Background Postal Service employees who sustain a work-related injury or occupational disease are covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). These benefits include wage-loss compensation, medical and rehabilitation services, and death benefit payments to surviving dependents. The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Program has the exclusive authority to administer, implement, and…
Background A post office suspension occurs when the U.S. Postal Service temporarily stops operations at a Postal Service-operated retail facility. A facility may be suspended due to a natural disaster, termination of a lease or rental agreement, lack of qualified personnel to operate the office, irreparable or severe damage to the retail facility, or the…
Background The U.S. Postal Service operates over 29,000 retail facilities, which provide postage, products, and services to patrons in all areas and communities in the United States. To ensure these facilities are safe for both customers and employees, the Postal Service provides preventive maintenance and repair resources for their upkeep. This includes employee workhours to…
Background This is a follow-up to our Effectiveness of the Postal Service’s Efforts to Reduce Non-Career Employee Turnover audit issued February 12, 2020. The Postal Service relies on non-career employees to supplement its regular workforce. Non-career employees are temporary workers who do not receive the same employee benefits as career employees and are not always…
Background The U.S. Postal Service is replacing its aging mail delivery vehicle fleet with Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs). The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) when evaluating major federal acquisitions that could significantly affect the environment – such as that for NGDVs. The Postal…
Background The Plant Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) process enables payment and mail verification at an originating U.S. Postal Service facility for mail that a customer transports to a destination Postal Service facility. Mailings can be paid and verified using manual processes and forms rather than electronic methods. Such manual processes require Postal Service employees at…
Background The U.S Postal Service contracts with suppliers that operate highway contract routes (HCR) to transport mail and equipment between plants, post offices, or other designated points that receive or dispatch mail. HCRs made up the largest single group of transportation services used by the Postal Service in fiscal year (FY) 2022. The Postal Service…
Background The Safety and Health Program is intended to provide guidance through effective training to support and sustain the U.S. Postal Service’s work environment. Industrial accidents involve personal injuries as well as property damage that can include motor vehicle damage under certain conditions. Nationwide, most industrial accidents involved mail carriers assigned to retail and delivery…
