OSHA cites Ill. postal facility for inadequate training, safety issues

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed $144,000 in fines for a U.S. Postal Service facility after inspectors found a lack of energy control and fall protection safeguards at the Champaign, Ill., site.

In a June complaint inspection, OSHA found that the Champaign mail facility failed to train workers in lockout-tagout procedures that shut down machines and prevent them from accidentally turning on during maintenance, OSHA said Monday in a statement.

The citation was based on employees clearing mail jams on a conveyor at the facility.

The postal facility also was cited for failing to provide fall protection for workers who cleared mail jams on an overhead conveyor, and a lack of proper guards on conveyors to prevent packages from falling, OSHA said.

The facility, which has 294 employees, has 15 days from the receipt of its citations to comply with the fines, contest OSHA's findings or request an informal conference with the administration, OSHA said.

A USPS spokeswoman told Business Insurance that the service does not agree with OSHA's findings and plans to contest the citations. "We place the safety and well-being of our employees as a top priority," she said.