Friday, June 21, 2024
Keeping mercury out of the mail
USPS is offering important reminders for employees
Due to recent mercury spills in the mail, the Postal Service is reminding employees that metallic mercury and items containing metallic mercury are prohibited in the mailstream.
Mercury is a toxic chemical that even when exposed in small amounts — through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact — may cause serious health conditions.
When spilled, mercury can be absorbed into the skin and emit vapors that can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems; lungs; and kidneys and may be fatal.
It is imperative that this very harmful material is kept out of the USPS network.
Metallic mercury can be found in older thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors, switches and relays. Newer or digital versions of these devices generally do not contain metallic mercury.
If a person knowingly mails items or materials that are dangerous or injurious to life, health or property, they may face a civil penalty of at least $250, but not more than $100,000 per violation; the costs of any cleanup associated with each violation; and damages. They may also face criminal penalties.
Exceptions to the outright ban on mercury in the mailstream include compact fluorescent lamps, fluorescent tubes and similar items that contain minute amounts of mercury in a vaporized state, invisible to the naked eye. These may be mailed domestically but not internationally — including Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office and Diplomatic Post Office destinations.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail, has complete information about mailing requirements for parcels containing mercury. Publication 52 can be found on the Postal Explorer website.
USPS has distributed a Domestic Mail Manual advisory on the topic of mercury in the mailstream. Employees with questions should speak to a manager or supervisor.
The organization issued a news release on June 21 to remind customers that metallic mercury is prohibited in the mailstream.
The Postal Service offers FAQs on prohibited items containing mercury and the Postal Inspection Service has released a public service announcement on mercury in the mail.
Additionally, USPS has released a chart with more information about commonly encountered mercury.
‘Psychics’ didn’t see it coming
‘Mailin’ It!’ examines how postal inspectors helped crack a $175 million fraud case
The latest episode of the “Mailin’ It!” podcast examines how postal inspectors cracked a $175 million mass-mail fraud case involving scammers posing as psychics.
Clayton Gerber, a postal inspector in criminal investigations, is the guest.
The 35-minute episode, released June 18, is available on Link and other postal websites, as well as most podcast platforms.
People
A healthy turnout
Two nurses promote heart health, the spotlight shines on a retail associate and a postmaster preserves local history
Everything’s bigger in Texas — even USPS employee wellness fairs.
Sherry Wyatt, an occupational health nurse in Texas 2 District, recently helped organize the district’s annual spring wellness event with the theme “You Can’t Stop the Beat: Promoting Employee Heart Health Through Awareness and Education.”
Eleven vendors — including the Memorial Hermann Health System and the USPS Employee Assistance Program — took part in the fair, held at the Houston Processing and Distribution Center. The event drew nearly 300 employees.
“There was a lot of positive feedback,” Wyatt said, noting that fairgoers “liked having a theme” — and especially liked how the theme was reflected on the sharp red T-shirts worn by Wyatt and Amy Cheng, a fellow occupational health nurse who helped with the fair.
“How can we get the red shirt?” was a common refrain. Alas for the fairgoers, those were reserved for the organizers.
The Wellness at USPS page on the MyHR website has more information on health initiatives.
Pearl of wisdom
Delivering good customer service recently earned a Florida 2 District retail associate a turn in the local TV news spotlight.
Pearl Carr, who works at the Monteverde, FL, Post Office, was interviewed by Steve Montiero, a WKMG reporter whose “Trooper Steve” segments highlight people who make a difference in their community.
Carr, a 12-year USPS employee, told Montiero she strives to offer a “personal touch” when serving customers, most of whom she knows by name.
“I work for and with wonderful people and my customers are amazing,” she said.
The envelopes, please
To celebrate the 200th birthday of Lorain County, OH, a local stamp club challenged area high school students to design commemorative envelopes to be used for a celebratory bicentennial postmark.
Three winners were chosen out of 15 submissions, and Edward Trusnik, the Elyria, OH, postmaster, presented them with plaques displaying their artwork.
Approximately 300 envelopes were sold.
“The county also put together a time capsule that will be opened in 50 years,” Trusnik said. “It included objects from the event as well as the envelopes with the students’ designs.”
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Fair game
See how much you remember about these stories
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Where will the Carnival Nights stamp-branded Ferris wheel appear this summer?
a) Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, IL
b) Marion County Fair in Indianapolis
c) Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls
d) All of the above
2. True or false: All sea turtle species in the United States are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
a) True
b) False
3. Who co-starred with Linthicum Heights, MD, Letter Carrier Timothy “T.J.” Jackson in this year’s USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign image?
a) Andy the Labrador
b) Cali the poodle
c) Dory the German shepherd
d) None of the above
4. Fill in the blank: Under the Privacy Act, USPS must follow rules on collecting, maintaining and (blank) personal information.
a) Destroying
b) Using
c) All of the above
d) None of the above
5. Where did the guided missile carrying mail deliver its payload on June 8, 1959?
a) Mayport, FL
b) Philadelphia
c) New York City
d) Norfolk, VA
Answers: 1) d. 2) a. 3) a. 4) b. 5) a.
WestPac, Pennsylvania 1 on top in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.19 percent during the week ending June 14, down 0.15 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected June 20.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.64 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.20 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Pennsylvania 1, part of Atlantic Area, ranked first with a 98.34 percent rating, while Georgia, part of Southern Area, ranked last with a 93.23 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
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Keeping mercury out of the mail
USPS is offering important reminders for employees
-
‘Psychics’ didn’t see it coming
‘Mailin’ It!’ examines how postal inspectors helped crack a $175 million fraud case
-
People
A healthy turnout
Two nurses promote heart health, the spotlight shines on a retail associate and a postmaster preserves local history
-
News Quiz
Fair game
See how much you remember about these stories
-
Brief
WestPac, Pennsylvania 1 on top in scanning