(This article appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires covered employers, including the USPS, to record and report information on all workrelated injuries and illnesses that require medical treatment beyond first aid or result in days away from work, restricted work, transfer, or death.
The Postal Service consistently reports some of the highest numbers of cases of severe workplace injuries and illnesses among federal agencies. Postal management can and must do better. In Fiscal Year 2025, OSHA recorded 27,971 on-the-job illnesses and injuries. One of the many ways the Postal Service can help keep workers safe is by improving cellular service in postal facilities for medical emergencies. Being unable to reach emergency services promptly could result in preventable deaths.
During a visit to the Atlanta Regional Distribution Center last year, which has experienced three worker deaths since it opened two years ago, I personally experienced a lack of cellular phone service. The APWU immediately reported this as a safety issue to postal management at the headquarters level, and we are still fighting to expand cellular capabilities at USPS facilities.
A real concern we have had since the implementation of the USPS Delivering for America plan is that employees at several new Regional Processing Centers have been unable to get cell phone service in the buildings, which lack adequate cellular capabilities and pose a risk during emergencies. Improving cellular capabilities is an easy, common-sense solution. Cell phones can be a safety device if you or a coworker needs emergency medical assistance. There could be a serious accident or workplace violence situation where you will need your phone and service to call for help. Time lost from no service or dropped calls could result in very real life-or-death situations.
If something serious happens to you on the job like a stroke, heart attack, convulsion, electrocution, workplace violence, fall, slip, trip, machine guarding accident, heat exhaustion, seizure, fire, explosion, or exposure to harmful substances, you must be able to have cell phone service to contact 911 for yourself or a coworker to get an immediate lifesaving first response.
If you work in a postal facility that has no cell phone service, you should complete a PS Form 1767 Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice, which should be easy to fi nd and readily accessible in your workplace. Not having these forms available and accessible is a violation in itself. As a remedy, you should request that management provide cellular capabilities immediately. We need your help to keep you and your family safe! ■
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