DAYTON, OH — The U.S. Postal Service is reminding customers to clear their mailboxes and walkways of snow and ice to allow a safe approach for letter carriers. Postal carriers have suffered serious injuries related to slips, trips and falls during the past years due to icy and snow-covered walkways and porch steps.

“Several of our letter carriers have suffered broken ankles, fractured elbows, fractured arms and even more serious injuries due to slippery walkways and ice-covered steps,” said acting Dayton Postmaster Micheal Kennedy. “We advise our customers to take precautions when they shovel, too. The added assistance of a clear walkway, porch, or approach to a curb-side mailbox will greatly assist us in mail delivery.”

Letter carriers are instructed to take precautions and to hold mail to addresses where ice and snow are not cleared. But many risk their safety in order to provide service to the customers. “No one wants to inconvenience the customer,” Kennedy said. “But we must ensure the safety of our employees.”

The Postal Service is asking customers to help keep their letter carrier safe this winter through the following actions:

• Customers are asked to clear enough snow from curbside boxes to allow mail trucks to approach the box, deliver the mail, and to drive away from the box without danger or the need for backing.
• Walkways should be cleared of snow and ice and allow enough traction to avoid slips, trips or falls.
• Steps should also be kept clear of ice and snow and in good repair so as not to cause injury to the letter carriers or others who visit the customer’s home.
• Overhangs should be clear and free of snow and ice to avoid injury.

“The best way to avoid injury is prevention. Please help our employees provide the best service they can, as safely as possible,” said Kennedy. “Your cooperation is most appreciated and will help us provide timely delivery of your mail.”

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.