Module 11 Delivering the Mail. Objectives Apply all safety procedures to prevent hazards or accidents Adhere to policies and procedures when preparing.

Module 11

Delivering the Mail

Objectives

Apply all safety procedures to prevent hazards or accidents

Adhere to policies and procedures when preparing and delivering the mail

Maintain security of the mail and all Postal equipment

Comply with all designated scan point requirements

2

Delivering the Mail

Primary cause of misdelivery is failure to verify the address prior to delivery

Fingering and verifying the mail before placing in mailbox is critical to the success of a carrier

Carriers are Postal ambassadors and may be the only contact customers have with the organization

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JSA – Carrier Walker Delivery

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JSA – Curbside Mounted Delivery

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Principles of Ergonomics

As a city carrier, understand proper safety procedures while performing street duties to avoid injuries

Proper lifting and loading procedures assist in preventing injuries

Avoid standing, in back of a LLV or FFV to the extent possible

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Slips, Trips, and Falls

Be aware to avoid potential slips, trips or falls:• Children’s toys, hoses, rakes, cracks in

sidewalks or depressions in the lawn often present challenges

• Weather related hazards (leaves, ice and snow, etc.) are additional hazards that could lead to slips, trips, and falls

• During inclement weather, painted porches and loose stones become slippery

• Use handrails when available

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Attacks by Dogs and Other Animals Consider all dogs as potentially

hazardous:• Use dog warning cards assist in identifying

problem dogs

• Take dog repellent when delivering mail

• Use satchel as protection from an attacking dog

• Be alert to signs that a loose dog may be present

• Dogs near children may be unusually aggressive

• Never feed or attempt to pet a dog

• When delivering to a mail slot, refrain from sticking fingers through the mail slot

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Dog Warning Card9

JSA – Dog Attack10

Other Hazards

Contact with insects that could sting or bite like; bees, hornets, wasps and spiders; could be a potential hazard

Carriers who are allergic to insect bites should always carry medication

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Preventing Rollaway/Runaways

To prevent rollaway or runaway accidents:

• Place vehicle in park

• Set hand brake

• Curb wheels

• Turn off ignition and remove keys

• Use wheel chocks where locally required

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Prevent Backing Accidents

To prevent accidents when backing a Postal vehicle:• Avoid backing unless absolutely necessary

• Park vehicle to eliminate backing, use pull through method whenever possible

• Follow local policies regarding backing procedures

Report Injuries• Report incidents as soon as the employee

becomes aware of a resultant injury

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Exercise

Discuss the question and record answers on a rip chart. What other types of accidents can occur

when delivering the mail?

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Security of the Mail and Equipment Ensure mail and equipment are secured at

all times

• Do not place mail in your pockets or clothing, lockers or desks, or in parcels, handgrips, lunch containers or other luggage

Delivery may be made to a customer on the street if customer is known or proper identification is provided and if it does not delay the carrier unreasonably

Always be aware of your surroundings

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Mail and Equipment Security Park at established park points in the

route book

Notify your supervisor of any security problems

Information about mail contents or customer’s physical address may not be shared

Do not endanger yourself in the event of threat, assault or robbery• Do not anger or harass the attacker• Pay attention to details or identifying marks

for later • Report robbery ASAP

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Vehicle Security

Turn off engine and remove key

Keep all doors secured when out of sight or too far away to safeguard the mail

Lock any sliding doors between truck body and cab

Always keep rear door and/or tailgate of vehicle locked, except when loading or unloading vehicle

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Preparing Mail for Delivery

Finger mail at all times during delivery except:• While driving (come to a complete stop

prior to fingering mail and placing in box)

• When walking up or down stairs or steps

• While stepping to or from curbs

• While crossing any street

• When it would create a safety hazard to carrier or public

When delivering on foot, carrier performs this operation between deliveries

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Delivering the Mail

Carriers may cross lawns while making deliveries if: • Customers do not object• No hazard to carrier

Collect outgoing mail before placing mail into the receptacle

Prior to putting the mail into a mailbox, mail must be combined into one bundle• Allows for one motion when putting mail into

receptacle • For centralized delivery, carrier may perform more

than one motion

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Parcel Delivery Instructions

If parcel does not fit in mail receptacle or parcel locker, ring doorbell and knock at the door

Absent of any special instructions for leaving parcel:

• Complete applicable sections of PS Form 3849

• Endorse package with notice left and date

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Parcel Delivery Instructions

If customer is normally available:• Not necessary to complete PS Form 3849 • May bring parcel for delivery the next delivery

day• Write date, initials, and route number near the

address• Stage parcel in accordance to local procedures• If not available after second attempt, leave

delivery notice Special instructions for leaving parcels:

• PS Form 1564-B (carrier route book)• Mailer instruction on parcel

Do not leave parcels in unprotected location

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Delivering Foot Routes

Unstrap the first bundle Verify street, block, and street number

with street sign and number on first house Mail is normally carried in hand and

satchel; • Option to carry mail on arm unless instructed

not to• Have all mail ready for deposit when reaching

delivery point and to avoid backtracking• Safety is a prime consideration• Place all mail into receptacle• Do not place letter or flat mail on steps,

porches, or in unauthorized locations

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Delivering Motorized Routes

Place mail on vehicle tray facing driver Verify address before placing mail in

receptacle Seatbelts must be worn at all times vehicle is

in motion• Exception for (LLVs) and Flexible Fuel Vehicles

(FFVs)

Traveling in intervals of 500 ft or less, at speeds not exceeding 15 MPH between delivery stops, the door on the driver’s side may be left open

Close all external vehicle doors when entering or crossing intersecting roadways

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Motorized Routes

If mailbox is blocked, delivery must be attempted by dismounting where it is safe to do so

Before leaving vehicle for dismount deliveries, put vehicle in park, set hand brake, curb wheels, turn off the ignition, and remove key

Use wheel chocks where locally required

For curbside delivery:• On level streets or roads; place vehicle in neutral, place foot

firmly on brake peddle while collecting mail or placing mail in mailbox

• On hills; place vehicle in park, place foot firmly on the brake peddle while collecting mail or placing mail in the mailbox

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Park and Loop Routes

Vehicle is used as a moveable relay box:• Carrier withdraws mail, placing mail into satchel

before beginning each relay

For large or heavy parcels on park and loop routes:• Begin the loop at point of parcel delivery or

bypass stop until loop is complete, then drive to delivery point with mail and parcel

When traveling between park and relay points, and when entering or crossing intersecting roadways, all external vehicle doors must be closed

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Designated Scan Points

MSP scan may be required at first delivery

Additional MSP locations throughout route; local practice will determine how to find MSPs

Scan all MSP barcodes as encountered on route

Upon return to office, notify supervisor of any MSP barcodes that were not able to scan

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Collection Box Scan

Do not collect mail from anycollection box beforescheduled time

Collection time will be at or after the scheduled time indicated on Label 55-B, Collection Times, posted on collection box

Upon return to office, notify supervisor of any collection MSP barcodes that you were not able scan

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Review

1. What are some the most frequent accidents that happen to letter carriers?

2. Under what circumstances may a carrier provide a customer with their mail on the street?

3. What are signs that a loose dog may be present?

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Slips, trips, and falls

If it does not delay the carrier unreasonably and mail is presented to the addressee only

A feeding dish, open gate, broken chain, or empty dog lead

Review

4. What is fingering the mail?

5. What action should a carrier perform after fingering the mail and before placing mail into the receptacle?

6. What may the carrier encounter at the first delivery on the route?

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Final verification of address before delivery

Collect outgoing mail

An MSP scan point

Summary30

In this module, we discussed:

Applying all safety procedures to prevent hazards or accidents

Adhering to policies and procedures when preparing and delivering the mail

Maintaining security of the mail and all Postal equipment

Complying with all designated scan point requirements