HIPP
Postal Service, at the insistence of the NALC, and because of many OSHA
citations throughout the country, has implemented its own Heat Illness Prevention Program (HIPP), which requires annual training for all city letter carriers
and their supervisors. From 2015–2018, the Postal Service reported that a total
of 2000 carriers suffered heat-related medical problems.
The goal of this program is to keep letter carriers safe by helping them understand the early signs of heat stress, to prevent serious injury and even death.
This program will not work if it’s not followed, so shop stewards should ensure
that the program is applied. The HIPP can be found on the NALC website under
“Safety and Health,” or through the USPS HERO portal.
The HIPP will be in effect from April 1 through Oct. 31, and at any other time
when weather reports issued by the National Weather Service for a particular work
location indicate that the outdoor heat index temperatures are expected to exceed
80 degrees Fahrenheit during the course of a workday or work shift. The HIPP
requires annual training for all employees, regardless of potential exposure to
heat, before April 1st of each year. Currently, the employer is required to conduct
the training at work, on the clock, so that all letter carriers receive the necessary
information. This training is also available through the Postal Service’s HERO
platform, which can be accessed via LiteBlue. This training covers the effects of
heat on the body, risk factors and treatments.
It is the responsibility of each installation head to ensure that employees
complete the above-referenced HERO course. Employees must complete this
training prior to April 1 each year. Employees who are absent when the training
is provided are required to be provided with the training prior to returning to
street duties, during the period April 1st through October 31st.
Shop stewards and branch officers should ensure that all letter carriers are
receiving this annual training, especially city carrier assistants, who are often subject to later start times and excluded from training stand-up talks. New employees
and employees returning from an extended absence also must be considered, as
they are especially vulnerable to heat because they may not be acclimated.
Plan for and respond to a heat-related emergency. Be sure to review the poster
in your office and ask your supervisor for a copy of the program.
Don’t let your guard down while delivering mail in the summer heat. For the
next few months, letter carriers will be required to work briefly or for sustained
periods in hot weather conditions. Letter Carriers will face special hazards that
such work entails. Regardless of your age or physical condition, avoid overexertion in the summer. Hot weather puts a strain on your heart even without exercise.
Being uncomfortable is not the major problem letter carriers face working in
high temperatures and high humidity. Letter carriers exposed to working in a hot
environment face additional and generally unavoidable hazards to their safety
and health.
Be cautious when you are delivering your routes. Don’t let yourself be overcome by hot weather. Watch out for heat-related problems, such as heat stroke, heat
exhaustion and heat cramps. To reduce these problems, I urge all letter carriers to
be aware of the following symptoms: dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, or dry
pale skin without sweating. Be prepared, stay hydrated. Call 911 for immediate
medical attention if you feel symptoms of a heat related illness.
Safety Captains get started on your summertime concerns. On your next
Safety and Health Committee meeting you should be discussing what actions or
plans are in place in the event the air-condition system fails to operate during
the upcoming summer heat. Such plans could consist of providing fans on the
work floor, refreshments and frequent breaks to help stay cool. When the AC fails
management needs to take immediate action to have it repaired. Do not wait till
the AC system fails to start having these discussions. Very important don’t forget
to file PS Form 1767. For additional information concerning HIPP, reference
the May 2023 Postal Record pgs. 33-36. Always remember you are your most
important delivery. Have a safe and happy summer.