Working in the Dark
With the end of Daylight Savings Time, the Letter Carriers on Long Island will once again have to deal with several months of the potential prospect of performing their delivery duties in the dark. This is even more likely if they are assigned overtime, and/or in offices that have a later start time. We have been receiving questions from many carriers regarding delivering mail in the dark and concerns about their safety.
The question remains, while working in darkness, what is safe? There should never be a blanket assumption by carriers that all delivery of mail is unsafe, and mail must be returned once it gets dark. Additionally, management should not ever assume that all mail delivery is safe under certain conditions. Arbitrators have ruled that darkness in and of itself is not unsafe. Carriers should not return to the office with undeliverable mail and refuse to work just because it is dark outside.
However, darkness can contribute to an unsafe situation. Each carrier must weigh each individual circumstance and attempt delivery with caution. A carrier must at least attempt delivery. Always walk where it is safer to do so. If the property is not well lit, you may want to consider not crossing lawns so you can safely walk while watching your surroundings more closely. You also may not be able to finger through the mail while walking, so you may need to wait until you get to a streetlamp or a well-lit home where you can see and confirm the mail addresses prior to delivery. If working in the darkness is causing you to return later than the estimated time established earlier in the day, you should also inform management of this and retrieve further instructions.
Potential conditions where the carrier might deem it unsafe to deliver could be, but are not limited to, not being able to see the steps necessary to walk up and down because there is no lighting, not being able to see any accumulated ice on walkways, steps, or the ground, not being able to see the location of a barking dog who might be loose. It is each carrier’s responsibility to work in a safe manner and management’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment.
If at any time you determine your safety is at risk and you choose to bring back mail, you must let your supervisor know. You will need to explain what specific unsafe factors caused you to return the mail. Always retrieve and complete PS Form 1571 (Undelivered Mail Report), listing reasons for non-delivery. It is also recommended to fill out a PS Form 1767 (Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice). Give the completed form(s) to your supervisor and obtain a duplicate copy before clocking out for the day.
If there are any additional questions or concerns, make sure you reach out to your Steward or Full-Time Officer at the branch, and we will assist you further. Thank you and I hope everyone has a great holiday season!
