OSHA Slams Postal Service with Five Citations, $16,000 in Fines

After an onsite inspection, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) slammed the Postal Service with five citations for violating safety standards at a post office located in Kent, WA, on July 1. OSHA also imposed a total of $16,000 in fines.

Four of the violations were labeled “serious:”

• A tool rest on a bench grinder was improperly adjusted or missing, resulting in a proposed $4,000 fine. 
• Different types of equipment, including a daisy chain, power strip, locatable power tap to power fluorescent lights and a bench grinder, were either improperly installed and/or not being properly used, resulting in a proposed fine of $3,000.
• Outside power outlets were missing weather-proof covers and were no longer suitable for wet locations, resulting in a proposed $4,000 fine.
• The main room of the postal facility had asbestos-ridden tiles that were protected, but no longer sealed and waxed, resulting in a proposed fine of $5,000.

In addition, the Postal Service received an “other than serious” violation for failing to label all secondary storage containers. In the maintenance and janitorial room, there was a spray bottle with red liquid in it, but the contents were not labeled. No fine was proposed for the violation.  

The Postal Service is obligated to comply with OSHA regulations listed in 29 CFR 1910. For more info, go to www.osha.gov.

Within 15 working days of receiving a citation, an employer who wishes to contest must submit a written objection to OSHA.