Wash-up Time

[redundant employee]

I was reading the NRLCA Handbook EL-902 Section 6, what is considered "dirty work"? It also states allergic reactions.Would I be allowed to claim this "suitable allowance" if I have a medical condition diagnosed by my medical provider, if not what is Wash-up Time used for?

Thank you.

 

[btdtret]

redundant employee --  "dirty work" and "suitable allowance"

--  Good luck at getting a real definition of each from manglement.   We used to get a weekly community newspaper that would leave hands and clothing black with ink, so I took to wearing an apron for some protection.   Others chose to wear plastic gloves.   

--  If you have such mail, stop by the supervisor's desk and lean on any paperwork while asking if you can have an extra minute or two to wash up after handling the "dirty" mail.   Most likely manglement will say you have 5 minutes of "personal" time each day -- use that!

--  Use the doctor's diagnosis if it can pin point what you are allergic to either in the post office or from certain mail pieces.

--  The APWU and NALC have basically the same wording in their contracts regarding "wash-up" time.

--  Unless you are actually mixing concrete for bases of NDCBU's and / or installing NDCBU's or assembling cases, doubt if manglement will agree to what you consider "dirty work".

--  If you can document the need for extra wash-up time, be prepared to file a grievance for it.

 

[redundant employee]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>btdtret said </strong>
redundant employee --  "dirty work" and "suitable allowance"

--  Good luck at getting a real definition of each from manglement.   We used to get a weekly community newspaper that would leave hands and clothing black with ink, so I took to wearing an apron for some protection.   Others chose to wear plastic gloves.   

--  Use the doctor's diagnosis if it can pin point what you are allergic to either in the post office or from certain mail pieces.

--  If you can document the need for extra wash-up time, be prepared to file a grievance for it.  </blockquote>
--  Haha, yeah, I tried to get the definition of our "competitors" when seeking second employment. There was no such specifics to FedEx or UPS.  I always wear gloves when handling mail or parcels, never know where its been.

--  I was diagnosed for chronic sinusitis, but I should go in for allergy testing too. Not only mail dust but those hot box LLVs create warm/hot dry air, causes inflammation in my sinuses, thus giving me painful headaches. I can only treat it so much until I get surgery, but even then it might not fix it. I maybe able to tolerate the mail dust but what can I do about the LLV?

The thing is, there is nothing to "wash-up", its more of "hazard pay" aka "suitable allowance" that contributes to my ailment. I am just worried if I get put on "light duty" or like a "medical profile", I will be reduced hours.

 

[btdtret]

redundant employee --  "if I get put on “light duty”"

--  No "light duty" for rural carriers -- page 30 of the current contract.  In the rural carrier craft, at any local installation, regular rural routes shall not be considered for any light duty assignment.

--  Manglement may find something in the office, but it would be known as "limited duty", like in MOU #6.

“medical profile” -- do you mean medical restriction(s) in what actions you could perform or how long you could work?

" I maybe able to tolerate the mail dust but what can I do about the LLV?"

-- Try a "painter's mask" found at Harbor Freight and probably Wal-Mart.   Don't know if the doctor's prescriptions includes masks.

--  If the masks don't work and your chronic sinusitis gets worse, you may have to find other employment - unless you decide to use your own vehicle on a POV route, which might not be in your office.

--  Good luck in requesting manglement have the LLV washed / rinsed out every week.  Of course you could "volunteer" to do it if there is a handy garden hose at the office.   If it helps you stay employed....

 

[redundant employee]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>btdtret said </strong>

“medical profile” -- do you mean medical restriction(s) in what actions you could perform or how long you could work?

" I maybe able to tolerate the mail dust but what can I do about the LLV?"

-- Try a "painter's mask" found at Harbor Freight and probably Wal-Mart.   Don't know if the doctor's prescriptions includes masks.

--  Good luck in requesting manglement have the LLV washed / rinsed out every week.  Of course you could "volunteer" to do it if there is a handy garden hose at the office.   If it helps you stay employed....  </blockquote>
yes, medical restriction. I'm a designated 72, post surgery recovery will be about 1 week (LWOP) and limited duty the following week until told otherwise. I'll find out more at my second consultation next month.

I tried many times for clean LLVs, no luck. So I take it I can't claim "wash-up time"?

 

[NorthernVA]

I have a similar problem due to bad allergies. I do both POV routes and LLV routes and I think the routes themselves have a lot to do with it. The routes with a lot of dirt roads are the worst, by the time I get done my face is red, itchy and I can barely breath trough my nose. It's not bad in the winter but we have had nice weather and it's drying everything up and causing more dirt. I take 2 Benadryl before bed and it does help me by morning. If the dirt wasn't bad enough, it's also the beginning of spider season. I have seen them in a ton of boxes and I swear they must hate the mailman more than dogs because they come racing from the back of the boxes. Sometimes I wonder if this job is worth it anymore.