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Postal Employees Safety & Health Resources

 
  General Safety & Health News/Information
 
APWU: Avian (Bird) Flu Safety and Health Information (Dec. 1, 2005)

The Postal Service has issued a general “Stand-Up Talk” covering the mailing of birds and avian flu. The following information is provided to give you additional information and to address concerns regarding protecting yourself.

 

No new cases at the Norfolk P&DC Monitoring continues


July 1, 2005         
To Norfolk Processing and Distribution Center employees

Legionella update:

 • No new illnesses; 
• Confirmed test results from all areas indicate no detection of Legionella-like organisms;
 • Domestic water supply testing continues as recommended by OSHA

 Our efforts to restore normal conditions at the Norfolk P&DC are continuing.  As we proceed with this work, we will share information about our progress with you.  Here’s the latest:

 • The Virginia Department of Public Health has not identified any new cases of Legionnaires’ disease beyond the first two.  The Department is continuing to monitor the health of facility employees. 

• The confirmed test results of the post-sanitization sample taken from room 222 (a women’s restroom used by the Inspection Service) and the second week’s testing of the facility’s domestic water system (38 samples) indicate no detection of Legionella-like organisms.

 • We will continue weekly testing of the domestic water supply, as recommended by OSHA, until further notice.

Your health and safety are our primary concern.  According to the Virginia Department of Health, there is no evidence of ongoing transmission of Legionnaires’ disease or danger to employees or the public.   However, if you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, we strongly encourage you to report them to your supervisor or your health-care provider.  If you have been contacted by the Health Department and have not yet responded, we strongly urge you to do so.  The Health Department is taking calls on its special contact number from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. daily. 

Again, we thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this complex issue together.  We are working as deliberately and as thoroughly as we can to protect your safety and return the plant to normal conditions.

source: From Postal Reporter Reader
 

Mandatory stand-up talk

March 23, 2004

 Tuberculosis on the rise in some states

 Managers must deliver this stand-up talk on tuberculosis and associated protective measures to all available employees, beginning immediately and repeating as necessary until all employees have received this message.

 A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, cases are on the rise in some states.

 Local health officials are working the community to provide medication, guidance and monitoring where it is necessary.

 Here’s what you should know about tuberculosis:

n      Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is transmitted on droplets of saliva and vapor during close proximity events such as sneezing, coughing and close conversation.

n      There is virtually no chance of transmitting TB by touching surfaces such as countertops, mail and equipment.

n      Early symptoms of tuberculosis can include weight loss, fever, night sweats and loss of appetite.

n      Persons who have TB, and are on medication for at least 14 days, are no longer contagious and can’t transmit the disease.

n      With appropriate treatment, TB is largely curable.

For more information visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/.

Alert! All Trenton Postal Workers you should be aware of the threat of occupational exposure to poor air quality.
(posted March 14, 2004)

After exhausting efforts by the local APWU, we were successful in convincing management there was a serious problem with the air quality in the Interim Trenton P&DC. An Indoor Air Quality Evaluation was conducted and the local has received the final report.

The union began perusing this issue after I received a complaint from a member about rashes and skin problems. Several members shortly later informed me of the same, other employees approached me about lung ailments. With more discussions I had with different people, I was certain there was a problem with the air quality in the building.

There is a meeting this week with the union to update us on how management plans to introduce fresh air into the facility. If you are feeling ill or suffering from a medical condition related to this problem you should contact the union to see what your options are.

Maybe one condition in itself is not the culprit for making someone feel ill, but when you combine all of the above factors, and there is no ventilation system in the building, we are creating perfect conditions for indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome.

The full report and other important information relating to sick building syndrome is located at the locals web page or the union bulletin board:

Monitoring results and site inspections that, on the day of the evaluation:

1) No Air circulation or ventilation was being provided for the facility. The only fresh make up air that infiltrates is when the loading dock doors are open. There is no provision for the exhaust of building or processed generated contaminants;


2) Four (4) temporary heating units in use at the loading docks are not provided 100% fresh make up air as recommended by the manufacturer. This can lead to the build up of both CO and CO2 in the work area during the heating season;

3) Four (4) permanent rooftop heaters, although provided with 100% fresh make up air, can generate elevated levels of both CO and CO2 which are not exhausted from the work area due to the lack of facility exhaust systems;


4) CO2 levels were elevated over the suggested ASHRAE recommendation of 700 ppm over ambient outdoor conditions. Based on an ambient outdoor CO2 level of approximately 350 ppm, ASHRAE would recommend that the interior CO2 levels be kept below approximately 1,050 ppm. Actual interior levels ranging from 2,025 to 2,605 ppm may be conducive to concerns being expressed regarding questionable IAQ;

5) CO levels were from 7 to 9 ppm, which is up to the ASHRAE recommended level of 9 ppm;


6) Temperature was within the thermal comfort guidelines suggested by the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) within the main work floor, dinning/break room and administrative area;

7) Relative humidity was low compared to the thermal comfort guidelines suggested by ASHRAE, and may lead to symptoms of discomfort in the working environment;

8) Facility custodial and maintenance operations seemed to be consistent with good practices based on the level and frequency of cleaning provided.

Based on the site operations/maintenance overview, as well as the IAQ comfort parameter monitoring conducted, the following recommendations are offered to address the IAQ concerns expressed by the facility occupants:

Regarding the Temp Air loading dock heaters, evaluate re-engineering the installation such that 100% fresh make-up air is supplied to the units as per manufacturers recommendations;

Perform periodic monitoring of CO emissions from both the Temp Air loading dock heaters as well the Cambridge rooftop units to assure that they are working within design constraints relative to CO emissions;

Introduce fresh outdoor make up air to the facility to assure that proper ventilation is attained (as per ASHRAE guideline). The introduction of fresh make up air and exhaust of built up contaminants will allow a proper air exchange rate and reduce the potential for build up of indoor air contaminants, including CO and CO2. For shipping and receiving operations, ASHRAE recommend 0.15 cubic feet per minute of fresh outside air per square foot of space (0.15 cfm/SF).

15 cfm/SF @ 270,000 SF = 40,500 cfm of fresh outside air

Following HVAC systems upgrade, reevaluate the acceptability of the IAQ through communications with facility occupants and comfort parameter screening.

If you feel that you have sustained an injury, disease or illness as a result of your working conditions, you must seek immediate medical attention.  Your first and foremost concern should be your health and getting proper medical care.  That medical care should always come from a physician of your choice.  That is always your right!  As Postal employees we are entitled to benefits for work related injuries, illness or disease through the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA).  The FECA is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP). 

OWCP defines injuries in two separate categories:  A) Traumatic Injury or B) Occupational Injury, Illness or Diseases.  A Traumatic Injury is defined as an injury that occurs during a single workday or work shift or a series of events or circumstances within that single work shift and must be identifiable as to a member or function of the body affected.  An Occupational Injury, Illness or Disease would result from either A) Continued or repeated stress or strain, B) Exposure to toxins, poisons, fumes, etc, C) infections or D) other continued and repeated exposure to conditions of the work environment over a period of time longer than a single day or work shift. 

With the recent reports of extremely poor air quality in the Monroe facility, I advise anyone who feels that they have suffered a Traumatic Injury or Occupational Injury, Illness or Disease as a result of their workplace exposure to get immediate medical attention for your condition and file the appropriate OWCP Form CA-1 or CA-2 placing the Postal Service on notice that the injury or exposure occurred in the time frame and manner alleged.  Those forms, as well as a CA-2a “Notice of Recurrence” are the only acceptable forms of official written notification of injury. 

For a Traumatic Injuries, advise Management that you suffered an injury on duty and request OWCP Forms CA-1 “Notice of Traumatic Injury” and a CA-16 “Authorization for Examination and Treatment”.  The CA-1 is your official written notice for the records that an injury occurred.  The CA-16 form is your authorization to get medical attention from a physician of your choice.  Regulations require the immediate supervisor to issue a CA-16 within 4 hours of request.  However do not let the forms delay you from getting immediate medical attention.  The forms can always be issued and completed later.  In most cases the Postal Service will also have you examined by a physician of their choice, whether it be at the Emergency Room or the MET Unit or other contract doctor.  At no time do I ever recommend that you rely solely on those evaluations.  You still have the right to be seen and treated by your own physician and you are strongly encouraged to do so.  Again, you need to protect your rights! 

Unlike Traumatic Injuries, Occupational Injuries, Illnesses or Diseases require the injured employee to seek care by their own treating physician, on their own time and at their own expense, until such time as they file an official claim and OWCP formally accepts such claim as being “work related”.  That notice of acceptance in Occupational Injury cases comes in the form of a written acceptance letter from OWCP.  The Postal Service is not involved in the adjudication of an injured employee’s claim.  Never allow any Postal Service Representative, Manager, Postmaster, Supervisor, etc talk you out of filing a claim by telling you that your claimed condition is “not work related”.  It’s not for them to decide. 

All notices of injury will require medical documentation from your treating physician.  The injured employee is responsible for the submission of that documentation.  Regardless of the type of exposure, the work related conditions must have caused a new (or aggravated a pre-existing) definable medical injury, illness or disease to be cover under OWCP.  Reported exposure to a condition without experiencing an actual medical condition or without being treated by a medical professional, will not result in a favorable adjudicated claim from OWCP.

- Bill Lewis, www.trentonmetroarealocal.com

Related links from PostalReporter.com

OSHA: Indoor Air Quality and Hazard Recognition
Concerns with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) have increased since energy conservation measures were instituted in office buildings during the 1970s, minimizing the infiltration of outside air and contributing to the buildup of indoor air contaminants. IAQ generally refers to the quality of the air in an office environment. Other terms related to IAQ include Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and "Sick Building Syndrome." Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems can be caused by ventilation system deficiencies, overcrowding, tobacco smoke, microbiological contamination, outside air pollutants, and off gassing from materials in the office and mechanical equipment. Related problems also may include comfort problems due to improper temperature and relative humidity conditions, poor lighting, and unacceptable noise levels, as well as adverse ergonomic conditions, and job-related psycho-social stressors. The following references (from OSHA) aid in recognizing IAQ hazards in the workplace.

More Information

Besides being uncomfortable, workers can become ill from the air they breathe inside while at work. Symptoms of “sick building syndrome” include headaches, coughing, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, rashes, breathing problems, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. In most cases, these complaints only last while workers are in the building. Workers can also get serious illnesses because of poor indoor air. “Building related illnesses” include Legionnaires’ disease, humidifier fever, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple chemical sensitivity.

In a small number of cases it is easy to find out what is wrong. For example, building occupants get headaches when diesel exhaust from a truck gets sucked in the air intakes and spreads through the ventilation system. Typically, it takes much more work to find the source of the problem because it is caused by a combination of factors.