OSHA Cites Postal Facility in Vermont

The U.S. Postal Service mail processing facility is facing $44,250 in fines for what are being called “willful and serious” workplace safety violations.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that after a May visit to the facility by safety inspectors, officials were told of the need to protect workers from moving parts in a mail sorting machine, which could have caused cuts or broken bones.

That violation was not corrected, OSHA said.

Inspectors also found that employees and supervisors were handling and cleaning up spills of unknown materials without proper respiratory protection.

OSHA defines willful and serious violations as “one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to” safety requirements.

No injuries have been reported because of the violations, said OSHA area Director Rosemarie Ohar.

The post office was issued two citations for the alleged violations, discovered after a complaint from an employee.

The White River Junction has 15 business days to answer the citations.