I'm not sure how everyone else's center is but at ours safety is more a recommendation than a actually followed protocol. I'll give my example and it's a current and ongoing one. I've been with ups neary 11 years on preload, don't want to drive. Currently I'm an "acting" clerk with a preloader job title. How did this occur you might ask? Well, in an effort to help the former clerk who retired and learning the system I then found myself forced into her formerly retired spot by management.
It started off with promises of we'll find a replacement, this and that, blah ,blah blah. Come 7 months later here I am still. Best part yet is I have zero training for clerk position other than what I picked up helping the former. And included in that is zero hazmat responder certification training as it required for this position. Yet I am instructed to deal with/handle leaking packages including leaking hazmats of which we have had a few. Process damages of which many are leakers, and modify hazmat shipping papers as to allow process throgth the ups system. All this done with clear knowledge and instructions from management.
I have no protective gear, no training, and routinly have potentially hazardous substances spilled on my person as well as known hazardous materials a few times. As we know all leaking packages are to be treated as hazardous right until a certified responder determines otherwise. The basic don't touch, leave the area, notify supervisor thing as well for normal preloader classification. Well, these rules don't apply at our center, and a blind eye is turned not only by local management but also district and even ups own "safety" inspectors who advised me only a certified responder was supposed to do this job.
So there is my tale and only one of the problem at my center. Let's see what the rest of you have.
It started off with promises of we'll find a replacement, this and that, blah ,blah blah. Come 7 months later here I am still. Best part yet is I have zero training for clerk position other than what I picked up helping the former. And included in that is zero hazmat responder certification training as it required for this position. Yet I am instructed to deal with/handle leaking packages including leaking hazmats of which we have had a few. Process damages of which many are leakers, and modify hazmat shipping papers as to allow process throgth the ups system. All this done with clear knowledge and instructions from management.
I have no protective gear, no training, and routinly have potentially hazardous substances spilled on my person as well as known hazardous materials a few times. As we know all leaking packages are to be treated as hazardous right until a certified responder determines otherwise. The basic don't touch, leave the area, notify supervisor thing as well for normal preloader classification. Well, these rules don't apply at our center, and a blind eye is turned not only by local management but also district and even ups own "safety" inspectors who advised me only a certified responder was supposed to do this job.
So there is my tale and only one of the problem at my center. Let's see what the rest of you have.
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