May 22, 2026
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the minimum legal standards for workplace safety, but our collective bargaining agreement adds another layer of security. Through the strength of our union and negotiations over the years, APWU members have secured stronger protections that reflect the real conditions we face every day on the workroom floor.
Too often, management puts their priorities ahead of our safety. That’s why both OSHA regulations and our union contract protections matter. Neither was given freely; both were won through decades of worker organizing, solidarity, and persistence.
When combined, OSHA enforcement and our union contract create a powerful system of protection for workers. OSHA establishes the legal baseline, while the APWU ensures those standards are enforced and improved upon through grievance procedures and joint labor-management safety and health committees. Our union contract also has safety protections that are stronger than or reinforce the OSHA baseline and address safety issues specific to postal work. All safety-related grievances can bypass the Step 1 meeting. That means our union can meet on the is-sue and get a solution more quickly.
Postal workers have seen the impact of that power in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the APWU fought for and won critical protections for postal workers. Our union secured personal protective equipment, stronger cleaning protocols, and additional paid leave for those who were sick with COVID. We held management accountable, forcing the USPS to provide masks, gloves, and sanitizer, and to address dangerous shortages.
All of this shows that our contract is not just words on paper; it is a tool that we can use to protect our lives.
OSHA 10-Hour Training Helps Create a Culture of Workplace Safety
Along with our union contract, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a unique training program to help keep our workplaces safe. OSHA offers a 10-hour general industry course as an introductory safety training program designed for workers across industrial sectors. Although it is not tailored to postal workers or postal installations, it is a great additional training to help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. You can find the training on OSHA’s website, an OSHA-authorized online Outreach Provider like osha.com, or through other authorized providers near you. The course introduces workers to core safety principles, workplace hazards, and federal regulations under OSHA standards.
The 10-hour program covers hazard communication, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, emergency action plans, and machine guarding. It also provides an overview of worker rights and employer responsibilities under OSHA regulations. Participants must complete modules and pass assessments to earn a Department of Labor-issued completion card, also known as a “10-Hour Card,” which serves as proof of training. OSHA also offers a 30-Hour certification for workers who wish to pursue further training.
The training is useful for postal workers, as we work in large warehouses, sometimes facing exposure to physical and even chemical hazards. The course helps you recognize and prevent workplace dangers, reducing the likelihood of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Moving mail around heavy machinery and bulky equipment means risks are inherent to our work, and the OSHA 10-hour general industry course serves as an important step in building a culture of workplace safety. By educating ourselves, the program helps create safer workplaces, ensures regulatory compliance, and ultimately protects both employees and employers from preventable harm. This training, along with a strong understanding and enforcement of our union contract, helps protect postal workers and ensures management provides a safe and healthy work environment.
