PS Form 1767, Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice

This form is used to report any unsafe hazards or conditions in the workplace as well as any work practice that can be seen as unsafe to include a manager causing a hostile work environment. Article 14.1 of the National Agreement states management’s responsibilities in providing a safe work environment.

• Section 1. Responsibilities

• It is the responsibility of management to provide safe working conditions in all present and future installations and to develop a safe working force. The Union will cooperate with and assist management to live up to this responsibility. The Employer will meet with the Union on a semiannual basis and inform the Union of its automated systems development programs. The Employer also agrees to give appropriate consideration to human factors in the design and development of automated systems. Human factors and ergonomics of new automated systems are a proper subject for discussion at the National Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee.

The ELM 824.6 outlines the procedure for employees to report an unsafe hazard, condition or work practice as well as outlining what management is required to do to investigate and abate the hazard.

• 824.61 Purpose of PS Form 1767, Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice PS Form 1767 is designed to encourage employee participation in the Postal Service safety and health program and to provide prompt action when employees report a hazard. This form provides a channel of communication between employees and management that promotes a prompt analysis and response with corrective action to reports of alleged hazards, unsafe conditions, or unsafe practices.

• 824.62 Availability of Form

• Supervisors must maintain a supply of PS Forms 1767 in the workplace in a manner that provides employees with both easy and (if desired) anonymous access.

• 824.63 Procedures and Responsibilities

• 824.631 Employee

• Any employee, or the representative of any employee, who believes that an unsafe or unhealthful condition exists in the workplace may do any or all of the following:

  • a. File a report of the condition on PS Form 1767 with the immediate supervisor and request an inspection of the alleged condition.

  • b. If the employee desires anonymity, file PS Form 1767 directly with the installation’s safety personnel, who will immediately give the report to the employee’s supervisor for necessary action. (In such cases, safety personnel must not disclose the name of the individual making the report.)

  • c. Report alleged unsafe conditions to a steward, if one is available, who may then discuss the condition with the employee’s supervisor. Discrimination against an employee for reporting a safety and health hazard is unlawful.

• 824.632 Supervisor

• The immediate supervisor must promptly (within the tour of duty):

  • a. Investigate the alleged condition.

  • b. Initiate immediate corrective action or make appropriate recommendations.

  • c. Record actions or recommendations on PS Form 1767.

  • d. Forward the original PS Form 1767 and one copy to the next appropriate level of management (approving official).

  • e. Give the employee a copy signed by the supervisor as a receipt.

  • f. Immediately forward the third copy to the facility safety coordinator.

• It is the supervisor’s responsibility to monitor the status of the report at all times until the hazard is abated. If the hazard remains unabated longer than 7 calendar days, the supervisor must verbally inform the employee as to abatement status at the end of each 7-day interval.

• 824.633 Approving Official

• The approving official (the responsible manager) must initiate action to eliminate or minimize the hazard.

  • a. If this results in the submission of a work order, attach the original PS Form 1767 and forward it, through channels, to the manager of Maintenance.

  • b. If the approving official determines that there are no reasonable grounds to believe such a hazard exists, the employee must be notified in writing within 15 calendar days. (Safety personnel must assist in this determination when requested.)

  • c. If the hazard was abated through actions of the approving official:

    • (1) The employee must be notified in writing, and

    • (2) The original PS Form 1767, with a statement of actions taken, must be forwarded to the safety office.

Pay attention to the timelines described above. Management cannot just sit on safety issues, they have to be abated immediately and documented. Once you complete the form take the blue copy for your records and submit it to management.