As a postal worker and former president of the William H. Burrus Cleveland Area Local, I have witnessed the devastating impact workplace injuries have on our members and their families. We are passionate about promoting safety and providing support for our members. Safety and health aren’t just priorities; they are a core value. This guides everything we do, from how we handle equipment to how we treat one another. When we prioritize safety, we become more productive, engaged, and committed to our work. Most importantly, it ensures that we return home to our families at the end of the day, healthy and happy.
In our department, we have programs such as the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) that provide essential support to workers injured on the job. These programs provide medical treatment, wage replacement benefits, and vocational rehabilitation services to help our members recover and return to work. We also have the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counseling services and resources to help workers cope with stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. If you are struggling with mental health issues or know someone who is, please reach out for help. The EAP program offers confidential counseling and resources at www.eap4you.com. Unfortunately, we have observed an increase in suicide rates among our members, a tragedy that affects us all. This situation underscores the importance of prioritizing safety and well-being in our workplace. We must come together to support one another in our efforts to promote safety.
We offer OWCP training to help our members when they get hurt. We have trained over 9,000 members. We all have a role in fostering a culture of safety and doing our best to help out the next brother or sister, and we all benefit when we work together to prevent workplace injuries. To address this, we are working with President Jonathan Smith, the APWU National Executive Board, and officers nationwide. Safety is a journey, not a destination. It requires effort and commitment from all of us. I believe we can create a culture of safety and health.
As we move forward, I encourage you to take an active role in promoting safety and health in your workplace. Report hazards with a PS Form 1767, speak up if you see something wrong, and support your fellow members in our safety efforts. Together, we can create a culture of safety that is ingrained in everything we do. Let’s integrate safety into our daily routines, our conversations, and our values.
Our goal is to establish a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. We aim to prevent injuries and illnesses, not respond to them.
At the APWU, we recognize that safety is a collective effort. Each of us has a role in promoting a culture of safety, and we all bene t when we collaborate to prevent workplace injuries.
While we fight for safe workplaces, the reality is that injuries do occur. We have a booklet, titled “Workers’ Compensation Guidance for APWU Members Injured at Work,” that you can view or download at apwu.org/human-relations. The guide can inform and assist you through the process of reporting injuries, getting claims approved, and accessing benefits.
We understand that maintaining financial obligations while injured is important. If you are injured at work, we want you to know your rights on how you can properly file an injury claim. Prioritizing safety is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart approach. Let’s make safety an integral part of our workplace culture. Together, we can create a safer and healthier environment for all. Let’s make safety and health our top priority, not just this month, but every month.
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