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During the summer months, USPS employees often work in environments where they’re exposed to high temperatures, humidity and direct sun, increasing the risk of a heat-related illness.
Heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur when the body is unable to cool itself by perspiring. Heat illnesses range from mild to severe and can be life threatening — especially heat stroke — if not recognized and taken care of immediately.
By knowing the signs and symptoms associated with these illnesses and practicing preventive measures, employees can reduce the risk of heat-related health problems.
Signs and symptoms include weakness, unusually heavy perspiration, excessive thirst, muscle aches or cramps, and confusion or anxiety.
Other symptoms can include headaches, fainting, dizziness or vertigo, decreased sweating, nausea or vomiting, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, convulsions, increased body temperature (101-106 F), decreased urination, and blood in urine or stool.
During hot weather, drink plenty of water, dress appropriately and seek shelter from the sun when possible. Anyone who experiences symptoms of a heat-related illness should get medical attention immediately.
14 Ağustos 2012 Salı
It's Election and Political Mail Season, and USPS Approves This Message
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The Postal Service expects to handle a greater-than-usual volume of Election and Political mail during this political season. To make sure this mail is processed as efficiently as possible, USPS has issued an information kit for employees and the public in the July 26 Postal Bulletin. The kit features information on:
Additional resources are available at: Election 2012 on Blue. To help field employees with other questions that may come up, a new email address — ElectionandPoliticalMail2012 — has been established in the USPS Outlook directory. Questions will be answered based on the topic addressed by a subject matter expert in the Election Mail program, Operations, Business Mail Acceptance, Government Relations, Corporate Communications, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or other area as needed.Political and Election mail fall under the corporate “Election Mail” initiative — part of the Delivering Results, Innovation, Value and Efficiency (DRIVE) program. For more information, go to the DRIVE website on Blue. (Note: the website is available only to readers using postal computers or BlackBerries).
The Postal Service expects to handle a greater-than-usual volume of Election and Political mail during this political season. To make sure this mail is processed as efficiently as possible, USPS has issued an information kit for employees and the public in the July 26 Postal Bulletin. The kit features information on:
- The definition of Election mail.
- Proper use of Tag 57 and Tag 191.
- Handling military ballots.
- Use of the Official Election Mail logo.
- Frequently asked questions.
Additional resources are available at: Election 2012 on Blue. To help field employees with other questions that may come up, a new email address — ElectionandPoliticalMail2012 — has been established in the USPS Outlook directory. Questions will be answered based on the topic addressed by a subject matter expert in the Election Mail program, Operations, Business Mail Acceptance, Government Relations, Corporate Communications, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or other area as needed.Political and Election mail fall under the corporate “Election Mail” initiative — part of the Delivering Results, Innovation, Value and Efficiency (DRIVE) program. For more information, go to the DRIVE website on Blue. (Note: the website is available only to readers using postal computers or BlackBerries).
Knowledge is (Generator) Power
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If you own a portable generator, compliance with equipment operating procedures is critical to the safety and well being of your family. Non-compliance with safety regulations and operating guidelines could result in the carbon monoxide poisoning of loved ones and extensive fire damage to your home.
Employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with generator safety tips so that they’re knowledgeable and are well prepared for the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season: -- Always operate a generator in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions. -- To avoid being electrocuted, use heavy duty, outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate to plug individual appliances into your generator. Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating allows.
-- Never connect a generator to a wall outlet or to the electrical system in your home since that can cause damage to your equipment and can be a life-threatening danger to your family, neighbors, and repair crews.
-- Always operate your generator outdoors on a level surface in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes to your home. Your generator needs an unlimited supply of fresh air for proper cooling during operation so ensure that it has a minimum of three to four feet of spacing on all sides, including the top. An open door or window will allow dangerous exhaust fumes to enter your home. Since combustion engines create carbon monoxide, which can be lethal, good ventilation is critical.
-- Be sure to have adequate fuel for your generator and manage consumption by running for only a few hours at a time. Never add fuel to your generator when it is running, and always store additional fuel in approved gasoline containers.
-- If connecting a generator into your home wiring is necessary on a temporary basis, a transfer switch must be installed by a licensed electrician. A transfer switch permits the transfer of the load from the utility company power source that normally supplies power over to the portable generator. A transfer switch will isolate the circuits supplied by the generator. This transfer switch will prevent “backfeeding,” a term that refers to the inadvertent energizing of circuits in both systems. Backfeeding most commonly occurs when a generator is connected directly to the electrical panel or circuit in a home. -- Feeding power into the utility system during an outage will energize the transformer. This could pose a serious threat to the power line and to the service crews who are unknowingly working with an energized line as they attempt to restore power to your home and your neighborhood.
Employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with generator safety tips so that they’re knowledgeable and are well prepared for the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season: -- Always operate a generator in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions. -- To avoid being electrocuted
-- Never connect a generator to a wall outlet or to the electrical system in your home since that can cause damage to your equipment and can be a life-threatening danger to your family, neighbors, and repair crews.
-- Always operate your generator outdoors on a level surface in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes to your home. Your generator needs an unlimited supply of fresh air for proper cooling during operation so ensure that it has a minimum of three to four feet of spacing on all sides, including the top. An open door or window will allow dangerous exhaust fumes to enter your home. Since combustion engines create carbon monoxide, which can be lethal, good ventilation is critical.
-- Be sure to have adequate fuel for your generator and manage consumption by running for only a few hours at a time. Never add fuel to your generator when it is running, and always store additional fuel in approved gasoline containers.
-- If connecting a generator into your home wiring is necessary on a temporary basis, a transfer switch must be installed by a licensed electrician. A transfer switch permits the transfer of the load from the utility company power source that normally supplies power over to the portable generator. A transfer switch will isolate the circuits supplied by the generator. This transfer switch will prevent “backfeeding,” a term that refers to the inadvertent energizing of circuits in both systems. Backfeeding most commonly occurs when a generator is connected directly to the electrical panel or circuit in a home. -- Feeding power into the utility system during an outage will energize the transformer. This could pose a serious threat to the power line and to the service crews who are unknowingly working with an energized line as they attempt to restore power to your home and your neighborhood.
USPS Loses $5.2 Billion in Quarter 3
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The Postal Service ended its third fiscal quarter (April 1 – June 30) with a net loss of $5.2 billion, compared to a net loss of $3.1 billion for the same period last year. Contributing significantly to the quarter’s $5.2 billion loss was $3.1 billion of expense for the legislatively mandated prefunding of retiree health benefits. These expenses, along with the continued decline of First-Class Mail volume, more than offset the quarter’s 9 percent growth in revenue from Shipping Services and package delivery. Despite continued success in generating new package delivery revenue, improving efficiency and reducing costs, large losses are expected to continue until legislative changes are made in line with the Postal Service Business Plan to return to financial stability.
The Postal Business Plan includes measures that require urgent legislative changes, including:
A refund of $11 billion of pension plan overfunding needed to pay down debt and invest for future growth
Transition to a five-day schedule of weekly mail delivery
The elimination of prefunding for retiree health benefits with the introduction of a postal health insurance program, independent of the current federal programs.
“We remain confident that Congress will do its part to help put the Postal Service on a path to financial stability. We will continue to take actions under our control to improve operational efficiency and generate revenue by offering new products and services to meet our customers changing needs,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe. “Moving forward with our business plan will make the Postal Service financially self-sustaining, provide a platform for future growth and preserve our mission to provide secure, reliable and affordable universal delivery services for generations to come.”
The Postal Service was forced to default on a $5.5 billion prefunding payment for retiree health benefits on August 1, due to insufficient cash resources. Absent legislative changes, the Postal Service will also default on a second similar payment of $5.6 billion due by September 30, 2012. Current projections show very low levels of cash, and no remaining borrowing capacity, at the end of the current fiscal year and through October 2012. In response, the Postal Service will continue to prioritize payments to employees and suppliers to ensure completion of its mission to provide high-quality mail service to the American people.
“The Postal Service has successfully improved productivity while removing nearly $14 billion from its annual cost base during the past five fiscal years,” said Acting Chief Financial Officer Stephen Masse. “These operational actions to improve efficiency will continue in the future, but we urgently need the legislative changes noted above to restore our short-term liquidity and provide a stable base for the future. In the meantime, we will prioritize our cash resources to ensure that we deliver on our mission.”
Results of Operations
New products and successful marketing campaigns continue to fuel growth in the Postal Service package business. Shipping Services and package revenue totaled $3.3 billion in the third quarter, a 9 percent increase, on a volume increase of 43 million pieces, or 5.2 percent. Additionally, Every Door Direct Mail continues to grow as local businesses capitalize on the product’s targeted advertising impact and ease of use.
Other details of the third quarter results compared to the same period last year include:
Total mail volume of 38.5 billion pieces, a decrease of 1.4 billion pieces, or 3.6 percent. This reflects the continued decline of First-Class Mail (volume decline of 4.4%) due to the on-going shift of communications and transactions to electronic alternatives;
Operating revenue of $15.6 billion, a decrease of $153 million, or less than 1 percent;
Operating expenses of $20.8 billion increased by $1.9 billion, or 10.2 percent. This increase was driven by $3.1 billion of expenses for mandated prefunding of retiree health benefits, which unfortunately cannot be paid in cash.
The third quarter results bring the year to date net loss to $11.6 billion, compared to $5.7 billion for the same period last year. Contributing significantly to the year to date loss was the $9.2 billion expense accrual for the prefunding of retiree health benefits, which unfortunately cannot be paid.
Complete financial results are available in the Form 10-Q, available at:
http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/financials/welcome.htm
The Postal Business Plan includes measures that require urgent legislative changes, including:
A refund of $11 billion of pension plan overfunding needed to pay down debt and invest for future growth
Transition to a five-day schedule of weekly mail delivery
The elimination of prefunding for retiree health benefits with the introduction of a postal health insurance program, independent of the current federal programs.
“We remain confident that Congress will do its part to help put the Postal Service on a path to financial stability. We will continue to take actions under our control to improve operational efficiency and generate revenue by offering new products and services to meet our customers changing needs,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe. “Moving forward with our business plan will make the Postal Service financially self-sustaining, provide a platform for future growth and preserve our mission to provide secure, reliable and affordable universal delivery services for generations to come.”
The Postal Service was forced to default on a $5.5 billion prefunding payment for retiree health benefits on August 1, due to insufficient cash resources. Absent legislative changes, the Postal Service will also default on a second similar payment of $5.6 billion due by September 30, 2012. Current projections show very low levels of cash, and no remaining borrowing capacity, at the end of the current fiscal year and through October 2012. In response, the Postal Service will continue to prioritize payments to employees and suppliers to ensure completion of its mission to provide high-quality mail service to the American people.
“The Postal Service has successfully improved productivity while removing nearly $14 billion from its annual cost base during the past five fiscal years,” said Acting Chief Financial Officer Stephen Masse. “These operational actions to improve efficiency will continue in the future, but we urgently need the legislative changes noted above to restore our short-term liquidity and provide a stable base for the future. In the meantime, we will prioritize our cash resources to ensure that we deliver on our mission.”
Results of Operations
New products and successful marketing campaigns continue to fuel growth in the Postal Service package business. Shipping Services and package revenue totaled $3.3 billion in the third quarter, a 9 percent increase, on a volume increase of 43 million pieces, or 5.2 percent. Additionally, Every Door Direct Mail continues to grow as local businesses capitalize on the product’s targeted advertising impact and ease of use.
Other details of the third quarter results compared to the same period last year include:
Total mail volume of 38.5 billion pieces, a decrease of 1.4 billion pieces, or 3.6 percent. This reflects the continued decline of First-Class Mail (volume decline of 4.4%) due to the on-going shift of communications and transactions to electronic alternatives;
Operating revenue of $15.6 billion, a decrease of $153 million, or less than 1 percent;
Operating expenses of $20.8 billion increased by $1.9 billion, or 10.2 percent. This increase was driven by $3.1 billion of expenses for mandated prefunding of retiree health benefits, which unfortunately cannot be paid in cash.
The third quarter results bring the year to date net loss to $11.6 billion, compared to $5.7 billion for the same period last year. Contributing significantly to the year to date loss was the $9.2 billion expense accrual for the prefunding of retiree health benefits, which unfortunately cannot be paid.
Complete financial results are available in the Form 10-Q, available at:
http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/financials/welcome.htm
Our Employees Deliver
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For the second consecutive quarter, service performance and customer experience measurement (CEM) scores have improved.
The Postal Service had its best quarter on record for overnight, 2-day and 3- to 5-day First-Class Mail delivery. And service scores for presorted commercial mail exceeded targets in all three service standards.
In a presentation to the USPS Board of Governors, Chief Operations Officer Megan Brennan reported that the combined performance score for overnight First-Class Mail (97.1 percent) exceeded the target of 96.7 percent and also beat the performance established at the same point during the previous fiscal year. Similarly, service performance scores for 2-day and 3- to 5-day deliveries consistently exceeded targets and improved on scores from a year ago.
Brennan said overall CEM scores also showed improvement over the same period in 2011. The third quarter score for residential customers improved to 88.7 percent, more than 1.5 points higher than a year ago. And more than 84 percent of small and medium business customers surveyed expressed appreciation for the service they received from employees, exceeding levels reported for the same period last year.
Brennan’s report came on the same day Acting Chief Financial Officer Steve Masse announced a continuing decline in First-Class Mail volume and overall revenue. But Brennan, Masse and other members of the USPS leadership emphasized the important contributions employees are making to point the Postal Service in a positive direction.
“We are going through significant consolidations and changes to the way we do business,” said Board of Governors Chairman Thurgood Marshall Jr. “Even in the midst of these changes, our employees have demonstrated their commitment to performance, to customers and to delivering excellent service.”
PMG Pat Donahoe said that in spite of negative financial news, “We will continue to deliver the mail, we will pay our employees and pay our suppliers.” He added the Postal Service’s financial problems are the result of an “inflexible business model” that action by Congress can improve.
Congressional action is part of the Postal Service’s 5-year comprehensive business plan, which also includes steps USPS has the flexibility to pursue on its own. USPS already is implementing a new operating model for rural Post Offices, as well as consolidation of network facilities and delivery units. The plan also addresses revenue growth, such as the increase in shipping services and the growth of Every Door Direct Mail.
Donahoe said that even during challenging times, employees take pride in their service mission and that he’s grateful for their efforts. “We never forget for a moment that their commitment and hard work make the whole organization function every day,” he said.
Click here for more information on today’s Third Quarter Financial report.
The Postal Service had its best quarter on record for overnight, 2-day and 3- to 5-day First-Class Mail delivery. And service scores for presorted commercial mail exceeded targets in all three service standards.
In a presentation to the USPS Board of Governors, Chief Operations Officer Megan Brennan reported that the combined performance score for overnight First-Class Mail (97.1 percent) exceeded the target of 96.7 percent and also beat the performance established at the same point during the previous fiscal year. Similarly, service performance scores for 2-day and 3- to 5-day deliveries consistently exceeded targets and improved on scores from a year ago.
Brennan said overall CEM scores also showed improvement over the same period in 2011. The third quarter score for residential customers improved to 88.7 percent, more than 1.5 points higher than a year ago. And more than 84 percent of small and medium business customers surveyed expressed appreciation for the service they received from employees, exceeding levels reported for the same period last year.
Brennan’s report came on the same day Acting Chief Financial Officer Steve Masse announced a continuing decline in First-Class Mail volume and overall revenue. But Brennan, Masse and other members of the USPS leadership emphasized the important contributions employees are making to point the Postal Service in a positive direction.
“We are going through significant consolidations and changes to the way we do business,” said Board of Governors Chairman Thurgood Marshall Jr. “Even in the midst of these changes, our employees have demonstrated their commitment to performance, to customers and to delivering excellent service.”
PMG Pat Donahoe said that in spite of negative financial news, “We will continue to deliver the mail, we will pay our employees and pay our suppliers.” He added the Postal Service’s financial problems are the result of an “inflexible business model” that action by Congress can improve.
Congressional action is part of the Postal Service’s 5-year comprehensive business plan, which also includes steps USPS has the flexibility to pursue on its own. USPS already is implementing a new operating model for rural Post Offices, as well as consolidation of network facilities and delivery units. The plan also addresses revenue growth, such as the increase in shipping services and the growth of Every Door Direct Mail.
Donahoe said that even during challenging times, employees take pride in their service mission and that he’s grateful for their efforts. “We never forget for a moment that their commitment and hard work make the whole organization function every day,” he said.
Click here for more information on today’s Third Quarter Financial report.