2015,5 acknowledged its headquarters is responsible for establishing national emergency medical assistance policies and procedures. In its response, the Postal Service reported that it relies on ELM Section 866.2, Emergency Procedures, and “they do not prohibit an employee from contacting 911 at their discretion as it relates to an emergency. The nationally established procedures are to ensure quick and proper medical treatment for postal employees working in various sized facilities throughout the country.”
However, we identified national policies and procedures inconsistent with this statement and the local policy in the Bay-Valley District specified that only postal police should contact 911. In addition, according to district and information technology managers, it is not possible to dial 911 from some telephones within the Bay-Valley District facility. The Postal Service’s response stated that “postal police officers and OHS personnel are trained in emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.”
Conclusion
The Postal Service’s emergency services procedures are inconsistent and need revision to ensure there is clear and consistent guidance for handling medical emergencies. Current policies could lead to delayed communication with emergency services that may result in longer response times, confusion, and delayed medical treatment, possibly resulting in more serious injury or death. In addition, these practices could lead to grievances and lawsuits against the Postal Service.
On November 21, 2014, the director, Industrial Relations for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), sent a letter to the Postal Service’s vice president, Labor Relations, requesting information regarding the Postal Service’s emergency services policies and procedures.
Recommendations
We recommend the chief human resources officer and executive vice president:
1. Communicate interim guidance to all employees to call 911 immediately in the event of a medical emergency.
2. Require all areas and districts to make their emergency services policy consistent with the revised national policy.
We recommend the chief information officer and executive vice president:
3. Require all information technology managers to review telephone system access to emergency services and modify the telephone system to give employees the ability to call 911.
So let Me get this straight. A person is having a heart attack And were going to WAIT ! NOT ON MY WATCH . My P+DC has NO Police, Try finding a manager, We had an MERT But most have been excess ed OUT! . Standing orders with My coworkers MAKE THE CALL, We`ll kibitz later . Twenty years in this building , Two deaths, At least Three saved That were flat lined .
In My thirty years with the Ole PO , I Have never seen so much Incompetence in Management .
Worse comes to worse….call Omar!
they should also tell po mismanagers to call 911 first……instead of them looking for their badge to punch them of the clock. keep buying UPS & FDX stock kiddies….way better than apwu crummy yearly 1% increase.