The U.S. Department of Labor's
solicitor filed a complaint against the U.S. Postal Service for
electrical work safety violations. The complaint, which asks the
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to order USPS to
correct electrical violations at 350 facilities, marks the first time
the department has sought enterprise-wide relief as a remedy.
The request for enterprise-wide relief is based upon the discovery
of numerous, similar electrical work safety violations in the course of
investigations conducted by the department's Occupational Safety and
Health Administration of USPS mail processing and distribution
facilities across the country. These violations increase the risk of
injury from electrical shock, including electrocution. While today's
complaint arises from violations discovered in the Providence, R.I.,
facility, the requested remedy would apply to all 350 USPS processing
and distribution centers, all of which contain similar equipment.
"When the same safety violation is discovered in multiple locations
of an organization, we need an enterprise-wide remedy to protect
workers from the hazard," said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith.
"The Department of Labor will seek other opportunities to utilize this
remedy."
OSHA's inspections have revealed numerous violations of similar
worker safety standards at USPS facilities throughout the nation. The
complaint alleges that USPS's actions demonstrate an enterprise-wide
policy that resulted in ongoing systemic electrical work safety
violations. USPS failed to adequately train workers in recognizing
electrical hazards and how to work safely around such hazards, and did
not provide workers with the appropriate tools and personal protective
equipment to avoid injury or death while working around and on
electrical equipment. The complaint also seeks $558,000 for the eight
willful and four serious violations discovered in Rhode Island.
"Even though it was aware of the hazards, USPS failed to institute
the necessary measures to protect its workers," said Assistant
Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "The complaint filed
today seeks to put a stop to this irresponsible behavior."