Effective immediately, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 830, Motor Vehicle and Industrial Safety, is revised to reflect current Postal Service™, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)
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8 Safety and Health
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[Revise 830 to read as follows:]
830 Motor Vehicle and Industrial Safety
831 Motor Vehicle Safety
831.1 Objective
The objective of the Motor Vehicle Safety Program is to comply with applicable U.S. Department of Transportation regulations; require safe driving; and reduce potential losses, human suffering, and property damage, while maintaining the efficient delivery and collection of mail.
The following handbooks provide policy and procedures for implementing an effective motor vehicle safety program:
831.2 Vehicle Maintenance
All installation heads and managers having motor vehicles under their control must develop and administer the controls necessary to ensure that the provisions outlined in Handbook PO-701 are followed.
831.3 Driver Selection, Training, and Supervision
831.31 Driver Selection
Postal Service personnel responsible for hiring, testing, supervising, and providing medical services must ensure that only qualified applicants are hired and retained in driving positions. The determination of qualified is outlined in Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement.
831.32 Driver Training
The goal of all types of driver training is to develop and maintain safe drivers. The careful selection of personnel to act as driving instructors is essential to ensure proper attitude, enthusiasm, interest, and understanding of the subject matter. Additional information and policy requirements can be found in Handbooks EL-804 and EL-312.
831.33 Driver Supervision
831.331 Supervisors’ Responsibilities
Supervisors must ensure that the drivers under their supervision drive safely, practice defensive driving, practice personal safety, obey all state and local traffic laws and Postal Service driving policies, and extend courtesy in all situations.
831.332 Drivers’ Responsibilities
Drivers must drive safely and defensively, practice personal safety, obey all state and local traffic laws and Postal Service driving policies, and extend courtesy in all situations.
831.4 Accident Analysis
Managers and supervisors must analyze driver observations, route layout, and vehicle accident data to determine potential hazards, contributing factors, and the root causes of accidents. They must also develop and implement countermeasures designed to prevent motor vehicle accidents at their installations.
832 Powered Industrial Truck Safety
Employees authorized to operate powered industrial trucks (PITs) must be given operator training in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1910.178, Powered Industrialized Trucks. Before operating PITs, employees must be evaluated and certified. They must follow the operating rules and regulations outlined in Postal Service handbooks, OSHA 1910.178, and the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
832.1 Objective
The objective of the PIT Safety Program is to comply with OSHA 1910.178 and to promote safe PIT operation to reduce potential losses, human suffering, and property damage while maintaining the efficient distribution of mail.
The following handbooks provide policy and procedures for implementing an effective PIT safety program:
- EL-801, Supervisor’s Safety Handbook.
- EL-803, Maintenance Employee’s Guide to Safety.
- EL-804, Safe Driver Program.
- EL-814, Postal Employee’s Guide to Safety.
- PO-701, Fleet Management.
832.2 PIT Maintenance
All installation heads and managers having PITs under their control must develop and administer maintenance procedures that conform to the requirements of OSHA 1910.178.
832.3 Operator Selection, Training, and Responsibilities
832.31 Operator Selection
Postal Service personnel responsible for hiring and providing medical services must ensure that only qualified applicants are hired and retained as PIT operators.
832.32 Operator Training
The goal of PIT operator training is to develop and maintain safe operators. PIT training will meet the requirements of OSHA 1910.178.
832.33 Operators’ Responsibilities
Operators must follow Postal Service policy and procedures and OSHA 1910.178, and operate PITs safely and professionally.
832.4 Supervisors’ Responsibilities
Supervisors must ensure that the PIT operators they supervise operate PITs safely and follow Postal Service policies and procedures.
832.5 Accident Analysis
Managers and supervisors must analyze operator observations, routes of travel, and PIT accident data to determine potential hazards, contributing factors, and the root causes of accidents. They must also develop and implement countermeasures designed to prevent PIT accidents at their installations.
833 Safety and Health in Design, Procurement, and Construction
833.1 Standards, Ergonomics, and Engineering
OSHA and applicable consensus safety and health standards, ergonomic considerations, and sound safety and fire protection engineering techniques must be used to plan, build, design, construct, modify, repair, and procure new equipment, vehicles, and facilities. Consideration must be given to employee work environment, equipment, tools, supplies used, and the material on which work is performed.
Purchasing, delivery, and engineering personnel must consult safety personnel to ensure that safety engineering, health protection, and ergonomic considerations are integrated into all activities of the Postal Service.
Managers responsible for purchasing, design, and construction are accountable for compliance with OSHA standards and applicable fire protection and building codes.
833.2 Supplemental Standards
When deemed necessary, the Postal Service may adopt more stringent, alternate, or supplemental standards. The Secretary of Labor must approve the adoption of alternate or supplemental OSHA standards. Therefore, Safety and Environmental Performance Management, Headquarters, must coordinate all such requests with the Department of Labor.
833.3 Supplier (Contractor) Safety
Installation heads, purchasing, contracting officers, and other managers are responsible and accountable for ensuring that all suppliers and contractors working on Postal Service property follow OSHA regulations and Postal Service safety and health policies. All suppliers must conform to OSHA regulations, and a Postal Service representative must be assigned to monitor supplier activities as appropriate. Such monitoring includes coordinating with supplier safety “competent persons” and/or safety representatives. The process of evaluating and selecting suppliers must include review of a supplier’s safety and health record, written programs, training, and OSHA compliance activity, as appropriate to the scope of the contracted work and in accordance with existing purchasing policy. See Handbook EL-800, Managing Contract Safety and Health Compliance.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of the ELM and also into the online version available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue/usps.gov/cpim.)
The ELM is also available on the Postal Service Internet:
- Go to www.usps.com.
- Click on About USPS & News, then Forms and Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Manuals.
— Safety and Environmental Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 12-20-07
