SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The United States Department of Labor is investigating two local post offices following two reports of serious workplace injuries, including a concussion and the amputation of a finger.
In a court order issued last week, Magistrate Judge Jeremy Peterson gave the department permission to conduct inspections at the post office on Industrial Blvd in West Sacramento, as well as the office on Sierra Gardens Drive in Roseville following two reports to OSHA’s Oakland office.
In the reports, postal officials said a mail carrier at the Roseville office was hospitalized overnight for a heat-related illness after working in the sun all day. Similar conditions were reported at the West Sacramento location, with heat-generating equipment and no AC bringing the interior of the facility to 85-90 degrees as employees made repetitive motions – creating a risk that they could pass out.
Following the reports, OSHA director Matthew Kuzemchak ordered inspections into both facilities, but when his underlings arrived to conduct them on July 6, they were barred entry from lawyers for the postal service. They attempted to conduct the inspections once more on July 11th and were again denied entry.