Employees (Continued)

Handbook EL-803, Maintenance Employee's Guide to Safety

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SECTION XI

In-Plant Powered Industrial Trucks

[Revise Section XI to read as follows:]

This section applies to all types of materials-handling equipment commonly known as powered industrial trucks (PITs), as described in OSHA Standard 1910.178 - such as tow motors, fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks and other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines. Fuel-powered industrial trucks are generally prohibited indoors. Consult with your local safety professional before using a fuel-powered industrial truck.

You must be trained and authorized to operate in-plant powered industrial trucks. PIT operators are responsible for ensuring vehicle safety and following all safety requirements. Immediately report to your supervisor all PIT-related accidents and near misses, including property damage; they must be investigated and reported on a Form 1769.

A. Vehicle Regulations

• Inspect brakes, steering apparatus, horn, etc., each day prior to using in-plant powered industrial trucks. Tag all defective powered industrial trucks using Form 4707, remove them from service, and report all defects to your supervisor immediately.

• Be sure that all in-plant powered industrial trucks are equipped with horns and a flashing warning light that works.

• Do not operate industrial lift trucks with the overhead guard or load backrest removed.

B. Driving Regulations

1. Do not operate powered industrial trucks in a reckless manner; this is strictly prohibited.

2. Use a hard hat under these situations:

• When working above floor level.

• When working from mechanical lifts and platforms.

• When operating powered mechanical equipment and where an overhead hazard exists.

• When local safety rules are based upon a hazard assessment requiring hard hat protection.

3. Do not ride with any part of the body protruding from the powered industrial truck.

4. Use only the designated truck traffic aisles.

5. Make sure there is adequate clearance before proceeding under all overhead obstructions.

6. Face the direction toward which you are moving and be careful of rear-end swing when turning corners.

7. Speed

• Drive in-plant powered industrial trucks below 5 mph (that is, about the speed of a fast walk).

• Approach all intersecting aisles and towveyor crossings slowly and cautiously. Sound the horn to inform pedestrians of your approach.

• Keep the powered industrial truck at least three vehicle lengths behind other vehicles when traveling.

8. Backing Up

• Check to be certain there is a clear path to the rear before backing.

• Do not back powered industrial trucks through doorways, unless your field of vision is clear.

9. Passengers

• Never exceed powered industrial truck seating capacity.

• Provide securely attached seating for passengers.

• Never allow a passenger to ride on an in-plant powered industrial truck without securely attached seating.

10. Industrial Lift Trucks

• Use industrial lift trucks only for lifting and hauling loads. Do not use them as a means of personal transportation or for raising personnel to elevated locations, unless properly equipped and installed personnel platforms are used.

• Lift, lower, and carry loads with industrial lift trucks with the lifting mechanism vertical or tilted back, but never tilted forward.

• Keep forks on a moving lift truck low (just high enough to clear all floors and low enough to clear all overhead obstructions). Under normal conditions, 3 inches above floor level should be sufficient.

• When approaching or leaving a building where the ramp incline is greater than 10 degrees, turn the lift truck so that the load is on the upgrade side and cannot slip off the forks.

C. Work Practices

• Do not tow more than three empty or loaded containers of rolling stock (platform trucks, hampers, or containers); however, driverless tractor units are permitted to tow up to five containers empty or loaded.

• Do not obstruct aisles, passageways, fire-fighting equipment, electrical panels, exits, or towveyor lines with parked, in-plant powered vehicles.

• Fully lower the load-engaging mechanism, with controls in neutral and the brakes set, when the driver has dismounted and is within 25 feet of vehicle and the vehicle is still in view.

• If the driver is more than 25 feet away from the vehicle that remains in view, or if the vehicle is not in the driver's view, consider the vehicle unattended.

• When vehicles are to be left unattended, lower the load-engaging mechanism, put all controls in neutral, shut off the power, set the brakes, and remove the ignition key.

• Inspect trailers and trucks that are entered by in-plant powered vehicles or conveyors to ensure that the flooring appears capable of handling the load and that the trailer is prevented from rolling by wheel chocks or positive-locking parking devices.

• Inspect dock plates to ensure that they are capable of handling the load and are properly seated on the bed of the truck.

• Use the proper hooks and coupling devices for towing. Do not use your hand to hold equipment being towed.

• Never use propane-powered equipment in poorly ventilated spaces, such as in a trailer.

D. Maintenance

• Repair trucks only if you are authorized to do so. (Only authorized modifications are to be installed in powered industrial equipment.)

• Disconnect the batteries of in-plant powered trucks before performing corrective maintenance on them. Follow appropriate lockout procedures (see Section XIX, Hazardous Energy Control Procedures - Lockout).

• Do not get under a lift truck to do repairs unless it is properly held up by jack stands.

• Remove from service any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition.

• Examine powered industrial trucks before placing in service and do not place them in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the truck.

E. Special PIT Operating Rules -12 Foot Aisle Facilities

This section applies only to the following Logistics and Distribution Centers (L&DCs) and Priority Mail Processing Centers (PMPCs) at the following locations:

A maximum of seven general purpose mail containers (GPMCs) and/or Eastern Region mail containers (ERMCs) may be towed at any given time provided that the following criteria are met:

• All aisles are clearly marked.

• The aisle width must be a minimum of 12 feet to allow two-way traffic to pass; any aisle less than 12 feet wide requires one-way traffic or no passing of container trains.

• All 90-degree intersections are required to be chamfered by 4 feet at a minimum (see below).

Chamfered Intersection

• All L&DC and PMPC sites are required to purchase and install Electronic Speed Control (ESC) Programmers on all existing PIT vehicles before instituting an increase of towing more than three mail containers within the facility. The ESC setting is to be adjusted to approximately 80%, not exceeding 5 mph with the Powered Industrial Vehicle (PIV).

• All newly purchased PIVs must have the ESC devices installed by the manufacturer according to the specifications mentioned above.

When towing more than three GPMC and/or ERMC containers at one time, the PIT operator must place a folding tow bar (shown below) between the third and fourth container. When towing a train of seven containers at one time, the PIT operator must use two folding tow bars. One will be placed between the third and fourth container as previously mentioned and the other will be between the fifth and sixth container (i.e., in a 3-2-2 pattern).

When towing containers, the PIT operator must use the brake levers to prevent jackknifing or loss of containers in the train.

Folding Tow Bar

(See Handbook PO-502, Container Methods, for further information on proper use of mail equipment.)

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Handbook EL-814, Postal Employee's Guide to Safety

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SECTION VIII

Powered Industrial Trucks

[Revise Section VIII to read as follows:]

Powered industrial truck (PIT) operators are responsible for ensuring vehicle safety and following all safety requirements. Make sure that operators are trained and authorized to operate Pits described in OSHA 1910.178, such as tow motors, fork trucks, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines. All PIT-related accidents and near misses, including property damage, must be investigated and reported on a Form 1769. Fuel-powered industrial trucks are generally prohibited indoors. Consult with your local safety professional before using a fuel-powered industrial truck.

A. Operating Rules

1. General Rules

• Do not operate Pits in a reckless manner; this is strictly prohibited.

• Always wear your seat belt any time a PIT is in motion.

• Before using a PIT, check the brakes, steering apparatus, horn, etc. Report any defects to your supervisor immediately.

• Drive Pits at or below 5 miles per hour (about the speed of a fast walk). Use only the designated vehicle traffic lanes, and keep to the right when ever possible.

• Never use the reverse control as a brake.

• Never allow a passenger to ride on a PIT unless securely attached seating is provided. Never exceed the seating capacity of the unit.

• Never disengage, cover up, or bypass any audible or visual warning devices on powered industrial equipment.

• Do not ride with any part of your body protruding from the vehicle.

• Make sure that there is adequate clearance before you drive under any overhead obstruction.

• Approach all intersecting aisles and tow conveyor crossings slowly and cautiously. Sound your horn to warn pedestrians of your approach.

• Check to be sure there is a clear path to the rear before backing up.

• Stay at least three vehicle lengths behind other vehicles when traveling.

• Check bridge or dock plates for proper stability before you drive across them.

• Before dismounting, stop your vehicle, place the gear in neutral, set the brake, and turn the ignition off.

2. Lift Trucks

• Lift, lower, and carry loads on a lift truck with the lifting mechanism in a vertical position or tilted back - never forward.

• Face the direction in which you are moving and be careful of rear-end swing when turning corners.

• When approaching or leaving a building where the ramp incline is greater than 10 degrees, turn the lift truck so the Ioad is on the upgrade side and cannot slip off the forks.

• Keep forks on a moving lift truck Iow (just high enough to clear any floor obstructions and Iow enough to clear overhead obstructions). Under normal conditions, 3 to 6 inches above floor level should be sufficient.

• Do not raise or lower forks while the forklift is in motion.

• When you park a lift truck, fully lower the forks, put the controls in neutral, shut off the power, set the brake, and remove the key.

• Before entering a truck or trailer with a forklift, inspect the floor for damage or decay which might cause the lift to break through.

• Make sure that the truck or trailer wheels are properly checked or secured by a mechanical vehicle restraint system before entering the vehicle with a forklift.

B. Warning Devices and Protective Equipment

• Be sure that any powered industrial vehicle you operate is equipped with a horn and a flashing warning beacon that is in working order.

• Do not operate industrial lift trucks with the overhead guard or load backrest removed.

• PIT drivers must wear personal protective equipment as specified by the local PPE assessment. PIT drivers must also wear hard hats when working in designated hard hat areas.

C. Towing Wheeled Equipment

• Use only approved tow bars or coupling devices for towing wheeled equipment. Do not use your hand to hold equipment being towed.

• Tow only three platform trucks, hampers, or containers (GPMC, ERMC, BMC-OTR) whether loaded or empty.

• Attach no more than five containers to a driverless tractor unit or automatic guarded vehicle (AGV).

D. Towing Wheeled Equipment -- 12 Foot Aisle Facilities

This section applies only to the following Logistics and Distribution Centers (L&DCs) and Priority Mail Processing Centers (PMPCs) at the following locations:

A maximum of seven general purpose mail containers (GPMCs) and/or Eastern Region mail containers (ERMCs) may be towed at any given time provided that the following criteria are met:

• All aisles are clearly marked.

• The aisle width must be a minimum of 12 feet to allow two-way traffic to pass; any aisle less than 12 feet wide requires one-way traffic or no passing of container trains.

• All 90-degree intersections are required to be chamfered by 4 feet at a minimum (see below).

Chamfered Intersection

• All L&DC and PMPC sites are required to purchase and install Electronic Speed Control (ESC) Programmers on all existing PIT vehicles before instituting an increase of towing more than three mail containers within the facility. The ESC setting is to be adjusted to approximately 80%, not exceeding 5 mph with the powered industrial vehicle (PIV).

• All newly purchased PIVs must have the ESC devices installed by the manufacturer according to the specifications mentioned above.

When towing more than three GPMC and/or ERMC containers at one time, the PIT operator must place a folding tow bar (shown below) between the third and fourth container. When towing a train of seven containers at one time, the PIT operator must use two folding tow bars. One will be placed between the third and fourth container as previously mentioned and the other will be between the fifth and sixth container (i.e., in a 3-2-2 pattern).

When towing containers, the PIT operator must use the brake levers to prevent jackknifing or loss of containers in the train.

Folding Tow Bar

E. Repairs

Repair Postal Service vehicles only if you are a qualified and fully trained employee.

(See Handbook PO-502, Container Methods, for further information on proper use of mail equipment.)

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- Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 12-23-04

NOTICE

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season: Acceptance of Belated Elections

This article assists personnel offices in administering the current FEHB open season. There has been an unexpected delay in the printing and mailing of the 2005 Guide to Federal Employees Health Benefits Plans, RI 70-2, to some employees. Therefore, under the belated election authority that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) grants to agencies, the Postal Service^TM is accepting elections for an additional 10 days beyond the original belated election deadline of December 28, 2004.

FEHB open season elections will be accepted until 5:00 P.M. Central Time (CT) on January 7, 2005, for all employees. This date is being programmed into the PostalEASE telephone system, employee Web site, and Human Resources Web site. Until PostalEASE is reprogrammed, it will continue to state that FEHB open season closes at 5:00 P.M. CT on December 28, 2004.

The effective date of open season elections will remain the same - January 8, 2005 - even with the later deadline. The processing deadline for the PostalEASE Human Resources Web site will also remain the same - 12:00 Midnight CT on January 9, 2005.

We encourage employees not to wait until the last day (or week) to make their elections.

Remember that FEHB guides are available at the OPM Web site, under the heading "Guides for Postal Workers:" at http://opm.gov/insure/05/guides.

To assist in publicizing this FEHB open season, all installations must post the open season notice provided on page 3 of this Postal Bulletin through January 7, 2005, on bulletin boards.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 12-23-04

Finance

HANDBOOK F-1 REVISION

Changes to Account Identifier Codes

Effective December 23, 2004, Account Identifier Code (AIC) 614, Vehicle Repair Parts and Materials, is deactivated. Offices must record all expenses associated with vehicle repair and parts in AIC 604, Vehicle Repair and Maintenance.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed edition of Handbook F-1 and into the next update of the online version accessible on the Postal Service^TM PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies", click on PolicyNet.

• Then click on HBKs.

Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures

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A Account Identifier Code and General Ledger Account Crosswalk

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- Revenue and Field Accounting, Finance, 12-23-04

REVISED HANDBOOK

Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures

Effective December 23, 2004, Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, is revised with the December 2004 edition of PS Form 1412, Daily Financial Report. The December 2004 edition of this form replaces the August 2003 edition of PS Form 1412-A and the April 2003 edition of PS Form 1412-B. All references to "PS Form 1412-A" and "PS Form 1412-B" in Handbook F-1 will be replaced with "PS Form 1412."

We will incorporate this revision into the next printed edition of Handbook F-1 and into the next update of the online version available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies", click on PolicyNet.

• Then click on HBKs.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

- Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-23-04

CLARIFICATION/HANDBOOK F-1 REVISION

Cash Retained/Cash Reserves Authorization

This article clarifies the article "Cash Retained/Cash Reserves Authorization" published in Postal Bulletin 22110 (9-4-03, pages 37-40).

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed edition of Handbook F-1 and into the next update of the online version accessible on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies", click on PolicyNet.

• Then click on HBKs.

Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures

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3 Managing Postal Funds

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33 Funds Received

331 Cash Reserves

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[Delete the second paragraph in the note.]

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4 Managing Accountable Paper

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48 Managing Accountable Paper and Cash at Offices With Segmented Inventory Accountability

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486 Cash Credits

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486.1 Unit Cash Retained Reserve

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[Delete the second paragraph in the note in item 1.]

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- Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-23-04

REVISED FORM

PS Form 1412, Daily Financial Report

Effective December 23, 2004, Post Offices^TM and postal retail units must use the revised edition of PS Form 1412, Daily Financial Report, dated December 2004. All previous editions of PS Forms 1412, 1412-A, and 1412-B are obsolete and must be discarded/recycled. This form is mandatory for Money Order Voucher Entry System (MOVES) and Small Post Office Reporting Tool (SPORT) offices, and should be used for other reporting technologies (integrated retail terminals and point-of-service terminals) if equipment or power failures occur.

The December 2004 edition of this form replaces the August 2003 edition of PS Form 1412-A and the April 2003 edition of PS Form 1412-B. Upon the arrival of the December 2004 edition of PS Form 1412, the Material Distribution Center (MDC) will discard/recycle the previous editions of PS Forms 1412-A and 1412-B and will begin using the December 2004 edition of PS Form 1412. This form appears on page 2 of the pull-out section in this Postal Bulletin so that offices may reproduce this copy locally until they order and receive the stock from the MDC.

Summary of Changes of PS Form 1412

• Deleted the following AICs: 051, 052, 129, 451, 452, 455, 541, 546, and 583.

• Added the following AICs: 070, 089, 092, 094, 096, 102, 103, 158, 175, 198, 247, 280, 470, 586, 612, 647, 751, and 846.

• Changed the descriptions to match the titles in appendix A of Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures.

Completing PS Form 1412

Employees complete PS Form 1412 as follows:

• Include the unit or individual name.

• Include the finance number and unit ID.

• Include the account identifier code (AIC) number and amount.

• Ensure that all supporting documentation has been verified and the PS Form 1412 is balanced.

• Certify the information by signing the form.

• Date the form.

Ordering the Revised Form

Ordering information is not available at this time and will be published in a future Postal Bulletin.

Viewing PS Form 1412 on the Postal Service Intranet

PS Form 1412 is available on the Postal Service Intranet:

• Go to blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on Forms.

• Click on 1000 - 1999.

• Select PS Form 1412.

- Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-23-04

NOTICE

2005 Pay Dates, Organization Dues, and Leave Year

The following chart lists the pay periods for 2005. For the convenience of timekeepers, each biweekly pay period appears as 2 separate weeks, with the beginning and ending dates indicated for each week.

Pay periods with an asterisk indicate when monthly dues for unions and employee organizations are deducted.

The leave year always begins the first day of the first full pay period in the calendar year. The 2005 leave year begins Pay Period 02, January 08, 2005, and extends for 26 full pay periods, ending January 06, 2006 (Pay Period 01 of 2006).

2005 Pay Period Inclusive Dates

2006 Pay Periods Begin

- Payroll Accounting, Finance, 12-23-04

International Mail

IMM REVISION

Change in U.S. Dollar and Special Drawing Right Conversion Rates

Effective January 1, 2005, International Mail Manual (IMM) 324.22, Exhibit 324.22, 333.2, 934.21, and the International Country Listing for every country except Canada, Iraq, and North Korea (Korea, Democratic People's Republic of) are revised to reflect a change in the US dollar and special drawing right (SDR) conversion rates and the resulting change in the maximum amount of indemnity that is payable for loss, damage, or rifling for Registered Mail^TM items.

Postal Service^TM retail employees use this information whenever an insured or Registered Mail parcel is presented for mailing. Employees must write the insured amount, stated in terms of both US dollars and SDR values, in the designated blocks on PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of IMM 31 and also into the online IMM accessible via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.gov.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

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3 Special Services

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320 Insurance

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324 Processing Requests

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324.2 Marking

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324.22 Retail Employee's Responsibility

[Revise 324.22 in its entirety to read as follows:]

The retail employee must:

a. Indicate on the parcel the amount for which the parcel is insured. Write the amount in ink, and express the amount in US currency and special drawing right (SDR) values, indicating both in figures only. For example:

INSURED VALUE

$100 (US)

68.30 SDR

b. See Exhibit 324.22 for a table showing the conversion of US dollar values (up to $600) to SDR equivalents. To determine SDR equivalents above $600, the retail employee must multiply the insured amount, rounded up to the next full dollar if necessary, by the conversion factor of 0.6830.

Note: The conversion of US dollars into SDR equivalents is based on the following formulas:

1 US $ = 0.6830 SDR 1 SDR = $1.46 (1.4642)

c. Enter the insured number, insured amount, and SDR equivalent on PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72.

Exhibit 324.22

Conversion Table: US Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)

[Revise Exhibit 324.22 by inserting the new conversion formulas before the table as well as the new table to read as follows:]

1 US $ = 0.6830 SDR 1 SDR = $1.46 [1.4642]