January 12, 2026
(This article appeared in the January/February 2026 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
As postal workers, we keep this country connected. But no matter how much pressure management applies or how heavy mail volume becomes, our safety is nonnegotiable. The APWU has always fought to protect postal workers from preventable hazards, and the most serious areas where we continue that fight are machine guarding, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and conveyor safety. Management often cuts corners, ignores hazards, or fails to maintain basic safety precautions, and postal workers pay the price.
Machine Guarding:
Machine guards prevent catastrophic injuries, amputations, and fatalities. That is why the union demands, and USPS policy requires, that no employee operate any machine with a missing, loose, or defective guard. Management must take a machine out of service immediately if a guard is damaged or removed. If they do not, you have the right and obligation to refuse unsafe work. Management must repair or replace the guard before the equipment is returned to operation. No production quota, dispatch deadline, or managerial directive is more important than a worker’s life. Conveyors:
Postal conveyors are among the most dangerous systems in postal facilities. They are powerful, move fast, and create pinch points and other hazards that can cause devastating injuries. Too often, management pressures employees to “clear it quick” or “just reach in and fi x it,” creating opportunities for tragedy.
Our position is simple and unwavering: if a conveyor jams, STOP it. LOCK it out. Then clear it safely. No employee should ever reach into a moving belt, wipe down, or clear debris while the equipment is running.
Walking on or crossing over conveyors without designated walkways is unacceptable. If the facility has not provided safe access, the union will demand corrective action.
Lockout/Tagout:
Unexpected energization – when a machine starts up during maintenance or inspection – remains a leading cause of severe workplace injuries. LOTO is the strongest protection workers have against these hazards.
The APWU insists that only trained and authorized employees should perform LOTO procedures.
Key expectations that we enforce:
- Each employee doing service work must apply their own personal lock.
- No one, management included, may remove another worker’s lock.
- All forms of energy (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, gravity, stored energy) must be completely controlled before work begins.
- Verification of isolation is mandatory.
- If LOTO cannot be performed as required, then the job cannot proceed, no matter what management says.
Your Right to a Safe Workplace
Hazards, missing guards, malfunctioning equipment, and unsafe instructions must be reported to management and the union immediately. When required, equipment must be tagged out of service. Workers should never operate machinery labeled as unsafe or “out of order.”
The APWU has secured contractual rights, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protections, and national policies that empower you to refuse unsafe work without fear of retaliation. If management retaliates, your union will stand with you every step of the way.
To keep you safe, management must:
- Maintain all machine guards and safety devices.
- Provide proper LOTO equipment and training.
- Review and correct hazardous conveyor designs and access points.
- Address safety complaints promptly.
- Communicate hazards transparently.
When management fails to meet these responsibilities, we should use resources like grievances and PS Form 1767 to hold them accountable.
Building a Culture of Safety
Our strength comes from our solidarity. Every time a worker refuses unsafe instructions, a steward fi les a grievance, or a postal worker challenges management’s negligence, we reinforce a culture where safety is not an afterthought – it is the foundation of the workplace.
We provide essential services, but we must never sacrifice our well-being for the sake of speed or convenience.
The APWU will continue to fight for safe jobs, because every worker deserves to go home healthy and safe. If you encounter hazards or need union support, contact your representative immediately. ■ JANUARY–
