– In West Palm Beach Florida, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the U.S. Postal Service for eight alleged safety violations. Proposed penalties total $164,200.
Six repeat violations with penalties totaling $155,200 include exposing workers to fall and electrical hazards by requiring them to climb a ladder and reach over with a wooden pole in order to use disconnect switches for battery chargers; incorrectly labeling containers used to store waste oil and solvents in the battery and oil waste room; and failing to perform monthly inspections with certification records of the hoist chain on the overhead crane that moved batteries weighing up to 3,000 pounds.
According to Cindy Coe, OHSA’s regional service administrator in Atlantis,
“The Postal Service has been cited by OSHA at other locations for these same violations, and we will not tolerate this type of disregard for employees’ safety and health.”
These types of citations can easily be avoided with safety training which will not only save lives but avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and lawsuits.
Agency’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
