Employees
HANDBOOK EL-803 REVISION
Safety Procedures for Maintenance Employees
Effective April 14, 2005, Handbook EL-803, Maintenance
Employee's Guide to Safety, is revised to update policies and procedures
for general safety, fire prevention and protection, machine work, and
battery recharging operations. These revisions are a result of changes
in Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and Postal
ServiceTM policies.
We will incorporate these revisions into the next
printed edition of Handbook EL-803 and into the next update of the online
version accessible on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site.
• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
• Under "Essential Links" in the
left-hand column, click on References.
• Under "References" in the right-hand
column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.
• Then click on HBKs.
Handbook EL-803, Maintenance Employee's Guide
to Safety
* * * * *
Introduction
* * * * *
B. Reporting Unsafe Conditions
or Acts
[Delete the first paragraph.]
* * * * *
Section I General Safety Rules
* * * * *
B. Operating Equipment, Machinery,
and Tools
* * * * *
[Revise the last bulleted item to read as follows:]
• Using compressed air to blow dust, dirt,
or debris off yourself or anyone else is extremely hazardous and not allowed.
* * * * *
Section II Fire Prevention
and Protection
* * * * *
B. Emergency Evacuations
* * * * *
[Revise the third bullet to read as follows:]
• Be familiar with your workplace's evacuation
alarm system. If the alarm is sounded, follow the directions of the assigned
emergency evacuation team member and supervisors and go directly to your
designated assembly area.
* * * * *
C. Fires in Your Work Area
[In the first paragraph, delete the last sentence.]
* * * * *
E. Flammable Materials
* * * * *
[Revise the fourth bullet to read as follows:]
• Gases or vapors escaping from the contents
of damaged parcels may be flammable or toxic. Follow the Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) of your facility's Hazardous Materials & Spill Response
document and also follow guidance found in Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDSs) for handling spills and leaks of specific products and chemicals.
* * * * *
Section XVI Machine Work
A. Work Practices
* * * * *
3. Operational
* * * * *
[Revise the third bullet to read as follows:]
• Do not use compressed air to clean machinery
or parts. Vacuum cleaners may be used for this purpose. Follow the most
current maintenance policies and procedures.
* * * * *
B. Grinders
* * * * *
[In the sixth bullet, revise the third dash
to read as follows:]
- At the position that the operator
stands in front of the abrasive wheel opening, ensure that the tongue
guards are provided and adjusted to not more than ¼ inch away from the
wheel.
* * * * * |
[Insert new item E to read as follows:]
E. Biohazard Detection System
Safety is a primary concern during operation of
the Biohazard Detection System (BDS) or when performing any maintenance
activities on the BDS equipment. None of the consumables are considered
hazardous, but they must be handled per the MSDSs and local policies and
procedures. The BDS has been designed to operate in the safest manner
possible, but there are potential chemical and electrical hazards associated
with handling some components in this equipment. The information in this
section alerts you to these hazards. Adhere to all warning guidelines
and procedures throughout the section to minimize the dangers associated
with the BDS equipment. This section outlines the safety conventions.
• Follow all warnings and cautions. These hazards
are preceded by either a WARNING! (for potential personnel
hazard that could result in injury or death) or a CAUTION! (for potential equipment damage). Warnings and cautions tell you about
the type of potential hazard(s) or damage, explain what you must do to
avoid the hazard or damage, and describe what will happen to you or the
equipment if you do not take the warning or caution seriously.
• Before doing any maintenance on equipment
that can be electrically energized, you must perform a lockout procedure
to control energy (electrical, hydraulic, etc.) during maintenance. Refer
to your local Postal Service lockout procedures to properly lock out the
BDS equipment.
• WARNING! The materials that
you will handle may contain chemicals or debris that could cause irritation
to eyes and skin. Wear protective gloves and goggles with side-eye covers,
per Postal Service requirements, while handling hazardous materials. If
you fail to comply, you could receive serious skin and/or eye irritation.
If eye or skin contact occurs, flush with water, preferably for a minimum
of 15 minutes, and immediately report the incident to the supervisor and
the site medical organization. BDS components are not inherently hazardous.
However, some of the materials (buffers, other chemical testing substances,
etc.) used in operation of the system are potentially hazardous if precautions
are not taken during operation and maintenance. While cleaning parts of
the BDS cabinet, or removing used sample cartridges or waste materials,
small amounts of waste fluids or buffer fluids may get on your skin. Be
sure to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Thoroughly
wash your hands immediately if contact with any chemical substance occurs
and after any maintenance. If fluids spill on your clothing, change into
clean clothing and wash the contaminated clothing before wearing it again.
Observe the specific warnings in the maintenance procedures found in policies
and procedures documentation.
• The Postal Service Integrated Emergency Management
Plan (IEMP) is activated if a BDS mail sample indicates a presumptive
positive test result (anthrax is present), an emergency alarm (red light
flashing and horn sounding) will immediately be activated automatically
and the mail processing equipment (MPE) will stop. MPE operators must
notify their supervisor, who notifies the tour manager of the district
office to initiate the facility IEMP. The BDS also communicates this presumptive
positive alert through electronic communications (e-mail, cell phone)
to designated plant, district, area and HQ personnel as identified in
the contact list.
* * * * *
Section XXII Battery Recharging
Operations
* * * * *
C. Personal Protective Equipment
* * * * *
[In the second bullet, revise the third dash
to read as follows:]
- Chemical-resistant face shields (at
a minimum).
* * * * *
- Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 4-14-05
REMINDER
Rural Carrier Right-Hand Drive Vehicle Award
Payments
eAwards is now set up to process the one-time $500
awards that are made to rural carriers who purchase right- hand drive
(RHD) vehicles. These RHD awards apply only to employees who are full-time
regular rural carriers (DES/ACT 710) at the time of purchase, and all
federal, state, and local taxes as well as FICA and Medicare deductions
are deducted from the $500 payment.
With eAwards, employees purchasing RHD vehicles
submit dealership-signed purchase orders, vehicle invoices, bills of sale,
or titles to their supervisors or managers, who keep this paperwork on
file. Employees are no longer required to submit these documents to the
Eagan Accounting Service Center for imaging and payment.
- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 4-14-05
RURAL CARRIERS
Equipment Maintenance Allowance Schedule
for Rural Routes
In accordance with provisions of article 9, section
2.J.3 of the Rural Carrier National Agreement, effective April 16, 2005
(Pay Period 09-05), the equipment maintenance allowance (EMA) will decrease
from 46.0 cents per mile to 45.5 cents per mile, or a minimum of $18.20
per day, whichever is greater.
Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs,
Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part-Time Flexibles, and Auxiliary
Assistance
Employees providing auxiliary assistance or serving
auxiliary routes under provisions of article 9, section 2.J.5 receive
an EMA of 45.5 cents per mile or $5.15 per hour, whichever is greater.
This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA for
the route stops and miles.
EMA Rate Schedule
The EMA rate schedule on pages 27-28 supersedes
all previously published EMA schedules for employees receiving EMA.
- Collective Bargaining and Arbitration,
Labor Relations, 4-14-05
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