Stand Up for Safe Jobs

(These notes were compiled by Mike Wright from the Tri-State Conference 2018 held in Pittsburgh, PA)

Below are just some bullet points of the information covered in the Stand Up for Safe Jobs class held at the 2018 Tri-State Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. If you would like to get further information or training materials from the Tri-State, please contact the main office at: 586-228-8090

You can also download this document right HERE.

  • CBA Article 14

“It is the responsibility of management to provide safe working conditions and to develop a safe working force.”

  • JCIM Article 14

“There should be no automatic discipline for those involved in accidents…
Supervisors and managers also should understand that postal policy prohibits disciplinary action that may discourage accident reports or the filing of a claim for compensable injury with OWCP.”

  • Article 19
    ELM Chapter 8

“The Safety philosophy of the Postal Service is stated below: a. Any occupational injury or illness can be prevented. This goal is realistic, not theoretical. Supervisors and managers have primary responsibility for the well-being of employees and must fully accept this principle.”

  • Article 19
    EL 814: Postal Employees Guide to Safety

“The Postal Service is committed to providing its employees and customers with a safe and healthy environment and complying with applicable safety laws and regulations.”

  • Article 19
    EL 801: Supervisors Safety Handbook

“The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace free of recognized hazards and to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.”

    • Medical Response Team: Does office have one?
    • AED (defibulator): Negotiate in local safety meetings, response time for AED usage, last time battery was tested (once a month)
    • Form SF 8 , used for current employees who have had their work hours reduced or eliminated (ELM 550)
    • Every seasonal, lawn, snow care equipment must be maintained
    • 30 Days for a claim CA-1, 2 years for a CA-2 stemming from the CA-1
    • Workers have the right to file OSHA Complaints
    • Back up any 1767s with a statement to the Steward in case supervisor does not address issue
    • Form 1767 (“Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice”) must be readily available in workplace (Article 14, Section 2) or fill out an additional 1767
    • Form 1767 is to be completed on the clock

1767 Rights (Article 19)

    • ELM 814.1

“Employees have the right to:
a) Become actively involved in the Postal Service’s safety and health program and be provided a safe and healthful work environment.
b) Report unsafe and unhealthful working conditions using PS Form 1767, Report of Hazard, Unsafe Conditions, or Practice.”

      • ELM 814.1.e

“Employees have the right to: Participate in the safety and health program without fear of: Restraint, Interference, Coercion, Discrimination, or Reprisal.”

      • ELM 824.631

“Any employee, or the representative of any employee, who believes that an unsafe or unhealthful condition exists in the workplace may do any or all of the following:
a) File a report of the condition on PS Form 1767 with the immediate supervisor and request an inspection of the alleged condition…”

      • Don’t file that you never received a response for a 1767, file under Article 14 (appealed directly to Step 2) that the hazard was never addressed
      • The immediate supervisor must promptly  (within the tour of duty)

Examples of Safety Violations

      • No Safety Talks
      • Faulty Rolling Stock
      • Sharp Edges
      • Improper Lock Out
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Machine staffing
      • Congested  Aisles
      • Doors blocked
      • Electrical Hazards
      • Excessive Dust
      • Fumes
      • Fire Extinguishers not working
      • Ergonomic Problems
      • DOT Violations

What Do We Do?

  • Raise issues at Safety Talks
  • Fill Out 1767s
  • Request Steward
  • Red Tag Broken Equipment
  • Proper Vehicle Pre & Post Trips
  • Follow-up with management until abated
  • Talk to your co-workers
  • Engage in Concerted Activity

Fire Safety

  • Exits Must be Clear
  • Fire Alarms Tested
  • Fire Extinguishers Inspected Regularly
  • Vehicles stocked with Extinguishers
  • Emergency Evacuation Teams in place
  • Fire Prevention plan reviewed annually
  • Emergency Escape Procedures
  • Written Emergency Plan
  • Yearly Evacuation Drills

Direct Action Tools

  • Petitions
  • Mass 1767 Campaigns
  • March on the boss at lunch, BT or ET
  • Members speaking out at safety talks
  • Press Conferences
  • Leaflet the members
  • Coordinated Grievance Activity

Management Safety Talks

  • EL 801, Publication 129
  • Weekly Safety Talks Required
  • Employee Participation Encouraged
  • Insure Being Done
  • Opportunity for Workers to speak out
  • Advance Planning on issues Affecting Workers
  • Coordination with Union Safety Committee
  • Work with other Postal Unions, all Postal Unions are safety
  • Joint LM Safety Committees, more than 50 employees should be once per quarter more if needed or requested. Less than 50 employees, at the request of the Union
  • Unresolved (Safety) grievances may be appealed directly to arbitration and placed at top of docket
  • JSAs should not be done on employees not holding the bid, they should be done jointly with the bid holder