RICHMOND, Va. — A CBS Problem Solvers investigation has revealed that since 2015, United States Postal Service offices in the Commonwealth have spent more than $461,000 in preventable fines to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) More than $140,000 of that total, was paid out from Richmond-metro locations.
On January 24, 2019 the location was cited for “serious” and “repeat” offenses totaling $68,196.00. The USPS settled with OSHA for $20,646.70, CBS 6 learned.
The “serious” violations stated, “electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees,” and “the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.”
The report indicated, “employees were exposed to electrical hazards from a ‘Dayton’ 24-inch circulation two-speed electrical metal fan motor that had electrical wires protruding from a hole without chaffing protection from sharp edges and no strain relief.”
Additionally, “employees were exposed to falling parcel that was received on improperly stacked or displaced palletized delivery shipments from an Amazon contractor without the use of personal protective measures preventing or protecting employees from the struck-by-hazards.”
The location also had a repeat violation that explains that “employees were exposed to fire and electrical hazards from daisy-chained extension cords and surge protectors under the scanner battery charging area.”
The report stated that USPS was previously cited twice for this same violation at its Sandston location, at 5801 Technology Boulevard. That location, CBS 6 learned, was fined a total of $228,647 since 2015 and settled with OSHA for $118,140.