Since 2022, the Postal Service has had 1,332 heat-related incidents. Image: PenguinLens/Shutterstock.com
An inspector general report has called on the USPS to strengthen the training for employees who work in high heat conditions, especially carriers, finding that since 2022, the Postal Service has had 1,332 heat-related incidents, about evenly split between those that did not result in injuries, such as heat cramps or dizziness, and those that resulted in missed work time and potential injuries, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
“Specifically, we found Heat Program training was not always certified or presented correctly in group settings. In addition, we found weekly safety talks were not always documented to show carriers were provided heat safety-related information. Also, Heat Program safety material was not always posted or available to carriers to promote safety awareness,” it said.
In visits to 12 facilities, “We found instances where facility management played a pre-recorded video where the answers to the questions were pre-selected, and some facilities played a condensed version of the video without the interactive questions and answers,” the report said.
The IG further found that at one facility, 39 carriers were certified as completing the training on a given date but 17 of them were not working that day; at another, 51 of 137 carriers certified were not working on the pertinent date. And in interviews with 48 carriers, 16 said they had not viewed a training video within the last year even though records showed that 10 of them had.
A group of about 80 House members recently urged the USPS to strengthen that program—formally, the Heat Illness Prevention Program—by adopting additional protections under finalization by OSHA, and also raised the accuracy of training records as an issue.
Management agreed with the recommendations, including to reinforce to facility management the expectation that the training is provided, and that only employees present for it are certified.
The IG meanwhile raised no concerns regarding training on policies for extreme cold situations.
Shutdown Meter Ticking Up a Bit
Judge Backs Suit against Firings of Probationers, but Won’t Order Reinstatements
Focus Turns to Senate on Effort to Block Trump Order against Unions
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
Hill Dems Question OPM on PSHB Program After IG Slams Readiness
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire