Region 5 News Release: 09-909-CHI
Aug. 6, 2009
Contact: Scott Allen or Brad Mitchell
Phone: 312-353-6976

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA levies $58,500 in proposed penalties against U.S. Postal Service in Eau Claire, Wis.

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the U.S. Postal Service's Processing and Distribution Facility in Eau Claire for alleged repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards and has proposed $58,500 in penalties.

OSHA conducted a safety and health inspection and found two alleged repeat violations and one serious violation. The violations included failure to provide powered industrial vehicle refresher training after the operator had been involved in an accident, operated the vehicle in an unsafe manner or was assigned to a different type of truck; and failed to ensure that U.S. Postal Service workers preformed daily examinations of industrial trucks prior to the trucks being placed into service. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to workers from the condition.

OSHA also cited the Eau Claire facility with three other-than-serious violations for improper occupational injuries record keeping and failing to provide proper driver training.

"It is extremely important that employers ensure that safety and health procedures are followed," said Mark Hysell, OSHA area director in Eau Claire, Wis. "OSHA's intention and purpose is to make sure workers return home, safe and healthy, at the end of every shift."

The U.S. Postal Service has been inspected by OSHA numerous times nationwide, including approximately 136 times since 1981 in the state of Wisconsin.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.