‘Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds’
Many postal employees work for years with USPS and never have any harmful physical effects from their postal jobs. However, over the years there have been literally thousands and thousands that have experienced long term disabilities from just doing their jobs.
What starts as a sprain or strain can lead to permanent injury. A tear in joint tissue that is not allowed to heal properly before being exposed to the same repetitive stress that caused the injury in the first place can become cumulative trauma and eventually arthritis that will never heal.
Almost no postal employees, or managers, understand that of all the thousands of injuries and illnesses taking place among federal employees each year postal employees hold the record for claims filed.
According to OSHA [www.osha.gov] employees of the postal service represent approximately 45%, or more, of the total injury and illnesses suffered by federal employees each year – this means that almost half, possibly more, of all injury or illness claims filed each year are filed by postal employees.
We found the following statistics compiled by OSHA – an agency of the Department of Labor.
FEDERAL INJURY/ILLNESS INFORMATION
1998 THROUGH 2009
1998
Total Federal Employees: 2,782,764 – [ 865,676 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 152,053 – [ 73,830 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 48+%
1999
No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS for the year of 1999.
2000
No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS for the year of 2000
2001
No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS for the year of 2001.
2002
Total Federal Employees: 1,865,012 – [ 829,043 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 44%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 148,140 – [ 77,731 USPS ]
Less cases associated with September 11 and anthrax
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 52+%
2003
Total Federal Employees: 2,743,063 – [ 801,552 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 29%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 151,888 – [ 70,605 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 46+%
2004
Total Federal Employees: 2,897,788 – [ 775,834 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 143,511 – [ 60,534 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 42%
2005
Total Federal Employees: 2,711,952 – [ 778,304 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 132,772 – [ 56,187 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 42%
2006
Total Federal Employees: 2,698,050 – [ 761,514 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 119,970 – [ 52,329 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 44%
2007
Total Federal Employees: 2,690,540 – [ 754,958 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 114,571 – [ 50,271 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 44%
2008
Total Federal Employees: 2,715,321 – [ 748,135 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 115,232 – [ 48,847 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 42%
2009 Second Quarter Totals
Total Federal Employees: 2,746,972 – [ 725,570 USPS ]
USPS Percentage of total Federal employees: 31%
Total Injury and Illness Cases: 55,295 – [ 23,624 USPS ]
Percentage Total Injuries/Illnesses Attributed to USPS: 43%
USPS % OF FEDERAL INJURY and ILLNESS CLAIMS
1998 – 48%
1999 – No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS.
2000 – No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS.
2001 – No Records Found: OSHA excluded USPS.
2002 – 52+%
2003 – 46+%
2004 – 42+%
2005 – 42+%
2006 – 43+%
2007 – 44%
2008 – 42+%
2009 Through Second Quarter – 43%
FEDERAL CLAIMS FROM 1998 THROUGH 2008: 1,078,137
NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH POSTAL EMPLOYEES: 490,334
% OF TOTAL FEDERAL CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH USPS: 45%
[Does not include the years 1999-2000-2001 for which no records were found – could increase %]
USPS represented approximately 31% of the total Federal Workforce during the years 1998-2008. Approximately 45% of the total injury/illness claims filed were filed by postal employees.
In summary – if you get hurt (at work or home) – make certain your injury has fully healed BEFORE returning to full duty.
Copyright 2009
Rick Owens
www.PostalEmployeeNetwork.com
Source: www.osha.gov
You should have sued the fatty.
About ten years ago when I was still working at USPS a woman accidently stepped on my foot. Her FULL weight went on top of my foot, and she weighed at LEAST 350lbs. The funny thing was it never hurt right away, not even a little bit. During the night after I went to bed my foot started to swell, and I could barely walk when I got up the next day. I never filed a claim even though this happened on the clock. BIG MISTAKE! I am retired now, and that foot still bothers me at times. So remember it’s better to be safe. When in doubt fill out an accident report. Wish I had!