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				<p style="text-align:center; page-break-before:column; margin-left:-144px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">United States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:-144px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:-144px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">1120 20</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">th<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:-144px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,<span>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">UNITED<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">STATES POSTAL SERVICE,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:right; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket Nos. 16-1713, 16-1872, 17 0023, 17-0279</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">ON BRIEFS:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Amy S. Tryon, Senior Attorney; Heather R. Phillips, Counsel for Appellate Litigation; Edmund C. Baird, Associate Solicitor of Labor for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Occupational Safety and Health; Elena S. Goldstein, Deputy Solicitor of Labor; Kate O’Scannlain, Solicitor of Labor; U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For the Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:4px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">James C. Colling, Esq.; Eric D. Goulian, Esq.; Deborah M. Levine, Esq.;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">United States Postal Service, Denver, CO</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Arthur G. Sapper, Esq.; Melissa A. Bailey, Esq.; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Washington, D.C.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For the Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Before: </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-variant:small-caps; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ATTWOOD</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, Chairman; LAIHOW, Commissioner.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">BY THE COMMISSION:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Betw</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">een September 2016 and January 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued five citations to the United States Postal Service, each alleging that it committed a repeat</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref1" href="#ftn1">1</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">clause, 29<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">U.S.C. § 654(a)(1), by exposing employees to an “excessive heat” hazard.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">2</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> These citations relate to medical incidents involving a total of seven letter carriers working in five different cities during the summer of 2016. In each incident, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>letter carrier began feeling ill while delivering mail and subsequently was treated at a hospital or urgent care clinic. With one exception, the Secretary alleges that each carrier became ill due to excessive heat. The Postal Service contested each cita</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion, resulting in five separate cases, each involving the occurrence of an alleged violation in the following cities</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">3</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">—San Antonio, Texas (Docket No. 16-1713); Des Moines, Iowa (Docket No. 16-1813); Benton, Arkansas (Docket No. 16-1872); Houston, Texas (D</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ocket No. 17-0023); and Martinsburg, West Virginia (Docket No. 17-0279).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">4</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All five cases were assigned to Administrative Law Judge Sharon D. Calhoun, who held separate hearings for each case, as well as an additional “National Hearing” to hear evidence</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>common to all five cases. The judge did not consolidate the cases for disposition and issued five separate decisions vacating each citation. The Secretary filed a Petition for Discretionary Review applicable to all five cases, and the Postal Service fil</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed a conditional Cross-Petition for Discretionary Review. After the cases were directed for review, the Commission instructed the parties to address the issues raised in their petitions in a single set of briefs.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We hereby consolidate the San Antonio, Be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nton, Houston, and Martinsburg cases (Docket Nos. 16</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1713, 16</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1872, 17</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0023, 17</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0279) because they involve the same parties and overlapping<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">legal and factual issues, and our decision in each case rests on the same rationale with the same outcome.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">5</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mmission Rule 9, 29 C.F.R. § 2200.9 (“Cases may be consolidated . . . on the Commission’s own motion, where there exist common parties, common questions of law or fact or in such other circumstances as justice or the administration of the Act require.”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">C</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ody-Zeigler, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1410, 1410 n.1 (No. 99-0912, 2001) (consolidated) (consolidating cases pursuant to Commission Rule 9). For the reasons discussed below, we vacate all four citations. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DISCUSSION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Act’s general duty clause provides that “[e]ach employer . . . shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his employees.”  29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). To establish a violation of this provision, the Secretary must show: (1) “that a condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard,” (2) “that the employer or its industry recognized this hazard,” (3) “that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the hazard was likely to cause death or serious physical harm,” and (4) “that a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Arcadian Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 20 BNA OSHC 2001, 2007 (No. 93-0628, 2004). The Secretary also must prove</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that the employer “knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tampa Shipyards Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 1533, 1535 (No. 86-360, 1992) (consolidated). </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, the judge vacated the four citations at issue on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the same grounds—the Secretary failed to prove (1) that the workplace conditions posed a hazard, and (2) that feasible and effective means were available to abate the hazard. We conclude that the Secretary has proven the existence of a hazard but failed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to establish a feasible and effective means of abatement.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">6</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">I.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Hazard </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish that workplace conditions posed a hazard, the Secretary must prove there was a “significant risk” or “meaningful possibility” that they would harm employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ll Roofing, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC 1809, 1811 (No. 13-0224, 2019) (citations omitted);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Transport of Ark.,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">27 BNA OSHC 1947, 1949 (No. 14-0844, 2019). Determining whether conditions pose a significant risk of harm requires consideration of both the “sever</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ity of the potential harm” and the “likelihood of its occurrence,” and there is an “inverse relationship between these two elements,” meaning that as the severity of potential harm increases, its “likelihood of occurrence need not be as great.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weirton St</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">eel Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 20 BNA OSHC 1255, 1259 (No. 98-0701, 2003). </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As stated above, the Secretary alleges that Postal Service carriers were exposed to the hazard of “excessive heat,” which he says is “also referred to as heat stress.” The workplace conditions that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">posed this hazard, the Secretary contends, were the environmental and metabolic heat conditions that existed at the time these carriers worked their mail routes on the dates identified in the citations. The Secretary explains that the environmental heat c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">onditions included the temperature and humidity levels, while the metabolic heat conditions included the distances the carriers walked and the weight of the mail loads they carried (“metabolic heat” refers to heat produced by the human body). Thus, to pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ve that an “excessive heat” hazard was present as alleged, the Secretary must show that the environmental and metabolic heat conditions that existed during the incidents involving the carriers subjected them to a significant risk of experiencing a heat-rel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ated illness or injury.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref7" href="#ftn7">7</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The judge explained her conclusion that the Secretary failed to establish the existence of an excessive heat hazard in a similar manner in each case, emphasizing that the Secretary did not prove that any of the incidents at is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sue were caused by excessive heat.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref8" href="#ftn8">8</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Specifically, the judge found that one of the Secretary’s expert witnesses, Dr. Aaron Tustin, who opined that all but one of the carriers suffered an illness that was caused at least in part by the heat, and one of the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Postal Service’s expert witnesses, Dr. Shirly Conibear, who opined that none of them experienced a heat-related illness, were equally credible.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref9" href="#ftn9">9</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> At the same time, the judge found that the “certitude” each expert expressed was at odds with their mutually consistent testimony that the symptoms of heat-related illness often mimic those of other conditions, and she accorded “no weight” to either’s op</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inion regarding the causes of the incidents.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref10" href="#ftn10">10</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The judge acknowledged that it was not “essential” for the Secretary to prove the cause of the incidents, but nevertheless found this lack of proof weighed against the Secretary’s case. Finally, she found Tu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stin’s testimony that the heat conditions during each incident were hazardous unconvincing, noting that his opinion was based on a National Weather Service (NWS) chart that she found the Secretary did not prove has a scientific basis.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref11" href="#ftn11">11</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The judge also not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed that Tustin was unable to quantify the likelihood of a heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related illness under any particular heat conditions. Although another expert witness for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary, Thomas Bernard,</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref12" href="#ftn12">12</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>likewise opined that the heat conditions during each incident were ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">zardous, the judge did not explain why his testimony did not support the existence of a hazard. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On review, the Secretary argues that the testimony of his two heat stress experts, Tustin and Bernard, establishes that the workplace conditions present duri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng each incident posed a significant risk of harm. He contends that Tustin did not base his opinion on the NWS chart, but instead relied on his own epidemiological research. In addition, the Secretary maintains that the “sheer number” of heat-related ill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nesses that have been reported by Postal Service carriers in recent years shows that the risk is significant, citing Postal Service injury records he contends show that nearly 2,000 carriers reported “heat-related medical incidents” from 2015 to 2018. Fin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ally, he claims the evidence shows that all but one of the citation incidents were caused by exposure to excessive heat. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response, the Postal Service argues that the judge properly rejected Tustin’s testimony given his reliance on the NWS chart, an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d that Bernard’s opinion deserves no weight for the same reason. It further asserts that Tustin based his opinion on unreliable hearsay reports of heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related incidents in Postal Service records, and that Bernard premised his opinion on an incorrect pres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">umption that all the citation incidents were caused by “a heat hazard,” rather than preexisting health conditions. Finally, the Postal Service relies on testimony from its expert econometrician, Joshua Gotkin, who stated that it is impossible to quantify<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a risk without accounting for all instances of exposure, which it contends Tustin did not do, and argues based on Gotkin’s testimony that even if all the heat-related incidents reported by carriers in recent years were assumed to have actually been heat-re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lated, they would reflect that the odds of any given carrier on any given workday experiencing a heat-related illness “are so small that . . . [they] are really near zero . . . .”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref13" href="#ftn13">13</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We agree with the Secretary that the judge erred in concluding the work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">place conditions present at the time of each cited incident were not shown to be hazardous. Indeed, neither of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary’s expert witnesses relied exclusively on the NWS chart as support for their opinions that the conditions posed a hazard to the car</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">riers identified in the citations.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref14" href="#ftn14">14</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1811-12 (Secretary’s reliance on NWS chart failed to establish workplace conditions were hazardous because employees were not shown to have had “prolonged exposure” to the heat index values</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at which the chart advises cautions or been engaged in “strenuous activity” as contemplated by the chart). Tustin said that he examined the environmental and metabolic heat conditions present in each incident—primarily, the heat indexes and the carrier a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ctivity levels (e.g., distances walked and weight carried)—and believed that they were hazardous. When repeatedly asked what he based his opinion on, he consistently responded that it was the multiple studies on heat-related illnesses he had personally co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nducted, including a “systematic review” and “meta-analysis” of related published medical literature, as well as his general review of scientific papers on the topic from other authors. His mention of the NWS chart was merely to note that its heat index r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">isk categories were “consistent” with his research.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref15" href="#ftn15">15</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Nor did Tustin say that he was relying<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on the heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related incident reports the Postal Service argues are hearsay and unreliable; he said that the number of such reports rose as the temperatures rose i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n a manner that was “completely consistent” with his research, but did not say he was basing his opinion that the conditions were hazardous on those reports. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We find that the judge also erred in faulting Tustin for failing to quantify the percentage of e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mployees that will experience a heat-related illness under any particular conditions, figures that Tustin noted he was unaware of any studies calculating. It is well-established that the Secretary is not required to determine the mathematical probability<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of a workplace condition causing harm to show that it poses a hazard. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See, e.g.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Roadsafe Traffic Sys., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 18-0758, 2021 WL 5994023, at *3 (OSHRC, Dec. 10, 2021) (finding in general duty clause case that employee was at significant risk of falling<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">from truck without discussing the mathematical probability he would fall);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1052, 1060 (No. 89-3097, 1993) (consolidated) (“There is no mathematical test to determine whether employees are exposed to a hazard under the g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eneral duty clause.”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industr. Union Dep’t, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 448 U.S. 607, 655 (1980) (“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”) (plurality opinion) (“[T]he requirement that a ‘significant’ risk be identified is not a mathematical straightjacket </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . . . </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> [T]he Agency ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s no duty to calculate the exact probability of harm . . . .”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat’l Maritime Safety Ass’n v. OSHA</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 649 F.3d 743, 751 (D.C. Cir. 2011) (“Nor is OSHA required to quantify a risk before determining that it is significant.”).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref16" href="#ftn16">16</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As for Bernard, he similarly t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">estified that he examined the heat conditions affecting the carriers involved in the cited incidents—like Tustin, he emphasized the heat indexes in particular—and believed that they were hazardous. Although Bernard referenced the heat index risk categorie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s in an OSHA chart that is based on the NWS chart and agreed with the risk levels it assigns to heat index ranges, he never said that he believed the conditions were hazardous simply because of the OSHA chart. In the absence of any claim by Bernard to the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>contrary, we find that his opinion was based on his extensive expertise on heat stress, and not the risk categories in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHA chart.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref17" href="#ftn17">17</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Nor did Bernard say that he believed the conditions were hazardous because the carriers experienced heat-related illn</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">esses, as the Postal Service claims. In short, both Tustin and Bernard—neither of whom the Postal Service disputes were qualified to testify as heat stress experts—provided direct testimony that the heat conditions affecting the carriers during the cited<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">incidents were hazardous, and we find no valid grounds for discounting either expert’s opinion.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service presented two of its own heat stress experts, Conibear and Rodman Harvey,</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref18" href="#ftn18">18</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>but neither challenged the consistent opinions of the Secretary’s experts that the cited conditions were hazardous.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref19" href="#ftn19">19</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> In fact, Harvey essentially agreed that the heat conditions posed a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hazard that an employer should take efforts to mitigate, stating in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a report prepared for the Postal Service that: “[b]ecause of [the Postal Service’s abatement] efforts,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">the hazard presented by the ambient environmental conditions</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>would have been mitigated such that serious heat illness would no longer be likely or the risk of them significant.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref20" href="#ftn20">20</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (emphasis added). In other words, Harvey believed the conditions were hazardous but that the Postal Service was taking sufficient step</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s to prevent them from being likely to cause a serious heat illness. Whether an employer has taken sufficient measures to address the cited hazard, however, relates to the abatement element of an alleged general duty clause violation, which we address sep</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arately below. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Arcadian Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 20 BNA OSHC at 2007 (Secretary must show there were feasible abatement measures that would have effectively reduced a hazard further than any measures already in use by the employer). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Put simply, the issue here is only<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">whether the Secretary has proven that the workplace conditions present at the time of the alleged violations posed a hazard, and Harvey’s statement supports that showing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, we reject the Postal Service’s claim that Gotkin’s calculations rebut the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">consistent opinions of three heat stress experts (Tustin, Bernard, and Harvey) that the cited workplace conditions were hazardous. Gotkin claimed that the odds of a heat stress incident occurring on what he called a “letter carrier day” in a year or durin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g the months of May to September were “extremely small” and not “statistically significant.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref21" href="#ftn21">21</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> We are not persuaded that his testimony provides evidence that the cited conditions were not hazardous. First, Gotkin provided no opinion on the relevant quest</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion at issue—whether the particular environmental and metabolic heat conditions present on the specified dates posed a significant risk of harm. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1811. Gotkin did not opine, for example, on the odds of a carrier experiencing a hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t-related illness when exposed to similar heat indexes while engaged in similar physical activity levels. He<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">admitted having the ability to use available data to calculate such odds, but he did not do so. Instead, Gotkin simply estimated the odds of a ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rrier experiencing a heat-related illness under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">any</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>environmental and metabolic conditions, regardless of whether the carrier worked in Alaska or on a rural driving route spent entirely in an air-conditioned van. In short, even if we assume based on Gotki</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n’s opaque testimony that the probability of any carrier in the nation experiencing a heat-related illness over a twelve or five-month period was low, that does not mean that the probability of a carrier experiencing such an illness under the specific cond</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itions at issue here was also low. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>Second, Gotkin never claimed that the odds he calculated mean that the cited conditions were not hazardous, nor did he otherwise explain the import and relevance of those particular odds to this issue, and his ch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">aracterization of those odds as “statistically insignificant” or “low” is not necessarily meaningful here because it is merely a relative characterization dependent on his selection of “letter carrier day” as the chosen denominator. Gotkin testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">odds in general are not “statistically significant” unless they reflect at least a one in twenty (five percent) chance of something happening. Thus, according to Gotkin, the odds of a heat stress incident occurring on a “letter carrier day” are not statis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tically significant unless at least one incident occurs for every twenty letter carrier days, which—since he appeared to count letter carrier days by simply multiplying the total number of employed carriers by the total number of workdays in a year—would a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mount to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">every carrier in the nation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>experiencing a heat stress incident once every twenty workdays, or put another way, five percent of all carriers in the nation experiencing an incident<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">every single workday</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This would equate to millions of heat stress</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>incidents occurring every year, since the Postal Service employs around 300,000 carriers. But Gotkin himself essentially acknowledged that by simply choosing a different denominator, which he suggested could, for instance, be the total number of carriers</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>employed in a year, far lower injury rates would then be necessary to reach what he deemed to be statistically significant. He did not say what denominator would be most sensible to use when evaluating whether a workplace condition poses a hazard, nor di</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d he explain why he opted for “letter carrier days” over another option. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Moreover, the extreme injury rates that would be necessary for Gotkin’s “letter carrier day” odds to be “statistically significant” are drastically higher than the injury rates nece</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssary for a workplace condition to pose a hazard under the Act’s general duty clause. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See, e.g.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Science Applications Int’l Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 14-1668, 2020 WL 1941193, at *5 (OSHRC, Aug. 16, 2020) (fact that only one employee drowned in fifty years did not show<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk of drowning was insignificant);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Schaad Detective Agency, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 16-1628, 2021 WL 261573, at *3-4 (OSHRC, Jan. 15, 2021)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(fact that only one employee was shot in forty-five years did not show risk was insignificant);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Peacock Eng’g, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 26 BNA OSHC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1588, 1590 (No. 11-2780, 2017) (finding crypt installation hazardous despite “thousands of accident-free crypt installations”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also Integra Health Mgmt., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC 1838, 1843 (No. 13-1124, 2019) (the Act generally uses terms in their ordinary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>sense). </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Accordingly, we conclude that the unrebutted testimony of three expert witnesses supports a finding that the environmental and metabolic heat conditions present during the alleged citation incidents were hazardous. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See, e.g.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Henkels & McCoy,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 18-1864, 2022 WL 3012701, at *3 (OSHRC, July 12, 2022) (relying on expert’s testimony to find that condition posed a hazard),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">appeal docketed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 22-13133 (11th Cir. Sept. 19, 2022);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Science Applications</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2020 WL 1941193, at *5 (existence of haz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ard supported by opinions of company safety official and other witness with experience and knowledge relating to the cited activity);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Mid South Waffles</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC 1783, 1784 (No. 13-1022, 2019) (fire hazard posed by full grease drawer was supported by fi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re inspector’s unrebutted testimony that grease in the drawer caused a fire). </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">II.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Feasible and Effective Means of Abatement</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the abatement element of a general duty clause violation, the Secretary must “specify the particular steps a cited e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mployer should have taken to avoid citation, and demonstrate the feasibility and likely utility of those measures.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1161, 1191 (No. 91-3144, 2000) (consolidated);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also BHC Nw. Psychiatric Hosp., LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 951 F.3d 558, 564-66 (D.C. Cir. 2020) (citations omitted) (Secretary must show that the employer failed to implement measures that “a reasonably prudent employer familiar with the circumstances of the industry” would have taken). “Feasible” means both “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">economically and technologically capable of being done.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1191</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> A measure is not economically feasible if it would “threaten the economic viability of the employer.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 1192 (quoting<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat’l Realty & Constr. Co. v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>489 F.2d 1257, 1266 n.37 (D.C. Cir. 1973)). To establish a measure’s utility, the Secretary must show that it would “eliminate or materially reduce the hazard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Mo. Basin Well Serv., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 26 BNA OSHC 2314, 2316 (No. 13-1817, 2018).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, the Secretary<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">identified a number of abatement measures in the four citations at issue before us, as well as in his post</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hearing briefs. In three of the cases (San Antonio, Benton, and Martinsburg), the judge determined that these measures were proposed as alternatives</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">concluded that the Secretary failed to establish the abatement element because the Postal Service had already implemented one of the proposed measures (training employees on the recognition and prevention of heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related illnesses). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">BNA OSHC at 1818. In those three cases, the judge also found that the Secretary failed to prove that some of the other proposed measures were economically feasible. In the remaining case (Houston), the judge did not address whether the measures were prop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">osed as alternatives, concluding that the abatement element was not proven because some of the measures were not shown to be economically feasible, some were not shown to provide a material hazard reduction, one measure (training) had already been implemen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted, and two measures raised in the Secretary’s post-hearing brief were not identified in the citation.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On review, the Secretary contends that he did not propose the abatement measures as alternatives in any of these cases, but rather proposed a “multi-e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lement heat stress program” that would include different elements “such as work/rest cycles, an adequate emergency response program, analyzing existing data on employees’ heat-related illnesses, employee monitoring, training, and reducing outdoor exposure<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time.” Regarding economic feasibility, he claims the evidence shows that “paying for measures to abate the hazard” would not threaten the Postal Service’s economic viability. The Secretary presents no arguments regarding the efficacy of these proposed me</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">asures in materially reducing or eliminating the cited hazard. In response, the Postal Service maintains that the Secretary proposed the abatement measures as alternatives in every case except Houston, and that the judge correctly found that one of the al</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ternatives (training) had already been implemented in those three cases. In every case, the Postal Service also argues the Secretary failed to show that any of the proposed measures were feasible or effective, or that a reasonable employer would have done</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>more than what it was already doing to protect employees. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">A.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>How the Secretary Proposed the Abatement Measures</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We agree with the Secretary that he did not allege that any of the proposed abatement measures would have been sufficient by themselves to aba</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">te the excessive heat hazard. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1818 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when the Secretary proposes abatement measures as alternatives, proof of abatement element requires showing employer did not adequately implement any of the measures</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">). Nowhere in his compla</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ints, citations, or post-hearing briefs did the Secretary suggest that the abatement measures would each singlehandedly eliminate an excessive heat hazard. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See UHS of Westwood Pembroke, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Westwood</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”), No. 17-0737, 2022 WL 774272, at *4 (OSHRC,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mar. 3,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>2022) (Secretary’s filings did not propose alternative abatement options),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">appeal docketed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 22-1845 (3d Cir. May 2, 2022). To the contrary, his complaints all allege that the Postal Service violated the general duty clause by failing to implement a “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">comprehensive program” to address the cited hazard that includes “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">all<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">feasible means of abatement . . . .” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at *8 (finding Secretary’s assertion in post-hearing brief that employer might need to implement “multiple abatement measures” showed altern</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">atives were not proposed). And all but one of the citations at issue introduce the abatement measures by stating that “methods . . . include, but are not limited to, the following: [listing measures].”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref22" href="#ftn22">22</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Secretary’s post-hearing briefs all introduce<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the measures in a similar manner: “[T]he evidence shows that Respondent could have taken several steps to abate or materially reduce the hazard its employees faced. These steps include [list of proposed measures].”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref23" href="#ftn23">23</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> These simple and generic introductio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ns do not mean that any one of the measures listed would by itself resolve the hazard, which would contradict the Secretary’s position in his complaints.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref24" href="#ftn24">24</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Moreover, the testimony elicited at the National Hearing shows that both parties clearly understo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">od the abatement measures were not proposed as alternatives. For example, the Secretary asked Tustin whether the Postal Service could use its data on reported heat-related incidents when adopting “an overall heat stress program.” Tustin replied that such</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>information would be useful when adopting such a “program.” The Secretary also asked Tustin whether providing air-conditioned vehicles—one of the Secretary’s proposed measures—would be as effective if the Postal Service did not also mandate rest breaks (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a component of another proposed measure, work/rest cycles). Tustin replied that air-conditioned vehicles should be used<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">together</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with mandatory rest breaks taken inside the vehicles. Similarly, Bernard testified that acclimatization—</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">another proposed meas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ure—was an “important component” of “a heat stress management program.” He said that such a program should include various components, such as “training,” “virtual buddy systems and work/rest cycles” (three of the measures listed by the Secretary in the c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itation ), and other “things of that sort . . . .” The Postal Service also understood the measures could address the hazard in this combined manner. For example, the Postal Service asked Tustin if he believed an acclimatization program “would be adequate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as long as you had other measures in place, such as rest breaks or monitoring?” </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Finally, the nature of these proposed measures shows that the potential benefit each could provide would be cumulative, making it implausible that the Secretary would have p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">roposed them as alternatives or that the Postal Service would have so understood them. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Westwood</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2022 WL 774272, at *8 (noting that the parties’ understanding that the measures were not alternatives aligned with “the nature” of the hazard at issue (workplace violence), which “arises in different contexts and conditions” and “necessitate[es] differen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t abatement measures.”) In sum, we find the Secretary did not propose his measures as alternatives nor did the parties litigate them as such. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">B.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Adequacy, Feasibility, and Efficacy<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the abatement element in a case in which the measures a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re not proposed as alternatives, the Secretary must show that at least one of the proposed measures (or some combination) was not adequately implemented and would have been feasible and effective in materially reducing (or eliminating) the hazard. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The Duriron Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 11 BNA OSHC 1405, 1408 n.3 (No. 77-2847, 1983),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 750 F.3d 29 (6th Cir. 1984);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kelly Springfield Tire</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 10 BNA OSHC 1970, 1975 n.5 (No. 78-4555, 1982),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 729 F.2d 317 (5th Cir. 1984). As part of this showing, the Secretary must</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>establish that any steps the employer took to address the hazard at issue were inadequate. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Mo. Basin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 26 BNA OSHC at 2319. As noted, a proposed abatement measure is feasible if it is “economically and technologically capable of being done.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Ent</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ers.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1191</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> When evaluating economic feasibility, the Commission may consider “whether the cost of compliance would jeopardize a company’s long-term profitability and competitiveness.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref25" href="#ftn25">25</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16 BNA OSHC at 1063. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On review, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Secretary broadly argues that he established the feasibility and efficacy of the abatement measures he proposed below, briefly naming a few. While he does not describe those proposals in detail, the Secretary specifically argued before the judge in each<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">case that feasible and effective measures to abate the heat hazard include: (1) work/rest cycles; (2) emergency response plans and employee monitoring;</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref26" href="#ftn26">26</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(3) analyzing Postal Service data on employee heat-related illnesses; and (4) reducing employee time o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">utdoors. In three of the cases (Benton, Houston, and Martinsburg), the Secretary additionally argued in support of the use of air-conditioned vehicles, and in two of the cases (Houston and Martinsburg), the Secretary additionally addressed training employ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ees on heat-related illnesses. Finally, in one case (San Antonio), the Secretary also discussed acclimatization.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref27" href="#ftn27">27</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Like the judge, we consider three of the Secretary’s proposed measures together—work/rest cycles, reducing time outdoors, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">acclimatization—because they all address abating the hazard by limiting employee exposure, and the judge found that all three of these “time-based” measures were not shown to be economically feasible.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref28" href="#ftn28">28</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> We then discuss the remaining measures in turn. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Wo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">rk/Rest Cycles, Reducing Time Outdoors, and Acclimatization</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In his post-hearing briefs, the Secretary described two of the time-based abatement measures—work/rest cycles and reducing time outdoors—in a similar fashion in each case. He explained that work/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rest cycles refers to increasing either the frequency or duration of rest breaks “as heat stress levels increase.” Citing testimony from Tustin and Bernard, the Secretary argued that the Postal Service’s existing policy of allowing carriers to take extra<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">breaks in hot weather was inadequate because it did not include a “mechanism” for carriers to actually do so, and because in practice such breaks were discouraged. As for reducing time spent outdoors, the Secretary claimed that carrier schedules could be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">adjusted so that the carriers are outdoors as little as possible during the hottest part of the day. He also asserted that the Postal Service could “eliminate extra work during hotter weather.” In the Houston and Martinsburg cases, the Secretary further<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">claimed that a carrier’s time outdoors could be reduced by having another carrier assist with the route. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In the San Antonio case only, the Secretary argued that acclimatization is an appropriate measure to use for new employees not previously exposed to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>high heat levels, as well as employees who have lost heat acclimatization following an at least two-week absence from work. Citing Bernard’s testimony, the Secretary described two acclimatization methods: (1) reducing the daily duration of an employee’s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat exposure and gradually increasing such exposure over several days; and (2) treating the heat index to which an employee is exposed as higher than it is, such as by adding ten degrees to it on the first day, and then implementing any heat-stress prote</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ctions for the employee that would be triggered by that higher heat index, such as work/rest cycles. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Economic Feasibility<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The judge found that the Secretary failed to establish that these time-based measures were economically feasible because he failed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to “provide an estimate of compliance costs or demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that such costs would not threaten the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service.” Further, the judge concluded that paying for these measures would in fact</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>threaten the Postal Service’s economic viability. In doing so, she cited testimony from Postal Service economist, Do Yeun Sammi Park, who the judge found was qualified to testify as an expert in economics with “specialized expertise in cost modeling,” in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>considering the costs associated with implementing these measures.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref29" href="#ftn29">29</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Park provided several estimates of the annual<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">labor cost the Postal Service would have to incur to adopt an acclimatization program and give carriers an additional five</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">minute paid break, using different assumptions about the implementation of these meas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ures. Her lowest estimate using an overtime rate, which she said was more “realistic” than using a “straight</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time” rate, was that implementing these measures would cost about $100 million per year (about $50 million for each). Other evidence the judge re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lied on in concluding that the Postal Service could not afford this expense is the parties’ stipulation that the Postal Service experienced billions of dollars in net losses from 2016-2018. The judge also pointed to Postal Service Chief Financial Officer<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(CFO) Joseph Corbett’s testimony that the organization lacked the money to pay for these measures: “We don’t have sufficient funds to even pay our existing obligations. So, no, we do not have funds to pay [for those] additional obligations.” </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On review,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Secretary does not dispute that these time-based abatement measures would impose financial costs. But he maintains that such costs would not threaten the Postal Service’s economic viability, for several reasons: (1) the Postal Service is unlikely to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>go out of business for financial reasons because it is a “quasi-governmental agency” and Congress will prevent that; (2) the losses it has experienced are only “paper losses” because they are the result of a statutory obligation to prefund retirement heal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th benefits that the Postal Service has not complied with and that has not been enforced; (3) it can raise prices or borrow funds to pay for the measures; and (4) it plans to spend money on other projects in coming years, including measures to increase pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ductivity, and could reallocate that money to pay for the proposed measures instead. The Secretary also argues that Park’s estimated $100 million annual cost for an acclimatization program and an extra five-minute break is a small amount relative to the P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service’s overall expenses and could be covered by its revenue if its retirement obligations are not considered. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response, the Postal Service echoes the judge’s analysis and argues that paying for these measures will prevent it from meeting i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ts statutory obligation to provide the “essential public service” of universal mail delivery. The Postal Service relies on testimony from its Chief Operating Officer, David Williams Jr., who stated that the Postal Service is projected to run out of money<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in coming years (he predicted this would happen in 2024), and that the abatement costs<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">would “accelerate” that result, at which point the organization’s ability to provide universal postal services would be threatened. The Postal Service also maintains th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at it already gives carriers “rest, lunch, and unlimited comfort breaks” and acclimatizes new carriers through its on-the-job training program, and argues that the fact that thousands of other carriers delivered mail on the same dates at issue in the citat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ions without incident shows that the Secretary’s proposals are unnecessary. Regarding Park’s estimate of the cost of a single five-minute break, the Postal Service contends that the Secretary did not show (or even claim) that providing such a break would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">materially abate the hazard, and it maintains that the actual cost of the Secretary’s work/rest cycles proposal would be much higher. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We agree with the Postal Service that the Secretary has failed to establish that any of his time-based abatement propo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sals—work/rest cycles, reduced time outdoors, and acclimatization—are economically feasible. As the judge noted, the Secretary has provided no estimates of the costs for any of these measures.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref30" href="#ftn30">30</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf. Am. Iron & Steel Inst. v. OSHA</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 939 F.2d 975, 980 (D.C.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Cir. 1991) (“To prove economic feasibility [of a promulgated standard], OSHA must construct a reasonable estimate of compliance costs . . . .”) (citation omitted). Instead, the Secretary simply relies on Park’s testimony and claims that it would “cost as</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>little as $100 million” to provide a five-minute daily break and to acclimate carriers who are off work for more than seven consecutive days, even though as the Postal Service points out, the Secretary has never claimed that abatement could be accomplishe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d simply by giving carriers a single additional five-minute break, let alone shown that a single such break would be materially effective. In fact, the Secretary has never said how much rest time or reduced work hours would accomplish his “work/rest cycl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es” or “reducing time outdoors” proposals (he acknowledges on review that he does not suggest “any specific schedule”), but he elicited testimony from Tustin and Bernard that carriers might need to take fifteen to forty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">five</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">minute rest breaks<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">every hour</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In short, Park’s cost estimate does not even reflect the Secretary’s actual proposal. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This is also true with regard to acclimatization. Before the judge, the Secretary argued that Park’s estimate of the annual labor costs to acclimate carriers who have</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>been away from work for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at least one week during the months of June to August was an over-estimate because acclimatization is only needed for new carriers and carriers returning from a two-week absence, and is “generally only needed when the heat index is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at least 91°F . . . .” But the Secretary provided no cost estimate for his narrower acclimatization proposal and cited no evidence to support his claim that it would necessarily be lower than Park’s figure. For its part, the Postal Service contends that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Park’s figure is an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">under</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-estimate because it only reflects labor costs and does not take into account other business impacts. With no evidence to support the Secretary’s claim, we have no basis for determining who is correct. In short, because the Secre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tary has never identified the specific costs associated with his time-based abatement measures or, as discussed below, pointed to evidence that supports their economic feasibility irrespective of such costs, the record lacks sufficient information to evalu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ate whether these measures are economically feasible.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:line-through ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Even if we were to assume that two of these time-based measures could be accomplished by spending about $100 million annually, the Secretary has not shown that this cost would not threaten the Postal S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ervice’s economic viability. The Secretary has never disputed that, at least on paper, the Postal Service did not have this money as of the time of the hearing. As noted, COO Williams said his “best guess” is that the Postal Service will “run out of cash</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” in 2024, at which point it would no longer be able to pay employees and suppliers; he said that additional spending on a heat-related abatement measure would increase the Postal Service’s losses and “accelerate[] the point in time in which the Postal Ser</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vice could run out of operating cash flow to keep [the] organization going.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref31" href="#ftn31">31</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> CFO Corbett similarly testified that the organization is projected to run out of “operating cash” in 2024, resulting in it not being able to fully pay employees and potentially</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>beginning a “downward spiral.” While he found it “unlikely” that the Postal Service would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">completely “close up shop” at that point, he believed it would “certainly have to cut back on services, which would require cutting back on employees and cutting ba</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ck on facilities, . . . irreparably damaging the brand and putting in danger our ability to fulfill the universal service obligation.” Like Williams, he said that paying for these abatement measures would “accelerate the day of reckoning . . . in terms of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>running out of cash.” </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">These claims are corroborated by a December 2018 report from the Task Force on the United States Postal System,</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref32" href="#ftn32">32</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which describes the Postal Service’s “financial burden” as a potential “existential threat” to its operations:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The US</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PS has been losing money for more than a decade and is on an unsustainable financial path. </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Both administrative and legislative actions are needed to ensure that the USPS does not face a liquidity crisis, which could disrupt mail service and require</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an emergency infusion of taxpayer dollars. </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Without appropriate structural reform, the USPS’s growing financial burden and its unstainable business model pose an existential threat to its operations. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A February 2017 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Postal S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ervice’s “Fiscal Sustainability” makes similar findings, classifying the organization as “high-risk” and stating that its “deteriorating financial condition is unsustainable” and its “mission of providing prompt, reliable and efficient universal services t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o the public is at risk.” </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We find that this evidence collectively shows that the Postal Service’s financial condition is dire and it is already at risk of financial collapse, an outcome that would be expedited by additional expenses. The Secretary’s var</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ious attempts to refute this compelling evidence are unsupported. According to the Secretary, spending $100 million would not be “the tipping point” for the Postal Service because it is a small amount relative to its overall budget, but he cites no eviden</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce to support such a claim. The Secretary also contends that additional expenses would not threaten the Postal Service’s economic viability because Congress would never allow the Postal Service to cease to exist. This claim is highly speculative. The on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly evidentiary support the Secretary cites for this theory is Williams’ testimony that his “best guess” is that the Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">would “get some kind of legislative relief” before going out of business and Corbett’s testimony that he believed it “unlikel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y” the organization would completely close. But Williams expressly said he did not know and could not predict what would happen, and Corbett said he believed the Postal Service would at least have to cut back on services, employees, and facilities, damagi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng its brand and threatening its ability to fulfill its universal service obligation. </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary also points out that the Postal Service has to date continued to function despite yearly losses. But he has presented no evidence to rebut Williams and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Corbett’s projection that the Postal Service will run out of money and be unable to pay its financial obligations in 2024, a claim corroborated by the Task Force’s assertion that the organization is facing an “existential threat” from its financial condit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion, as well as the 2017 GAO report’s finding that it is at “high-risk” and financially unsustainable. Given this evidence, it would be unreasonable to presume from the fact that the Postal Service has continued to operate to date that its viability is no</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t at risk in the future. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary’s contention that budget shortfalls can be alleviated by simply raising prices or borrowing money to pay for additional expenses suffers from the same lack of evidentiary support. Although the Postal Service has th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ability</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to take these steps, the Secretary has not shown that either would be economically advisable or ultimately result in additional funding.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref33" href="#ftn33">33</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> A June 2018 GAO report regarding the Postal Service’s projected capital spending, for example, states: “[</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">E]ven if USPS raises rates, it may not see an increase in revenues . . . . [A] rate increase could lead to a decrease in volume that might offset additional revenue from the rate increase.” In its 2018 Annual Report to the SEC (Form 10-K), the Postal Ser</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vice stated that it already attempts to set its prices for its “Competitive Services” at levels that will “maximize revenue.” </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Finally, the Secretary points out that the Postal Service plans to spend money on various other projects going forward and cont</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ends that it could reallocate those funds to pay for the proposed abatement measures instead. But this simplistic claim is unsupported by evidence that doing so would be economically viable or even the best use of the Postal Service’s resources to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">promote</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>employee safety. The Secretary cites the 2018 GAO report, which states that “USPS projects average annual capital cash outlays of $2.4 billion from fiscal years 2018-2028,” an amount “largely driven” by its “plans to acquire a new fleet of delivery vehic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">les,” but that also includes “facilities, information technology, and mail-processing equipment.” The report immediately adds: “However, USPS faces a serious financial situation with insufficient revenues to cover expenses. This uncertainty may result i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n USPS’s making capital spending tradeoffs . . . .” Future spending, the report explains, will depend on future revenues, “will likely involve prioritization decisions,” and the “uncertain outlook may result in USPS changing its current capital spending p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lans . . . .” </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Given the spending tradeoff decisions that will likely already be necessary, the GAO report shows that diverting future projected spending could be counterproductive to the objective of maximizing employee safety while maintaining economic<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">viability. The GAO report states that most of the Postal Service’s projected additional spending is to replace its aging delivery fleet and projected spending on facilities is mostly for the “rehabilitation and repair of existing facilities,” such as fixi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng “roofs or heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref34" href="#ftn34">34</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Other projected spending includes the purchase of new information technology equipment, including “video conferencing systems intended to increase productivity and encourage collaboration,” as we</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll as spending on cybersecurity and hardware. The record does not show that shifting any of these expenditures to the proposed abatement measures would better advance employee safety and the organization’s economic viability.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>For all of these reasons, we find that the Secretary has not proven that his proposed time-based abatement measures are economically feasible. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Technical Feasibility</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In addition to finding the time-based measures economically infeasible, the judge found<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that they would likely be technically infeasible as well due to their impact on carrier work schedules. Citing COO Williams’s testimony, the judge observed that delivering the mail requires the nationwide coordination of a complex network of employees, fa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cilities, and vehicles in a “24-hour clock” schedule, and “one snag could create a bullwhip effect.” In addition, the judge found<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that the Postal Service’s collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the carrier unions would pose “obstacles” to these tim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e-based measures, such as their limitation on the number of employees who can work part</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time and prohibition on the Postal Service making unilateral changes to hours or working conditions.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref35" href="#ftn35">35</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On review, the Secretary does not address the technical feasib</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ility of his time-related measures at all (apart from opining in a footnote that the 24-hour clock schedule should not be “sacrosanct”). Before the judge, he cited only to Bernard’s opinion that it would be feasible for the Postal Service to implement the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>work/rest cycles and acclimatization measures because part-time carriers or “temporary workers” could be “brought in.” But as the Postal Service points out, Bernard subsequently admitted that he offered that opinion without knowing or considering what is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in the CBAs, what the “mail cycle” is, or what the Postal Service’s delivery obligations are. Because the Secretary neither addresses these concerns nor points to any other evidence to support the technical feasibility of the time-based measures, we find</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that he failed to meet his burden on that issue. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In any event, we agree with the judge—whose findings the Postal Service echoes on review—that implementing any of these measures would create serious challenges for the Postal Service in coordinating its<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nationwide delivery network and complying with certain CBA provisions. To reduce carrier workloads and time spent outdoors during hot days as proposed, the record shows that the Postal Service would have to either slow or alter delivery schedules or make<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">extra employees available to assist.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref36" href="#ftn36">36</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Williams testified that slowing or altering delivery schedules in response to hot weather would prevent the Postal Service from delivering the mail on time and cause cascading backups in its complex transportation ne</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">twork: “Every step depends on the previous step. And if we change one, we change another. The one thing we can’t change is the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">transportation.” According to Williams, it takes months to adjust truck and plane schedules, and there is no “agile” way to s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hift those schedules in response to hot weather. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Changes to carrier schedules would also need to be negotiated with the unions, because the CBAs do not allow the Postal Service to make unilateral changes. If the Postal Service were to have additional ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers assist on hot weather days rather than slow delivery schedules, the CBAs also could pose technical challenges. The National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) CBA requires that full-time carriers be given eight paid hours per shift, including o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n non-scheduled workdays, and it limits the percentage of carriers who can work part-time. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We also question whether the Secretary has established the feasibility of adjusting carrier work schedules to avoid the hottest hours given his failure to address<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service’s claim that doing so would require carriers to deliver in low or no light conditions, which might pose other safety concerns such as an increased risk of falls and vehicle accidents, both of which the Postal Service contends are far mor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e common among carriers than heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related illnesses. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In sum, we find that the Secretary has failed to establish that work/rest cycles, acclimatization, and reducing time outdoors are feasible abatement measures, economically and technically.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref37" href="#ftn37">37</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Emergency</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Response Plans and Monitoring</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary described his “emergency response plans” and “employee monitoring” measures similarly in each case below. He alleged that the Postal Service’s procedures for discovering and responding to an employee<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness were inadequate. Specifically, the Postal Service trains carriers to call a supervisor if they experience<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">symptoms of a heat-related illness, and to call 911 if their symptoms are severe.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref38" href="#ftn38">38</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Secretary ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gued for two specific changes to these procedures: (1) a “virtual buddy system” that would allow carriers to “keep in contact with a designated individual to gauge how [they each] are feeling” and allow them to “actively discuss[] how they feel” instead o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f waiting until their symptoms become “overwhelming;”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref39" href="#ftn39">39</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and (2) instructing carriers to contact the Postal Service’s “occupational health services program,” which is staffed by physicians and nurses, if they experience symptoms of a heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related illness.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Although the judge did not discuss these proposals in the San Antonio, Benton, and Martinsburg decisions, she found in the Houston decision that the Secretary failed to prove they would be materially effective beyond the procedures the Postal Service alrea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dy had in place. We find that the Secretary has not shown in any of the cases that either measure would be feasible or materially effective. Regarding the buddy system, the Secretary never explained what this system would specifically require of carriers</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, such as whether they would be required to contact each other at specified intervals, and if so, what the feasible but also effective intervals would be. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mid South Waffles</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1789-90 (Secretary must explain what the abatement measure wou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld require with specificity);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat’l Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1268</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(“[T]he Secretary must be constrained to specify the particular steps a cited employer should have taken to avoid citation . . . .”). When asked if a virtual buddy system would have “significant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly reduced the hazard,” Bernard replied that he thought it would because it would offer “the potential to address the signs and symptoms much earlier . . . .” But he did not say how often carriers would need to contact their buddy to achieve this benefit<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or discuss the feasibility of any specific schedule. It is also unclear from Bernard’s testimony whether this measure would offer a material improvement<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">beyond the Postal Service’s current procedures. In fact, Bernard agreed that if carriers “call 9</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[when] they experience signs or symptoms” they will be “no less safe than if they called their virtual buddy or called their supervisor.” </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As for requiring carriers to contact the Postal Service’s occupational health services program, Tustin opined that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">if carriers could quickly speak to a nurse or physician in that program, it would eliminate “any delays” and any “potential conflicts of interest talking to a supervisor,” as well as avoid “having someone who is not really medically knowledgeable triaging<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">illnesses.” At the same time, Tustin acknowledged that the Postal Service’s current practice of instructing carriers to “simply call 911” if their symptoms are severe was just as effective as calling someone from the occupational health program. And the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Secretary points to no evidence that implementing this measure would have been feasible. He did not explain, for example, how many occupational health professionals are available at any given time, whether they are available to take such calls, or whethe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r additional staff would need to be hired. Thus, we find the Secretary has not shown that his emergency response and monitoring proposals are either feasible or effective.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Analyzing Data</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary claimed in each of his post-hearing briefs that the Postal Service could materially reduce the excessive heat hazard by evaluating its own heat-related illness data “to understand the causal factors, and use that information to create an effe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ctive heat stress program.” In support, the Secretary cited Tustin’s testimony that analyzing such data would allow the Postal Service to determine what “environmental conditions are associated with heat-related illnesses in their workforce,” and pointed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">out that Tustin himself analyzed the data in this manner and created a chart showing how the number of incidents correlates with temperature levels. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary, however, did not include this proposed measure in any of the citations before us, and the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service did not address it in its post-hearing briefs (nor does it on review). Likewise, the judge did not address this measure at all in the San Antonio, Benton, and Martinsburg decisions and in the Houston decision, she expressly declined to addr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ess the measure because the citation did not list it. On review, the Secretary does not address the judge’s rejection of this measure due to its absence from the citations. At the same time, the Postal Service does not argue that the measure should not b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e considered on that (or any other) ground. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Putting aside whether the judge correctly declined to consider this measure given its absence from the citations at issue, we find that the Secretary has failed to adequately explain how<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“analyzing data” would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">have enabled the Postal Service to materially reduce the hazard or pointed to evidence that it would have in fact done so. The Secretary vaguely asserted that the information the Postal Service could acquire from such an analysis could be used to create a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n effective heat stress program, but he provided no details or examples. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1191 (requiring the Secretary to “specify the particular steps a cited employer should have taken” to address cited hazard);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat’l Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d at 1268</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(same). In the transcript pages the Secretary cited in support of this measure, Tustin stated that data analysis would allow the Postal Service to “figure out the environmental conditions [that] are associated with heat-related illness in [its]<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">workforce.” But he did not say what the Postal Service could do with that information to materially reduce the hazard, other than that the data could be used to “start developing plans.” Tustin did create a chart from the Postal Service’s data to show th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at the number of heat-related incidents rose as the temperature rose, but he never identified any specific actions that the Postal Service could take based on the chart or discuss the feasibility and efficacy of any such measures.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref40" href="#ftn40">40</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> For these reasons, we<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">find that the Secretary has not shown that the Postal Service can materially reduce the excessive heat hazard by analyzing its heat-related illness data. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Air-Conditioned Vehicles</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In every case except San Antonio, the Secretary argued that the Postal Se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvice could have abated the hazard by replacing its fleet of non-air-conditioned “Long-Life Vehicles” (LLVs) (the “familiar boxy mail truck[s]”) with air-conditioned vehicles.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref41" href="#ftn41">41</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> On review, the Secretary states only that the LLVs many carriers drive can be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">come very hot inside. Below, the Secretary argued that the use of air-conditioned vehicles would materially reduce the hazard by providing carriers with a cool location to take rest breaks, as well as a cool place to go if they are experiencing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">symptoms o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f a heat-related illness. The Secretary maintained that the economic and technical feasibility of this measure is demonstrated by the fact that the Postal Service is already planning to replace all of its LLVs with air-conditioned vehicles, and began taki</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng steps to do so in 2014. He also noted that Bernard said he believed using air-conditioned vehicles is technically feasible. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service does not specifically address this abatement proposal on review, but below it argued that carriers alrea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dy have access to air-conditioned or shaded locations where they can rest. In the Martinsburg case, for example, it pointed out that the carrier involved in the citation incident testified that she took a fifteen-minute rest break in an air-conditioned 7-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Eleven that day, and said she could go there or to several other air-conditioned businesses at any time. The judge did not discuss the Secretary’s proposed measure in the Benton and Martinsburg decisions. In the Houston decision, she stated only that she</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>would not address it because it was not included in that citation. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We note that this proposed measure appears only in the Martinsburg citation. But again, putting aside whether that omission is of any consequence here, we find that the Secretary has f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ailed to show it would have been feasible for the Postal Service to have made air-conditioned vehicles available to all carriers prior to the summer of 2016. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Nat’l Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 (“[T]he Secretary must be constrained to specify the particula</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r steps a cited employer should have taken to avoid citation . . . .”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cormier Well Serv.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 4 BNA OSHC 1085, 1086 (No. 8123, 1976) (“[The Secretary] must . . . show the existence of feasible steps the employer could have taken to abate the hazard and, ther</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">efore, avoid citation.”). The Postal Service began taking steps to replace its aging fleet in 2014, and when the National Hearing took place in early 2019, was in the process of testing and evaluating prototypes created by different potential suppliers. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Han Dinh, the Postal Service’s manager for vehicle engineering, projected that the actual production of new vehicles would not begin until at least December 2021. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At no point has the Secretary explained why he believes it would have been feasible for the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Postal Service to have completed this project before the citations were issued. As for Bernard’s testimony, he merely opined that using air-conditioned vehicles is “technically feasible,” but agreed that he “didn’t say it was economically feasible.” He<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was not asked to (nor did he) provide an opinion on whether it would have been feasible for the Postal Service to have made such vehicles available to all carriers by 2016. As a result, we find that the Secretary has not proven the feasibility of this pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">posed measure.</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Training</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Although the Secretary does not dispute that the Postal Service provided heat safety training to employees at the stations at issue, he argued in only the Houston and Martinsburg cases that the excessive heat hazard could be mater</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ially reduced if the Postal Service provided better training to the employees in those stations. On review, the Secretary fails to identify what the Postal Service could have done to improve its training in either of those cases, citing only Bernard’s tes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">timony that “there seemed to be a disconnect between what was included in the [training] materials and what was actually being absorbed by [employees].” Below, the Secretary critiqued the training for being “focused primarily on hydration.” In the Housto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n case, the Secretary also vaguely asserted that the Postal Service could have included “a wider variety of topics, different methods for conveying said topics, and follow-up from upper management to ensure” that the training was provided and “absorbed by<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">both supervisors and carriers.” In that case, he also alleged that two Houston carriers had received no heat safety training in the six months prior to the date of the citation incident. And in the Martinsburg case, the Secretary suggested that a compute</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r-based heat safety training the Postal Service provided employees could have been made mandatory. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Service contends that it adequately trains employees on heat safety through several means. It cites testimony from Manuel Peralta, the NALC’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">national director of safety and health, who agreed that the Postal Service trains its employees, including management, on heat safety in a variety of ways, including stand-up talks, “Learning Management Systems” (computer-based) courses, posters, videos,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">bulletins, messages on computer screen savers, laminated cards listing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, stickers placed in vehicles with the same information, and mobile delivery device texts regarding heat safety. As for Bernard’s testim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ony, the Postal Service points out that he characterized its “Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign,” a compilation of heat safety information the Postal Service distributed in April 2016 to all post offices in the “Southern Area,”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref42" href="#ftn42">42</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as “adequate” and “a good</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>program” that “clearly a lot of effort<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">had been put into.” Finally, the Postal Service argues that the Secretary failed to specify what additional training methods it should have used. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In both cases, the judge agreed that the Secretary failed to show</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service provided inadequate heat safety training, noting that the Secretary failed to articulate what additional training methods the Postal Service should have used. In the Houston case, the judge pointed out that carriers at the Astrodome St</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ation (where the carrier at issue worked) were given heat safety talks in both early May and late June 2016 as part of the Southern Campaign and that these talks covered the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, precautions to take, and instructions to call<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">911 when experiencing symptoms. In the Martinsburg case, the judge similarly found that carriers had been trained on the recognition, prevention, treatment, and reporting of heat-related illnesses. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We agree with the judge that the Secretary has failed t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o show that the Postal Service’s heat safety training was inadequate in both cases. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">USPS</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 21 BNA OSHC 1767, 1773-74 (No. 04-0316, 2006) (to establish abatement element, Secretary must prove “that the methods undertaken by the employer . . . were inadequat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e”). As she found, the Secretary identified no specific ways that the training provided at either station could have been improved. Regarding his claim of a misplaced emphasis on hydration, the Secretary relied on testimony from Bernard that “even though</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the training [provided as part of the Southern Campaign] was broad” in the information it covered, “what [the employees] seemed to recall was the message about drinking . . . .” When asked if too much emphasis was put on hydration, Bernard simply replied</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that the “training materials covered a lot of topics,” and “while it was there on paper, the execution of that lent to . . . [when] you query people about what do they know to deal with heat stress they would report drink water.” When asked if the traini</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng would have materially reduced the hazard if it “had, you know, a better focus to it,” he replied, “I think so, yes.” </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Bernard made no attempt to explain what “a better focus” would entail. In fact, as the Postal Service points out, Bernard praised the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Southern Campaign.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref43" href="#ftn43">43</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Moreover, his vague<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">criticisms focused on the results of the training in terms of what employees recalled rather than identifying any specific improvements the Postal Service should have made. Indeed, Bernard did not say that the tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">aining was too focused on hydration; he merely said that hydration was what employees seemed to best remember. In short, he did not clearly identify any specific inadequacies in the training given or explain what the Postal Service should have been doing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that it was not. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As for the Secretary’s allegation that two Houston carriers did not receive heat safety training in the six months prior to the June 17, 2016 citation incident, the record does not support that claim. The only evidence the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary cited is the sign-in sheets for heat safety training sessions given on various dates during the summer of 2016, several of which show that the two carriers were in fact present at those sessions. The earliest sign-in sheet is dated a week after<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the June 17 incident, but the Secretary does not claim that was the first training session provided that year, or point to any evidence that it was.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref44" href="#ftn44">44</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> In fact, other documents provided by the Postal Service show that at least two other heat safety training sessions were given in late May and early June. There is nothing in the record to establish that the two carriers were not trained on these dates.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, regarding the Secretary’s claim that the training provided in Martinsburg was inadequate because the Postal Service’s computer-based training was not mandatory—the only other specific deficiency he alleged—he presented no evidence that this tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">aining would have materially reduced the hazard and, in fact, acknowledged that employees in Martinsburg were being trained on heat safety in several ways, including through stand-up talks given in the mornings<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">before carriers start their routes. The Secr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">etary also does not explain why mandating this particular training would have materially improved upon any other type of training. </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In sum, the Secretary has not met his burden to identify specific measures that the Postal Service could have feasibly take</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n that would have materially and effectively reduced the excessive heat hazard that existed in these cases. Accordingly, we vacate all four citations.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:18.667px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SO ORDERED.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:288px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cynthia L. Attwood</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:18.667px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Chairman</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Amanda Wood</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Laihow</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dated: February 17, 2023</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Commissioner</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Un</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ited States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "> OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">th</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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			<table style="border-collapse:collapse; width:16.51cm; align:left; margin-left:0cm; margin-bottom:0cm">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary of<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Labor,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Complainant</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> v.</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">United States Postal Service,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket No.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">16-1713</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				</tr>
				<tr style="height:1.238cm; ">
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC),</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> And</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA)</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dolores Wolfe, Esq. and Traci Martin, Esq.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, Dallas, Texas<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Charles Booth, Esq., USPS, Dallas, Texas and Trevor Neuroth, Esq., USPS, Washington, D.C.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Shawn Boyd<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For NALC</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">BEFORE: Administrative Law Judge<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">I. INTRODUCTION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On June 13, 2016, a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service began to feel ill as he delivered mail on a route in San Antonio, Texas. He called a supervisor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at Beacon Hill Station, the postal facility to which he was assigned, and told him he was too sick to continue his route. The supervisor instructed him to call 911, which the carrier did. Emergency medical technicians responded to his call and provided me</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dical treatment. Beacon Hill Station supervisors also arrived at the site. The emergency medical technicians left, and a supervisor drove the employee back to the post office. The carrier completed paperwork related to the incident and left for the day. La</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ter that evening, he went to an urgent care center, where he was treated with IV fluids and medication for his headache.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Two days later, on June 15, 2016, a city letter carrier for Beacon Hill Station began to feel ill as she delivered mail on her regula</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r route. She called a supervisor who told her to call 911. Emergency medical technicians responded to her call, provided medical treatment, and transported her to a hospital. The hospital administered IV fluids to the carrier and discharged her later that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">day.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Beacon Hill Station notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the two incidents. OSHA opened an inspection at Beacon Hill Station on June 16, 2016. As a result of the inspection, the Secretary issued a two-item Citation and Notif</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ication of Penalty to the United States Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">(referred to in this proceeding as the Postal Service or USPS) on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">September 7, 2016</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of the Citation alleges a repeat violation of § 5(a)(1), the general duty clause (29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1)), of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">§§651-678 (Act).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref45" href="#ftn45">45</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary withdrew Item 2 of the Citation at the national hearing (National Hearing (NH) Tr. 1453-55).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref46" href="#ftn46">46</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 alleges two instances where the Postal Service exposed its employees “to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and hand-delivering mail in an outdoor environment.” The Secretary proposes a penalty of $124,709 for the alleged violation and seek</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s enterprise-wide implementation of specified abatement measures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This case is one of five pending before the Court in which the Secretary alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees to excessive heat or high heat levels as they delivered the mail.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), authorized employee representatives, elected party status in the proceedings. They did not present evidence, examine witnesses, or submit post-h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">earing briefs in this proceeding (Tr. 12-13). The five cases were consolidated early in the proceedings for settlement purposes, but the parties were unable to resolve the issues. On January 26, 2018, Judge Heather Joys, the settlement judge, severed the c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ases for hearing, and they were reassigned to the Court, who heard the five cases sequentially in October and November of 2018.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref47" href="#ftn47">47</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties agreed the Court would hold a separate hearing (referred to as the national hearing) to present expert witnesses<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and witnesses addressing issues common to the five cases. The Court held the 12-day national hearing in Washington, D.C., from February 25 to March 12, 2019. The testimony and exhibits in the national hearing are part of the records in the five cases, unle</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ss otherwise noted. The records of the individual cases were not admitted in the other actions, unless noted.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref48" href="#ftn48">48</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This is the second of the five Postal Service cases heard by the Court. The hearing was held from October 22 to October 24, 2018, in San Antoni</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o, Texas.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref49" href="#ftn49">49</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The parties submitted briefs for all five cases on September 17, 2019. For the reasons that follow, the Court finds the Secretary did not establish a condition or activity in the workplace presented an excessive heat hazard to San Antonio’s ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers on June 13 and 15, 2016. The Court also finds the Secretary failed to show an economically feasible means existed to materially reduce the alleged hazard of excessive heat. The Citation is vacated.</span></p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">II. JURISDICTION AND COVERAGE</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">timely contested the Citation on September 30, 2016. The parties stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under the Act (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 1-2; Tr. 28).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref50" href="#ftn50">50</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Based on the stipulations and the record e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vidence, the Court finds the Commission has jurisdiction over this proceeding under § 10(c) of the Act, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under § 3(5) of the Act.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">III. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13892</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties filed post-hearing briefs on September</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>17, 2019, in the five Postal Service cases. On October 15, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 13892</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 84 Fed. Reg. 55239 (Octobe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r 15, 2019) (E.O. 13892)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Section 4 of E.O. 13892 provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Sec. 4.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fairness and Notice in Administrative Enforcement Actions and Adjudications.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When an agency takes an administrative enforcement action, engages in adjudication, or otherwise makes a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">determination that has legal consequence for a person, it may apply only standards of conduct that have been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise. An agency must avoid unfair surprise not only when it imposes penalties but also<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">whenever it adjudges past conduct to have violated the law.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On November 6, 2019, the Postal Service submitted a letter to the Court with a copy of E.O. 13892 attached “as supplemental authority.” The Postal Service states:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[E.O. 13892] is relevant to two primary arguments in the Postal Service’s Post-Trial Briefs:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1. The Commission has already recognized that defining a hazard as “excessive heat,” which the Secretary has done in this case, falls far short of due process. [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA is required to afford regulated parties safeguards “above and beyond” those required for due process. Vaguely defining a hazard as “excessive heat” does not meet [E.O. 13892’s] requirements.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2. [E.O. 13892] makes it c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lear that OSHA’s reliance on its heat chart and other guidance documents as the basis for establishing a heat hazard is impermissible. While agency guidance documents can be useful in enhancing the regulated community’s understanding of a regulation, they<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are not intended to form the basis of a violation. Guidance documents do not have the benefit of undergoing notice and comment rulemaking, and thus do not provide the regulated community with fair notice.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Letter, p. 2) (footnotes omitted)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iled a response on December 4, 2019, stating the terms of E.O. 13892 do not create rights enforceable against the Secretary, and due process concerns are not implicated where the Postal Service has recognized or should have recognized the excessive heat ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">zard at issue. The Secretary notes the Postal Service has suffered no unfair surprise as that term is used in the Order.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By order dated January 30, 2020, the Court accepted the Letter and attached copy of E.O. 13892 as supplemental authority in this proce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eding in accordance with FRCP 15(d), which provides:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(d) SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS. On motion and reasonable notice, the court may, on just terms, permit a party to serve a supplemental pleading setting out any transaction, occurrence, or event that happened</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>after the date of the pleading to be supplemented. The court may permit supplementation even though the original pleading is defective in stating a claim or defense. The court may order that the opposing party plead to the supplemental pleading within a s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pecified time.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having considered the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that in citing the Postal Service for a violation of § 5(a)(1) for excessive heat exposure, the Secretary did not overstep the terms of E.O. 13892. Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 state</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s, “This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">any other person.” Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 bars review in adjudicative proceedings of an agency’s compliance with E.O. 13892.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Furthermore, § 9(c) of the Act grants the Secretary the authority to cite employers for violations of § 5(a)(1). 29 U.S.C. §</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>658(a). Section 11(a)(i) of E.O. 13892 provides, “Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof.” E.O. 13892 cannot be used to restrict t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Secretary’s congressional authority to implement § 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, E.O. 13892 states agencies “may apply only standards of conduct that have been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise.” Section 5(a)(1) requires employers t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">o “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). Hazards are recognized within t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he meaning of § 5(a)(1) if they are known to the cited employer or would be known to a reasonably prudent employer in the industry.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SeaWorld of Fla., LLC v. Perez,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">748 F.3d 1216 (D.C. Cir. 2014). The Secretary previously cited the Postal Service for the wi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">llful exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards, and a Commission judge affirmed the violation. The decision and order became a final order of the Commission.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Service cannot claim plausibly it was unfairly surprised by subsequent citations for repeat violations alleging exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IV. THE SAN ANTONIO HEARING</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stipulations<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulate the following:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref51" href="#ftn51">51</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. [T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Postal Service] is divided into seven Areas which are in turn divided into Districts.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. The seven areas are: Northeast Area; Eastern Area; Western Area; Pacific Area; Southern Area; Great Lakes and Capitol Metro.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. This hearing involves operations at</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a postal facility at 1064 Vance Jackson Road, San Antonio, Texas (Beacon Hill Station) which is located in the Southern Area.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. On June 13, 2016, the total number of letter carriers who were employed by the Beacon Hill postal facility was 45 city carrier</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s, 17 city carrier assistants and 0 rural carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. On June 13, 2016, there was a total of approximately 54 city routes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. CCA1’s enter on duty date for the Postal Service was May 14, 2016.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref52" href="#ftn52">52</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. On June 13, 2016, CCA1 was assigned to Route 1013.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. On June 13, 2016, the total weight of the mail that CCA1 was supposed to deliver was 152.94 pounds.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">11. On June 13, 2016, the total number of pieces that CCA1 was supposed to deliver was 2,046.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12. On June 15, letter carrier LC2 was an employee of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[the Postal Service] who worked at the Beacon Hill facility delivering mail.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13. LC2 transferred from Ohio to the Beacon Hill Station where she worked as a city carrier beginning in January 2015.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">14. She continued working as a City Carrier at the Beacon H</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ill Station until May 2017, when she transferred to the Mockingbird Station in Austin, Texas.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">15. LC2 has an assigned route which was route 1030 (Route 30).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16. On June 15, 2016, LC2’s total weight of the mail that LC2 was supposed to deliver was 122.57 p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ounds.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">17. On June 15, 2016, the total number of pieces of mail that LC2 was supposed to deliver was 1,923.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exh. J-1)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Background</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Beacon Hill Station</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In June of 2016, the Beacon Hill Station in San Antonio, Texas, employed 45 city letter<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carriers and 17 city carrier assistants (CCAs) to deliver mail on 54 city routes.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref53" href="#ftn53">53</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> CCAs are contract carriers who receive different compensation and benefits from city carriers. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated by NALC and the Postal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Service guarantees minimums of 8 hours daily for city carriers and 4 hours daily for CCAs. City carriers deliver mail on their regular routes. The post office assigns CCAs to different routes on a weekly basis, depending on mail volume and which city carri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers are absent due to scheduled time off or illness (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 6-7; Tr. 58-59, 598, 603-05).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If a city carrier comes in under 8 hours, the post office gives them<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">undertime</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and assigns a piece of another route, called a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">kickoff.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In postal nomenclature,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">kickoff</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">pivot</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is the portion of a route assigned to a carrier in addition to his or her regular route.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref54" href="#ftn54">54</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Kickoffs include<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">auxiliary routes as well as regular routes whose assigned city carriers are not working that day (Tr. 154-55, 601).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>City carr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iers are guaranteed 40 hours of work per week by the CBA but may volunteer for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">work assignment list</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, meaning they are willing to work overtime during their regularly scheduled days on their own routes. They can also volunteer for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overtime-desired l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ist</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, indicating their willingness to deliver on other routes and to work on their scheduled days off (Tr. 154-55, 330, 601). If the post office has exhausted all resources and no overtime carriers are available, supervisors may assign, or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">mandate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, overtime to city carriers who are not on the work assignment or overtime lists (Tr. 155-56).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Trucks hauling the day’s mail for Beacon Hill Station arrive at the facility at midnight, 3:00 or 3:30 a.m., and 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. (Tr. 781). The incoming mail</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>comprises different classes (Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, periodicals, etc.) with different delivery schedules. The delivery schedule is determined by the delivery time to which the Postal Service has committed. If the post offi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce does not meet the delivery schedule for Priority Mail Express, it refunds the service fee to the customer (Tr. 777-80).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Beacon Hill Station staffs a morning (A.M.) supervisor, who works from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and an afternoon (P.M.) supervis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or, who works from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. They supervise carriers only. A different supervisor has authority over the clerks, who unload and sort the mail (Tr.595-96, 739). City carriers start work at 7:00 a.m., by which time clerks are expected to have p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rocessed 80 percent of the incoming mail (Tr. 782). The goal of the A.M. supervisor is to have city carriers on the street delivering mail by 8:00 or 8:15 a.m. (Tr. 597).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>During the day, carriers collect mail on their routes which must be brought back to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the post office before the dispatch truck leaves at 6:30 p.m. for the Postal Service’s processing and distribution center. If carriers do not bring the collected mail to the post office in time for dispatch, a Postal Service employee must drive to the proc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">essing and distribution center to deliver the late mail (Tr. 778).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In the spring and summer of 2016, Beacon Hill Station supervisors gave a number of standup safety talks focused on delivering mail in hot weather conditions as part of the Postal Service’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Exh. C-3; Tr. 413). The campaign stressed the importance of proper hydration, weather-appropriate clothing, taking breaks in shaded areas, and recognizing symptoms of heat stress (Exh. C-3, pp. 29-40) City carriers are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>contractually entitled to a 30-minute lunch break and two 10-minute breaks (one before and one after lunch) (Tr. 156, 163). In the summer of 2016, the Beacon Hill Station informed carriers they could take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">comfort breaks</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as needed to cool off. A comfort br</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eak is usually a bathroom break or an opportunity to refill or purchase beverages. The post office does not limit comfort breaks in hot weather (Tr. 363-64).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If city carriers believe they will not be able to complete the route in 8 hours, they submit a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>form (Form 3996) requesting more time (overtime) or help (auxiliary assistance) to complete delivery. The carrier estimates on the form how much additional time is needed to complete the route and submits it before leaving the post office in the morning (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 607-610).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">CCA1 and the June 13, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1 began working for the Postal Service on May 14, 2016, in a CCA position (Exh. J-1, ¶ 8). He received classroom orientation training for a week, followed by 3 days of on-the-job training (Tr. 54-56).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>CCA1 received his on-the-job training from CT, a Beacon Hill Station city carrier and certified trainer. CT explained his training schedule for CCA1.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“On the first day he pretty much just observed. On the second day, we kind of split it. He made some deli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">veries; I made some deliveries. On the third day, he would come in and case up the route or separate the mail, sort the mail.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref55" href="#ftn55">55</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And he would go out there and do the majority of the route.” (Tr. 303-04) The first non-training day on which CCA1 delivered mai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l was June 3, 2016 (Tr.439). He worked every day from June 3 to June 9, totaling 55 hours of delivery time in his first 7 days. He did not work on June 10, 11, or 12 (Exh. R-13, pp. 1412-16).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Regular routes are designed with the intention carriers will c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">omplete daily mail delivery in 8 hours.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Service configures routes for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">mounted delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(for which the carrier delivers mail from the vehicle to the curbside mailbox);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">dismount delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(for which the carrier parks and delivers mail to one or two</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>houses at a time and then returns to the vehicle and drives to the next<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park point<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(a designated parking spot)); and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park and loop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>delivery (for which the carrier parks the vehicle at a park point and walks down one side of the street, delivering mail to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">each address, and then crosses to the other side to deliver mail, looping back to the vehicle (Tr. 145-47).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On Monday, June 13, 2016, CCA1 was assigned Route 13, which is a park and loop route. Delivering mail on that route requires 10 to 12 miles of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">walking (Exh. J-1, ¶ 9; Tr. 337, 372). Route 13 had ten loops in 2016. CCA1 would need to carry the mail for one loop, then return to his vehicle, drive to the next park point, and carry the mail for next loop. On June 13, CCA1 was to deliver 2,046 pieces<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of mail, weighing a total of 152.94 pounds. Dividing the weight by the number of loops results in a calculation of approximately 15.3 pounds per loop (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 10-11; Tr. 631-32) There are approximately 600 addresses on Route 13 (Tr. 347). It is primar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ily a residential area with flat terrain. Approximately 80 percent of the loop is shaded. There are five business addresses and a school on the route where a carrier could take breaks in air-conditioned buildings (Tr. 372-73). CCA1 was not required to case</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>his mail that morning (Tr. 661).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA1 began work at 8:30 a.m. on June 13, 2016 (Exh. R-13, p. 1416). He was driving an air-conditioned van (Tr. 555-56). CCA1 called Supervisor JL at some point and told him he was falling behind in delivering mail on Rout</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e 13 (Tr. 513, 553). He called a second time at approximately 4:00 and informed Supervisor JL he was feeling ill (Tr. 554).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref56" href="#ftn56">56</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> He had a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">headache, was sweating profusely, and felt faint and feverish (Tr. 88). Supervisor JL told CCA1 that if he was feeling i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll, he should call 911. When asked why he did not call 911 for him, Supervisor JL stated, “I felt that if for any reason he did need medical assistance, that 911 would be better there able to support him or walk him through in case it was an emergency.” (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 514)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA1 called 911. At the hearing, he had only a vague recall of the events of that day. He stated, “The most I remember now, is that after the phone call—I just remember that the San Antonio Fire Department had show[n] up to the scene, had assesse</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d me and that I was driven back to the post office after my assessment by another gentleman who was a supervisor there.” (Tr. 84)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Supervisor JL and two other supervisors arrived at CCA1’s location (Tr. 555). CCA1 said he had a fever and had been sick ove</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r the previous weekend (Tr. 551). Once CCA1 returned to the post office, he completed a form stating he was not seeking Workers’ Compensation for the medical care he received (Tr. 89-90). Later that evening, he went to an urgent care center where, he state</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d, “I recall receiving IV fluids, as well as—I believe I received medication for my headache.” (Tr. 91)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA1 attributed his illness to the hot weather that day.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [S]ince you don't remember the date, wouldn't it be fair say that you don't recall the te</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mperature on that day?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1: I don't remember the exact, specific date, but I do remember the temperature, specifically because of the fact that it was because of how hot it was that that's what caused me to have my incident.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So you don't actually inde</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pendently remember the date of your injury, and the fact that it was hot, are you just assuming that because you suffered your injury?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1: No, sir. I'm going off of the basis that not only was it during the summer, but that also on top of what I was goi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng through physically during that day, I do recall that the weather was hot because of the illness I suffered as well as when the San Antonio Fire Department showed up even they had told me that it was a pretty hot day.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 102-03)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Despite the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat, CCA1 refrained from using the air conditioning in his van. “I had access to AC but I tried mostly to not take the breaks in the air conditioning to not put my body into<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">shock. . . . When going from extreme heats, just from my knowledge, to very cool<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperatures very quickly can actually cause shock.” (Tr. 112)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA1’s medical records indicate he had a predisposing medical condition. Exhibit R-17 is a copy of his medical records related to the June 13 incident, as well as incidents in April and May of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>2016. On June 13, 2016, (the day of the incident) the urgent care facility record states, “[Patient] reports Upper Respiratory infection symptoms for 3 days. While working today, he felt feverish and lightheaded but continued working in the heat. He then<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">had a syncopal episode. He recovered in less than a minute but continues to feel somewhat lightheaded.” The “Clinical Impression” is “Acute Dehydration, Acute Cough.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref57" href="#ftn57">57</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Exh. R-17, p. 1740)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA1 had sought medical attention at the urgent care center on Ap</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ril 19 and May 21, 2016, with symptoms similar to the ones he experienced on June 13. On April 19 (before he was hired by the Postal Service) he reported, “Cough, Fever, Headache, Sore Chest x 7 days, Runny Nose, Plugged Left Ear/Left Ear Pain, Back Pain,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tightness in Chest.” (Exh. R-17, p. 1691) He was treated for “Acute sinusitis” and “Cough.” (Exh. R-17, p. 1696) On May 21, he reported, “Sore Throat, Terrible Cough, Chest hurts when I cough and back as well.” (Exh. R-17, p. 1697) He was provided with a t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reatment plan for “Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis” and referred to a gastroenterologist (Exh. R-17, p. 1697).</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LC2 and the June 15, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service hired LC2 in 2011 as a city letter carrier in Ohio. In 2015, LC2 transf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">erred to Beacon Hill Station in San Antonio, Texas. In June of 2016, her regular route was Route 30. It is located in a residential neighborhood with a few business addresses. It is mostly a park and loop route. LC2 spent approximately 20 minutes a day in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">her air-conditioned van, driving perhaps 2 minutes at a time between park points. She walked 12 to 15 miles daily on her route (Tr. 143-47).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Route 30 was considered “45 over base,” meaning the post office expected the carrier to complete mail delivery on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the route in 8 hours and 45 minutes. LC2 routinely submitted a 3996 form every morning for her route “to state that it was going to be 45 minutes over no matter what it was for the day.” (Tr. 149) If a carrier determined later in the day that more time or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>assistance would be needed to complete the route, he or she was supposed to contact the post office by 2:00 p.m. (Tr. 150). LC2 preferred to text her supervisor rather than call “because I don’t like the confrontation. Like, I didn’t like my bosses gettin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g mad at me if I was going to go over, because they would ask you five thousand questions. They’d make you feel like you did something wrong just because you went over. So it was too much confrontation. I just like texting and being set.” (Tr. 151-52)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had been on vacation with her family in northwest Ohio the 2 weeks prior to her incident. She did not spend much time outside. “[I]t was beautiful weather there, but we just—you know, I’m a postal carrier. I spend most of my time outdoors as it is. I don’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t like to go outside.” (Tr. 169-70).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 was sick when she returned to San Antonio from her vacation. “I was congested. I had a fever.” (Tr. 171) She was scheduled to return to work on Monday, June 13, but she called in sick and went to see her doctor.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He diagnosed her with a sinus infection and prescribed amoxicillin to treat it and told her to buy Flonase. He did not instruct her to alter her work schedule (Tr. 214). The pharmacist who provided her with the amoxicillin told her to use caution when work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing in the sunlight because the amoxicillin could cause sun sensitivity (Tr. 170-71). She had little appetite due to the sinus infection, and she did not drink as much liquid as usual (Tr. 222-23).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Tuesday, June 14, was her scheduled day off. She returne</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d to work on Wednesday, June 15 (Tr. 212). LC2 testified she told Supervisor SG “that I literally got prescribed the amoxicillin and that the doctor had recommended that I take it easy. And the pharmacist had said about the sunlight issue and that I should</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>just -- if he could possibly be lighter on me that day, just to take it easy on me since I was a still a little bit under the weather.” (Tr. 172) Supervisor SG stated LC2 did not tell him she was taking medication or that her pharmacist warned her to avoi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d sunlight (Tr. 635). Under the CBA, Beacon Hill Station is required to provide carriers with 8 hours of work each workday, and it cannot assign carriers tasks other than carrier work (Tr. 636-37).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 did not bring as much water with her as usual that mo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rning because she had just returned from vacation and had not had time to prepare. She had two or three 16-ounce bottles of water with her. Around noon, as the temperature rose, she started to feel “dizzy and off,” but she tried to continue (Tr. 177). She<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">did not drink as much water as she usually did when delivering on her route. “I was trying to conserve it as much as I could, because I knew I only had so much.” (Tr. 178)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 texted Supervisor SG for her 2:00 p.m. check-in and followed up with several m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ore texts as she felt worse. He never responded (Tr. 180).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref58" href="#ftn58">58</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> She called her husband at approximately 3:00 p.m. and told him she did not feel well. She did not know if her condition was because of the medication or the heat. Her husband contacted LC2’s sis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ter, a registered nurse, who said LC2 needed to drink more water because she was likely dehydrated. She also urged her to contact her supervisor and stop working. LC2 left her route and bought a bottle of Gatorade at a gas station. When she tried to drink<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">it, she gagged and vomited. She “got very scared at that point” and called the Beacon Hill Station employee line at 4:27 p.m. and spoke with Supervisor JL (Tr. 183).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I asked if I could possibly bring the mail back. And he proceeded to tell me that I was no</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t bringing that mail back unless, you know, I was going in an ambulance or the hospital, whichever. And I remember just feeling kind of irritable on that one because he had an attitude. But I was more scared than anything, and I just pushed through, and I<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">said, "[JL], like, I'm not kidding. I'm scared. . . . At first, he definitely wasn't [sympathetic]. And even after I said I was scared, he said: "Well, if you want to call the ambulance, you can. Go ahead." . . . I was still very off about it. Like, I didn</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">'t want to get in trouble. But I decided it was better that I did, because I just didn't know what to do.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 184)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At 4:30 p.m., she called 91l. Emergency medical technicians arrived 5 to 10 minutes later. They attended to LC2 and told her she had an elevated heart rate and suggested drinking fluids immediately. They administered IV fluids and told her it was her decis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion whether to go to the hospital. By then, Assistant Supervisor EM had arrived to retrieve her vehicle, and another carrier started delivering her route. She opted to go to the hospital, and she was taken there in the ambulance. She received more IV fluid</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s at the hospital and was discharged 30 minutes later. Her diagnosis was dehydration. LC2 missed 3 days of work due to her illness (Exh. R-11; Tr. 186-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 had predisposing medical conditions. She took Levothyroxine every morning for hypothyroidism (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 228). Her gallbladder was removed in 2011, and she developed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) after that. One of the symptoms of IBS is diarrhea (Tr. 223). LC2 avoids certain foods and limits water when delivering her route to avoid triggering the onset</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of diarrhea (Tr. 229). She had diarrhea on June 15 before she left the post office (Tr. 224). LC2 stated diarrhea “does dehydrate you.” (Tr. 226)</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It causes kind of a feeling of dizziness. It causes sometimes where I just feel like I'm weak and stuff like<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that. That's another reason why I was having a hard time distinguishing between the two, because I'm so used to having that feeling from that that it's hard to distinguish between heat ailments and IBS.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 226)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">V. TESTIMONY ADMITTED IN SOUTHERN AREA CASE</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">S</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area is one of the seven areas into which the Postal Service divides the United States for regional delivery (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 3-4). Three of the five post offices in the cases before the Court are located in the Southern Area. The parties agre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed the testimony of Daniel Penland, the Postal Service’s manager for the Southern Area safety department, is relevant to the three Southern Area cases. The Court ruled Penland’s testimony in the hearing for Docket No. 17-0023 in Houston, Texas, is also adm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itted as part of the record in the present case and in the Benton, Arkansas, case (No. 16-1872) (Tr. 590-91, 802, 805-06).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref59" href="#ftn59">59</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area comprises Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and a portion of Georgia. Approximately 33</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,000 postal employees work in the Southern Area. Daniel Penland has worked for the Postal Service since 1986 and has been the manager for the Southern Area safety department since November of 2011 (No. 17-0023 Tr. 303-04, 313-14). Penland summarized his du</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ties. “I work with all the districts in the Area Office and Headquarters to ensure all the safety programs and assist the districts in implementing those safety programs. We also help develop and help the districts analyze accident data to help reduce empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyee injury. We also work with OSHA compliance, inspections and monitoring, as well as working with the unions to ensure all the safety of the employees is met.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 310-11). Penland was aware that in 2015 at least 119 postal employees in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Southern Area reported sustaining heat-related illnesses while working. In 2018, there were at least 77 such incidents (No. 17-0023 Tr. 329, 334).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In April of 2016, Penland issued a letter to postal operations in the Southern Area with attached materials<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 17-0023 Exh. C-2; No. 17-0023 Tr. 329). He developed the campaign to “help improve the awareness of our employees about a climate condition that happens every year. . . . To heighten the employees’ awareness<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and make them aware of things that they may be able to do and perform to improve their ability to work in that climate condition.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 330) Employee training in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was not mandatory (Tr. 331). Penland explained the differ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ence between a Postal Service safety program and a safety campaign: “[W]hen I put out a program, it’s usually related to a required element. A campaign is an awareness level. . . . The heat element was a campaign informational awareness.” (No. 17-0023 Tr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>333)</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">What the intent of the campaign was to provide a wealth of information in different media forms. As you can see when you look through the campaign, there were videos in there, there were PowerPoint presentations. There were links to other outside dat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a sources. There were postings. There were just informational standup talks on a number of different elements that all can relate to a possible employee experiencing heat stroke or heat stress. All of these things could help that employee prepare themselve</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s. . . . But none of it was mandatory.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 374-75)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland stressed the importance of acclimatization for carriers, which he defines as preparation “for the heat level that you’re going to be working in, whether it’s proper hydration, proper<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">clothing, being aware of the surroundings.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 341) Penland places the primary responsibility for protecting against heat-related illnesses or injuries on the carrier. He stated it is the policy of the Postal Service “to accommodate medical r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">estrictions as best as possible.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 345)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland does not believe the temperature the day of any given reported incident is a relevant factor. “It’s how each individual person identifies with that heat and the heat level itself is not nece</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssarily the concern. It’s how that person can deal with that heat and how that heat level affects them. I can be affected by a heat level of 80° or somebody could be out there<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">working in 100 and have no effect. So the temperature itself is not the issue, i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n my opinion.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 352-53) He listed factors he did believe are relevant to heat-related incidents: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Had [the carriers] eaten properly that day? Had they provided hydration the night before? Had they had a high alcohol intake the night before</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">? Were they on medication? Were they properly dressed? Were they wearing a hat or was the sun beating down on their head? There's lots of different elements that are part of an investigation where the heat temperature or the temperature outside itself to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me is irrelevant because that's a climate condition.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 353-54)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland was dismissive of the relevance of the heat index for the Postal Service. “I believe it would be valuable as information to the employee. As far as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eliminating future injuries, I do not see it has a high value, no. Again, it's more of a condition of what's going on with that employee versus the temperature outside because temperatures are so much different. . . . Heat itself I do not believe is a haza</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd, no. I believe it is a climate condition.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 354-55)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland discounted the importance of heat in the reported heat-related incidents, estimating that as many as 40 percent of the reported incidents were not, in fact, due to high tempera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tures on the day they occurred.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Mr. Penland, I think you were testifying about the fact that some of the reported illnesses due to heat may have not been due to heat, correct?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: Possibly, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And have you investigated what percen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tage that is?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The exact percentage, no. I just know that there are--when we look at cases, we want to look and see if the factors are present. And we always want to look at the root cause of the case. So sometimes during that root cause analysis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, we will make determinations that the heat maybe is not--wasn't the root cause. . . . And maybe it's a diabetic reaction. We don't know.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And have you gone back and done that analysis?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The specific analysis, no, but we've done-- we'v</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e done the root cause. When you talk about analysis, I refer to that as the general -- all of the cases that we're dealing with versus just those specifics. We do go into the specifics on each individual case, especially the more severe ones.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o have you gone back and made some determination that -- I mean, have you gone back and looked at the number that you set out in April of 2016 and determined what amount were reported as heat, extreme heat, when the root cause was something predominantly e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lse?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I've looked at it, and I could estimate the percentage of about 40 percent.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And you have looked at all 119 injuries from 2016 and –<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: No, I haven't. That's why I estimated. No, ma'am, I have not delved into each one of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">these 119. But a cursory review gives -- leads to an estimate of about 20 percent [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">sic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">].<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And what did you do in this cursory review?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I would review whether or not this case was reported with the employee was working indoors or outdoo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs, first. Then I would look at the occupation that the employee was working in. How much control did they have over their climate?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 380-83)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland noted OSHA has not promulgated a specific standard addressing excessive heat and testified</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>he did not consider hot weather an appropriate condition for safety regulation. “When you're dealing with the climate, . . . it literally changes from block to block, from city to city, and it's -- it's the natural climate. Also, the other thing that when</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>you look at a hazard, I've been taught through my safety aspect is we work the processes to eliminate that hazard. Again, we can't control the climate. So we will make people aware because the – the climate affects each individual person differently.” (No</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 17-0023 Tr. 392)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VI. THE NATIONAL HEARING</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Joint Stipulations</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The national hearing was held from February 25 to March 12, 2019, Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the hearing, the Court admitted the parties’ statement of joint stipulations into the rec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ord:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. As of September 30, 2018, the Postal Service employed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">approximately 497,000 career employees and approximately 137,000 non-career employees.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. In FY 2016, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>170,885 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>40,436 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>68,261 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">53,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. In FY 2018, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>168,199 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>42,115 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70,852 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>59,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. In FY 2016, the Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ice had approximately 144,571 city delivery routes and 74,724 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. In FY 2018, the Postal Service had approximately 143,358 city delivery routes and 78,737 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. In FY 2016, the Postal Service managed a combined tot</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">al of approximately 31,585 post offices, stations, and branches.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. In FY 2018, the Postal Service managed a combined total of approximately 31,324 post offices, stations, and branches.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100; NH Tr. 11)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Postal Service’s Operatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ns<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>David Williams Jr. has been the chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service since February of 2015. He is responsible for all operations required to process, transport, and deliver mail (NH Tr. 1728, 1746). He explained</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service’s operations are divided into three primary sectors: network operations, delivery operations, and retail and customer service operations (NH Tr. 1774-75).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Network operations cover mail processing plants where mail is sorted, processe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d, and distributed to some level of ZIP Code order (NH Tr. 1775-76). Network operations include the surface and air transportation that is coordinated with the distribution centers and post offices throughout the nation. The Postal Service coordinates surf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ace transportation with the assistance of over 1,900 contractors and covers approximately 1.9 billion miles a year (NH Tr. 1774-76). It relies on “a vast air network,” which includes 90 airplanes during the day and 140 at night provided by FedEx, as well a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s planes provided by UPS (NH Tr. 1760). The Postal Service also uses commercial airlines (mainly Delta, United, and American) to transport mail (NH Tr. 1779).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The extensive transportation network is necessary due to the Postal Service’s unique mandate to d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eliver to every address in the United States.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[A] lot of transportation is involved in moving product because of the complexity of our network, the fact that we go everywhere. We go everywhere because our mandate is to serve every American, no matter where</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they live, no matter what community they're in. And the connectivity that's required to make that happen involves a very complex, very sophisticated transportation network. We spent about $7.9 billion a year on transportation, so a significant spend. It's</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the second-largest spend, and 11 percent of our expenses are involved in transportation.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1780-81)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Nationwide, delivery operations require city and rural carriers to complete approximately 226,000 routes 6 days a week (NH Tr. 1783-84). The Postal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Service uses the concept of “FirstMile” to identify the initial contact the customer has with the Postal Service during delivery operations. A customer wanting to send a letter puts a stamp on it, places it in the household mailbox, and raises the red flag</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. The raised red flag “is a signal to our carrier workforce that there is mail to be collected. . . We also have a FirstMile component at our post offices. . . [T]here’s a slot where they can drop mail into any one of approximately 31,000 post offices.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Tr. 1785-86)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Retail and customer service operations also involve a FirstMile component when customers buy stamps or mail packages a post office. Williams stated the Postal Service has the largest retail footprint in the United States, with more retail<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">units than Starbucks, Walmart, and McDonald’s combined. Service and sale associates (SSAs) work in the fronts of the post offices and interact with customers while postal clerks work in the backs sorting mail (NH Tr. 1787-89).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams expounded on the sc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ope and complexity of its operations.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I can't think of any network that is as complex as ours. You think about all the touch points that we have in our network, every 226,000 carriers, 31,000 post offices, 285 processing and distribution centers. Back thro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ugh our network of transportation, whether it's air or surface, 2 billion miles. Airplanes that are flying all over the country, connecting that promise and that thing, that message of sympathy and love, transactions, educational material to anybody else i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n the United States or our territories, even the world. We deliver 47 percent of the world's mail.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So significant, significant operational footprint that we have, supported by a tremendous amount of complexity to make sure that we're delivering the promis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e of when you put that stamp on that birthday card for one of your loved ones, they're going to get it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1791-92)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In order to ensure its operations run smoothly and punctually, the Postal Service implements “the 24-hour clock” as an organizing pri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nciple. “[W]e have critical points on the clock, developed to make sure that we're hitting the mark, all to achieve on-time service to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">points. Our mission to provide prompt, reliable, efficient service is based on this 24-hour clock. And it's critical.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Tr. 1795)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The clock starts with carriers retrieving mail at the FirstMile. At the end of the day, the carriers return to their post offices and place the collected mail in containers that are loaded onto trucks to transport the mail to processing and d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">istribution centers. The operational process starts with cancellations, during which the stamps on mail are marked to show they have been used. The Postal Service expects 80 percent of all collected mail to be canceled by 8:00 p.m. Aligning the cancellatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n process with the 24-hour clock is crucial for the Postal Service’s overall operations (NH Tr. 1795-97). “[T]hat very first step is highly important because any variation in the very first processing step, it could be a slight variation, but that slight v</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ariation creates greater variation at the next step. It creates even larger variation on the third step. Fourth step, even larger. By the time you get to the last step, which is the delivery, we call it the bullwhip effect. A small variation at the front e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd creates this huge swing of variation at the back end.” (NH Tr. 1797)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The next step is the outgoing primary processing, where mail is sorted to a destinating plant based on the first three digits of the ZIP Code.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref60" href="#ftn60">60</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> This step needs to be completed by 11:00 p.m. to align with the 24-hour clock. A second sorting is completed by midnight (NH Tr. 1798-1800). “[A]t midnight, across the country, all this mail that's been collected, the mail that's received over a retail o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">peration, mail that you have put in your mailbox to be collected by the carriers, mail that was inducted into our plant operations by any one of our mailers that have discounts, that so some level of sort, all of that has to take place by midnight.” (NH Tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 1800-01)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>After the mail is sorted, it must be assigned to transportation by 2:00 a.m. “No wiggle-room on in that. Trucks have to leave. Our entire surface network has been designed by the transport time that it takes to go from point A to point B. Can’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t bend time; can’t bend distance. . . [T]his number is fixed in our operating window. By 2 o’clock we have to have that mail assigned. . . [P]lanes and trucks have to leave on time. That is the mark that has to be made.” (NH Tr. 1801-02)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Once mail<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reaches its destinating plant, the incoming processing begins. Mail arrives throughout the day and night, but it must be processed by 3:00 a.m. because that is the time postal employees start delivery point sequencing (DPS). DPS must be completed by 6:00 a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.m. Priority mail takes longer and is not sorted to DPS but is sorted to a specific post office. It must be finished by 4:00 a.m., when trucks leave the destinating plant to transport mail to the post offices. Once the day’s mail has arrived at the local p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ost office, it must be delivered to the intended address by 6:00 p.m. that day (NH Tr. 1803-06). “[W]e want to get our carriers off the street by 6:00 p.m. And that’s important because the trucks have to come back from the post office, back to the originat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing processing plant so we can get cancellations done by 8:00 p.m., 80 percent of them.” (NH Tr. 1806)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Finances of the Postal Service</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service originated in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin its first postmast</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er general. President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act in 1792, creating the Post Office Department. It became a cabinet-level department and transitioned to an independent agency in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (NH Tr. 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">747-1750). In 2006 Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) which, Williams stated, “created some business model changes for the Postal Service, split our products into two product types, competitive products and market dominant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>products, [and] placed some restrictions on pricing for market dominant products so that we could no longer rise our rates beyond [the Consumer Price Index,] CPI.” (NH Tr. 1751)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The PAEA requires the Postal Service to prefund the Retiree Health Benefits</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Fund (RHBF) annually. Williams stated this requirement “really is a millstone around the Postal Service’s neck in terms of finances. The manner in which we’re required to prefund that obligation is one that I don’t think the vast majority of companies or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">any other government agency is required to do.” (NH Tr. 1751-52)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jim Sauber of NALC</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref61" href="#ftn61">61</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>agreed the prefunding obligation is “really the central driving force of Postal Service’s finances. . . . Most companies just pay their retiree health premiums on a pay</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-as-you-go basis for their current retires. This law added an additional obligation to the Postal Service, not only to pay their existing retirees’ health and premiums, but to pay in advance, decades in advance the cost of future retiree health benefits.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 894-95) The Postal Service operated at a loss in 2016, 2017, and 2018 (NH Tr. 890-93).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref62" href="#ftn62">62</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This prefunding mandate cost the Postal Service $9.1 billion in 2016, $4.3 billion in 2017, and $4.5 billion in 2018. The year 2016 “was the last year in wh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ich the Postal Service was required to prefund their retirees’ health, but also out of their own operating budget pay for current retirees’ health benefits. Starting in 2017 and going forward, they can now use the fund that they’ve set aside for these pref</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">unding payments, which . . . has nearly $50 billion in it.” (NH Tr. 896-97)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Since 2010 the Postal Service has been unable to meet the RHBF payments. “They have to report it as an expense, but then it gets reported as an additional liability on their balan</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce sheet.” (NH Tr. 897) Because the Postal Service is a federal agency and not a private company, it cannot file for bankruptcy. “So this has become the center of all the discussions about postal reform legislation, is what to do, how to reduce or repeal t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his prefunding burden.” (NH Tr. 898)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If the unpaid amounts for the retiree health benefits were removed from the budget statements for 2013 to 2018, the combined operating income for those years would be $3.8 billion (NH Exh. C-135; NH Tr. 899-903).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Saube</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r explained the retiree health benefit is not a debt owed to a third party.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]his is not like defaulting on your mortgage if you don't make these payments. It's like if you're in tough times and you stop putting money into your kid's college fund. It's a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">future obligation and a future liability that you're going to have, but nonetheless it's out there and just by law Congress has decided that the Postal Service and only the Postal Service -- no other private company has to do this, has to prefund retiree h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ealth.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 903-04)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is an agency of the federal government and, as such, does not file taxes. It is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to file annual 10-K reports (NH Exh. C-131; NH Tr. 874-75). The Postal Service is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">funded entirely by the sales of postage and stamps—it receives no revenue from federal taxes “with one small exception.” (NH Tr. 876) Market dominant services (MDS), which include “letters, invoices, statements, [and] marketing mail,” are items for which</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service is the main provider (NH Tr. 877). The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) permits the Postal Service to raise rates once a year for MDS, indexed to the CPI (NH Tr. 878) The Postal Service increased rates in January of 2019 by 2.5 percen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t and estimated it would “generate approximately $891 million in annualized income.” (NH. Tr. 881)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Congress also provides a “sort of safety valve” for circumstances where higher rate increases are deemed necessary, called “exigent rate increases” that are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“above and beyond the CPI.” (NH Tr. 881-82). In 2011 or 2012, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, the Postal Service experienced a severe drop in mail volume. It petitioned the PRC for a 4.3 percent exigent rate increase above the CPI, which the PRC<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">granted in December of 2013. The exigent increase was temporary, staying in effect until the Postal Service recovered $4.6 billion. It expired in April of 2016 after meeting that goal (NH Tr. 882-83).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service also raises revenue by offering com</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">petitive services in the categories of priority mail, priority mail express, first-class package service, and parcel select. It has more flexibility in setting the rates according to market conditions for competitive services (NH Tr. 883-85). Sauber stated</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>competitive services have given an economic boost to the Postal Service. “There was a booming, booming growth in e-commerce, and so the demand was providing the ability for the Postal Service to raise their rates. The demand was also raising their costs t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oo, so that's in part why they did these rate increases.” (NH Tr. 890) The Postal Service raises about $21.5 billion of its annual $71 billion revenue from competitive services. In 2018, approximately 4 percent of the total number of pieces carriers delive</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">red were categorized as competitive services (NH Tr. 886-67). In January 2019, the Postal Service implemented a 7.4 percent increase in its competitive rates (NH Exh. C-131; Tr. 887).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Another anomaly of the Postal Service’s business model is its partnersh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ip with its direct competitors. Williams stated, “[W]e rely on FedEx and we rely on UPS, but we also compete with them. So in the package market there is a lot of competition, as you might imagine, with two big package delivery companies like UPS and FedEx</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. So within the competitive product line, most of the products and services are around packages.” (NH Tr. 1753) The Postal Service is committed to meeting service standards for mail delivery, meaning the transit time for different types of mail is predict</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">able. First class mail has overnight, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and 5-day service standards (NH Tr. 1756). The Postal Service recognizes its customers rely on its promise to meet its service standards for both business and personal reasons.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]e have a 2-day ser</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vice commitment for first class mail if you're mailing within a 6-hour drive time within the United States, 2-day service standard. You're expecting to have that mail delivered in 2 days. If you're mailing a bill or if you're synchronizing when you're mail</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing a birthday card to your mother, and you know she lives within six hours of you, you know you've got 2 days to get that mail piece delivered, the promise that we're making our customers through our service standards.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And cataloguers plan their promotio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ns around expected delivery times in the home. They staff up their call centers expecting when we're going to deliver a catalogue in somebody's home so that when you receive a catalogue, you're calling up the call center and making an order.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So our custom</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers are counting on us. Amazon is counting on us to make their 2-day promise. Cataloguers are staffing up and counting on us to deliver catalogues so that whatever product is being sold can be bought. And if you've got personal correspondence, business cor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">respondence or paying your bills, we've got a promise that we're going to deliver on that promise. When those expectations aren't met, our customers can get quite agitated, right. If you make a payment to your mortgage and it's not received on time and you</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>get hit with a late fee, that's a major issue for our customers. If you staff up your call center and expecting a lot of calls because you've entered product into one of our plants and we don't deliver</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that timely, number one, you're not getting the sales</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that you're expecting. You've paid for a lot of people to be in call centers that aren't taking calls.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1762-64)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For certain guaranteed types of mail, the Postal Service must refund the customer’s postage if the mail is not delivered in the prom</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ised time, which, Williams stated, is a financial penalty. However,<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the bigger penalty for us is when customers use us and we don't deliver on the promise that we're making, they go to alternative places, right? We're competing in every single<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">product line. It's not just the competitive products where people traditionally see us as competing with United States Parcel Service or FedEx.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We're competing now with our own customers. We're competing with Amazon. Amazon is creating their own delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>network. We're competing with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">electronics. . . . If you go on any social media app, whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, whether it's email, you're getting hit multiple, multiple times by an unlimited number of companies that are using electroni</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">c media to deliver their message, whether it's a business message, whether it's a transaction, whether it's a bill payment, bill presentment, advertising piece, if it's periodicals, online periodicals.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So even within our market dominant products, we're co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mpeting in every product, and service -- it's very hard to compete when somebody can deliver an email to your account free and when they want. . . . But if we're not delivering on our standards and we're losing customers, we call that churn, so churn is a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">term that we use. Last year we lost $5.5 billion for customers that left us. About 1.8 billion of that was because of service-related issues.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So when we're not delivering on service, promises that we're making when we ink deals with some of the major e-co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mmerce companies, they leave us. Some of them left us this past Christmas season when we were having difficulties in certain pockets of the country. We lost business because some of these e-commerce companies diverted packages that we would normally have r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eceived and were expecting to receive, they diverted them to some of our competitors.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1765-67)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">NALC and Heat Stress Awareness</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Manuel Peralta works in Washington, D.C., as the national director of safety and health for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">NALC. NALC, with approxim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ately 295,000 active and retired members, is “the union that has exclusive jurisdiction to represent city carriers throughout the country.” (NH Tr. 43)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In July of 2012, Peralta learned a carrier in Independence, Missouri, “had died, and it was believed to have been related to the heat.” (NH Tr. 52) In December of 2012, the Secretary issued a willful citation to the Postal Service for a § 5(a)(1) violation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for exposing employees to excessive heat. The Postal Service contested the citation and the case went to hearing in February of 2014.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attended the hearing presided over by Judge Peggy S. Ball. He observed the testimony of the Secretary’s expert<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">witness, Dr. Thomas Bernard (NH Tr. 52-54).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref63" href="#ftn63">63</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Dr. Bernard’s testimony inspired Peralta to address the issue of excessive heat exposure for carriers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As a direct result of the testimony of the doctor and the Occupational Safety and Health expert . . . I wa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s stunned over what they explained, how it -- the heat affects the body. . . . The steps that I personally took is, I started to speak with the Business Agent, speak with the other officers, and determined that we had to learn more about the heat, learn mo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re about its effects, learn more about what do we have to do as a craft to prevent our brothers and sisters from getting hurt. A few<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">months later, the judge issued her decision.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref64" href="#ftn64">64</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And in reading her decision, I decided to start writing articles where I spe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cifically made reference to her findings and her opinion. And I started to read more and more and more, including documents that came out from NIOSH and recommendations, and started to put together information and sending it more and more to the field.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 55-56)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response to increased awareness of heat stress, the Postal Service and NALC negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2015 (NH Tr. 56, 59). Section 1 of the MOU addresses training and provides:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">New letter carrier employee orientatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n will include the heat stress training identified below. Training will also be provided annually (no later than April 15) to all employees, with regular reminders throughout the summer season by local management.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LMS Course 10019802—Heat Stress Recognitio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n and Prevention (Supervisors and Carriers)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PowerPoint Presentation—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors to present to carriers). This program is designed as alternative training for those employees without access to the online Learning Mana</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gement System.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Heat Stress SDOM Video: http://blue.usps.gov/hr/safety/video/heat-stress.htm</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stand Up Talks and Info Pak Information (attached as an appendix).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106, p. 3) The Postal Service did not make the heat stress training mandatory for sup</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ervisors until May of 2018 (NH. Tr. 61).</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU was signed on May 5, 2015, and applies to the post office in Independence, Missouri, but states, “While this Agreement applies solely to the Independence, Missouri, Post Office, including its stations and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">branches, the parties recognize that heat abatement is an essential element of on-the-job safety for city letter carriers in all locations where city letter carriers are exposed to excessive heat.” (NH Exh. C-106)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second section of the MOU addresses i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ncreased supervisory monitoring of carriers when the heat index rises to 103°F:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2) Monitoring Employees</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]o the extent practicable, management will increase contact with employees performing street duties for the purpose of monitoring employees’ we</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll-being on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">days when the National Weather Service predicts a heat index (air temperature and relative humidity combined into a single value) at or above 103°F. For purposes of this agreement, the combination of air temperature and relative humidity at or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">above 103°F is deemed an “excessive heat day.” The chart below indicates the heat index system used by the National Weather Service. [The NWS’s heat index chart is depicted.]</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 147-51)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU includes a section on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work/rest cycles, again finding the heat index of 103°F to be a triggering event for additional measures:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5) Work/Rest Regimen</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On days where the National Weather Service predicts a heat index at or above 103°F, in addition to their regular scheduled break(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s) and lunch break, city letter carriers are encouraged to take additional breaks in designated climate-controlled or shaded areas . . . when necessary to mitigate the impact of excessive heat. Additionally, the parties understand and agree that it may be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">necessary for individual city letter carriers to take additional breaks when the heat index is under the threshold set above. Individual city letter carriers retuning from absence or illness may be especially vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat, an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d therefore, are especially encouraged to take necessary breaks pursuant to this paragraph. City letter carriers taking an extra break under this provision, using their assigned MDD, send a text message to their assigned facility at the MDD, send a text m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">essage to their assigned facility at the beginning of the break (indicating the break location) and another text message at the conclusion of the break. The parties understand and agree that there may be circumstances where a city letter carrier taking a b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reak under this provision may not immediately report the breakthrough the MDD.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 151-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2015, without input from NALC, the Postal Service implemented a heat stress awareness program that supervisors communicated to carriers durin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g standup safety talks (NH Tr. 62-63). Peralta found the program to be “very shallow in the depth of information. . . . [I]t’s the limitation of hydrate yourself, avoid certain things, but very little, and none that I remember on acclimatization.” (NH Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">63) He also objected to the format of standup talks being used to communicate the information, based on the 5 years he had worked as a carrier in California.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When I was a carrier in Anaheim, I remember being called together for standup talks where the supe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvisor would read in the most monotonous, boring, uninspiring tone what he was required to read. And it felt like they were making a little checkmark on a piece of paper, telling you to finish up, go back to your case. It was absolutely worthless. So I spo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ke up because I was very disappointed with the quality of training. And that's one of the reasons that my president later volunteered me for the safety committee.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 63-64)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta created a form entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Initial Heat Injury Report</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and distributed c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">opies to the local union branches and posted it on NALC’s website (NH Exh. C-105; NH Tr. 65-67). The purposes of the form are to track heat injuries and to assist injured carriers with claims under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (NH Tr. 67). NALC de</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">veloped yearly spread sheets to track the heat injury reports (NH Exhs. C-107 (2015), C-108 (2016), C-109 (2017), C-110 (2018); NH Tr. 79-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta investigated many of the injury reports and found a pattern emerged.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[I]t surprised me how much pressur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing. We have a heat wave. We know we're affected by the heat wave. . . . It was my understanding that the empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyees were suffering from pressure to keep pushing forward. When I read the statements, in some of them it was, "I called my supervisor. My supervisor told me to keep going in spite of a standup talk that told us to recognize the symptoms. When we did call</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, we were forced to keep going." And that happened a lot.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 70-71) Eventually, Peralta became aware that carriers who suffered heat injuries were subject to disciplinary procedures (Tr. 89, 96).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attributed the death of a carrier in Medford, Massachusetts, in July of 2015 to excessive heat exposure</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 102). He testified regarding the death of another carrier in Woodland Hills, California, in July 2018 on a day when the temperature was 117°F. The carrier “had been off duty for approximately three months. She had suffered an on-the-job injury. I<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">believe it was either a severely sprained or a broken ankle. She was on medication, off work for three months. That Friday was her first day back.” (NH Tr. 104) Peralta discovered the Postal Service had certified the deceased carrier had undergone heat saf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ety training during a period of time when she was not working.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[D]uring my meeting on May the 15th of 2018 with management, they also told me every single letter carrier in the country will also undergo the LMS training for the heat safety program that we</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>audited in 2015. They specifically put, to me, confirmation that 640,000 employees will undergo that training. Because I was very doubtful that they were going to have everybody go. I said, are you talking every single letter carrier? Well, we're not talk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing about individually, but in groups. Every single letter carrier and every single supervisor. So as the facts revealed themselves, I am provided with documents that indicated [the deceased letter carrier] was certified as having gone through that trainin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g when she wasn't ever at work yet. Her first day at work, she returns and dies, but they certified that she had gone through that training weeks earlier, which was absolutely untrue. They were embarrassed, and then they later, after the fact, corrected th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eir records.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 106)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Form 3996 and Time Pressure</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jennifer Thi Vo works as the Postal Service’s director of city delivery (NH Tr. 2583). She has worked for the Postal Service for 25 years and has held a variety of positions, including<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">post office supe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvisor (NH Tr. 2584). She oversees all work aspects of city carriers and the approximately 143,000 routes on which they deliver. The Postal Service employs approximately 161,000 full-time city carriers and 2,800 part-time employees, plus approximately 44,0</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">00 CCAs (NH Tr. 2587-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo has experience as a post office supervisor receiving Form 3996 requests from carriers due to predicted hot weather. She explained the process she used with the requesting carriers to determine whether she approved or disappro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ved the requests.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I supervised in Memphis during the summer of 2014. . . . [I[t's hot, so on the 3996 they asked for overtime based on the heat. . . . What I looked at and what I try to teach is that each one of the 3996s are different because the employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es are different and the routes are different. So the first one that I disapproved was for 30 minutes and it had heat. The conversation with the employee is that they leave their route at 10:00 o'clock and then usually are back by 4:00. But that day they w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ere leaving at 9:30, so they're leaving an extra half an hour early. So the conversation that I would have is, "I'm disapproving your 3996. You asked for 30 minutes "O[vertime]" due to the heat. I do think that you might take the 30 minutes but you're leav</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing a half an hour earlier. I'm not going to give you any extra work." So I would disapprove that.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second one might be different. 30 minutes, and I remember this one. He asked for 30 minutes. He was leaving on time, so he's leaving at 10:00. He's supp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">osed to leave at 10:00. He put heat, but his building, his route is 95 percent in</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the building. It's in the Civic Center, which is air conditioned, which the heat should not affect it. But usually what I did on that was I disapproved the 30 minutes. I gave</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>him 15 minutes and told him that I would approve it. Use it if he needs it. If he needs more, let us know. But that's the conversation.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The last two we approved because they were out on the street. They were leaving at the same time, so we went ahead an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d approved it.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On those three cases, none of those employees worked overtime. It's really about the communication and talking to them. If they need it, they need it. If they don't -- 3996 is just a form to kind of determine if you need something.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It's g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oing to change once you get on the street. It might be that they used 35 minutes. It might be they used 15 minutes, but every single form is not the same, every route is not the same and every carrier is not the same.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So that supervisor is really the key<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">because they're the ones that are talking to employees every day. . . . [Form 3996 requests are] made at the beginning of the day, but all of the stations and branches usually have a requirement to call by a certain time. So if you know -- so at my station</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s, they're required to call at 3:00 o'clock. So they know -- it doesn't mean wait until 3:00 o'clock to call. It means that as soon as they find out that there's an issue there, give us a call.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We have three options. The supervisors that pick up the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">phone have three options when they call. The first option is go ahead and use the overtime. Second option is I'll send you some help. And the third option is bring back the mail.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Now, there's situations. Just like there's different carriers, there's diffe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rent supervisors out there that's going to need training and stuff that will just say, "Continue going." If it's going to continue going, they have approved that overtime.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2597-2600)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When asked if it is proper procedure if a supervisor “just had t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heir employees put a 3996 in a folder, doesn’t look at them, disapproves them,” Vo responded, “It would be. . . . A 3996 is—if it doesn’t get approved or disapproved, it’s automatically approved. So if you put in a request for overtime and the supervisor d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oesn’t address it or any point, then the overtime’s approved.” (NH Tr. 2672)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref65" href="#ftn65">65</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo testified a carrier’s medical condition could affect the time needed to complete a route (NH Tr. 2636). When a carrier notifies the post office in the morning he or she is n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot feeling well, the supervisor can allow extra time for overtime or assign part of the route as a pivot. If a carrier is on the street and calls to say he or she is not feeling well and may require extra time to complete the route, Vo stated, “We usually<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">won’t have an issue with that.” (NH Tr.2637)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Vo was asked about testimony from carriers in the local cases indicating their supervisors consistently discouraged them from submitting Forms 3996 or taking lunch or breaks due to hot wea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ther. She responded, “So what I heard from the testimony is that the employees felt they were pressured to be done on time. And I don't see that to be the case of my experience and what I see as in data. These looked like isolated incidents. But I don't se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e -- I haven't seen any factual, just what I've heard on it. But I don't think that that is representative of the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 2728)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo presents an idealized description of conversations between supervisors and city carriers regarding Form 399</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6 requests. The pleasant, civilized discussions she envisions, based on mutual respect between carriers and supervisors are not, however, the norm. Rather than being “isolated incidents” when “employees felt they were pressured to be done on time,” the rec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ords in the five Postal Service cases, across five cities, demonstrate rural and city carriers experience near-constant pressure to complete their routes faster and to discourage them from taking breaks, reporting injuries or illnesses, or calling in sick.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court agrees with Peralta’s opinion regarding the attitude of the Post Office to its carriers. “[I]t surprised me how much pressure the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pus</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hing and pushing and pushing.” (NH Tr. 71).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard testified carriers are influenced by the corporate culture of the Postal Service to prioritize productivity. “[T]here seems to be a dance where I ask for extra time with a form 3996 . . . and [the fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rms will] sit on a desk, and so it becomes an effective denial. . . . [T]here's pressure that comes down . . . to the senior supervisor in an office down to the first-line supervisors to the employees about the need to meet these goals. And I mention it fr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">om the dance point of view is there was no evidence that people were punished on taking more time, but there was certainly this culture of discouraging, you know, that was there.” (NH Tr. 847-48) He stated carriers who in 2016 did report heat stress sympto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ms “were nonetheless encouraged to continue their routes.” (NH Tr. 945) Even though supervisors received heat stress training, “they still had the emphasis on productivity versus trying to make sure that there was an early identification of signs and sympt</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oms and early first aid.” (NH Tr. 947)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In each of the five local cases, supervisors exhibited dismissive or disparaging attitudes towards the carriers. Here, Supervisor SG ignored LC2’s texts telling him she was sick, and he did not bother to confirm he r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eceived them once he learned she had been taken to the emergency room. Supervisor JL reacted with indifference to CCA1 and LC2 when they called from their routes and reported they were too sick to continue. Supervisor JL told LC2 she could not return with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">undelivered mail unless she “was going in an ambulance.” (Tr. 184) He left the choice of calling 911 to CCA1 and LC2, without taking steps to evaluate the severity of their illnesses. These cases reveal a pervasive culture of mistrust and skepticism on the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>part of postal supervisors regarding reports of injuries or illnesses made by carriers. The supervisors’ indifference and the carriers’ reluctance to engage in confrontational conversations with management contribute to the stress already inherent in meet</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing the unforgiving demands of the 24-hour clock.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VII. THE CITATION</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Secretary’s Burden of Proof</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of the general duty clause, the Secretary must prove: “(1) a condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard; (2) the emp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">loyer or its industry recognized the hazard; (3) the hazard was causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and (4) a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S. J. Louis Constr. of Tex.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>25 BNA OSH</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">C 1892, 19 1894 (No. 12-1045, 2016).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas, LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 14-0844, 2019 WL 33717, at *2 (OSHRC March 27, 2019). “The Secretary also must prove that the employer ‘knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tampa Shipyards Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 1533, 1535 (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o. 86-360, 1992) (consolidated).”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *2 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Alleged Repeat Violation of § 5(a)(1)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of Citation No. 1 alleges,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which [were] free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees from exposure to excessive heat.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a) On or about June 13, 2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">016, at job sites along mail routes for the Beacon Hill Station, employees were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and hand-delivering mail in an outdoor environment.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">b) On or about June 15, 2016, at job sites along mail routes for the B</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eacon Hill Station, employees were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and hand-delivering mail in an outdoor environment.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref66" href="#ftn66">66</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">A. Existence of a Hazard</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. The Evidence Does Not Establish Exposure to Excessive Heat Caused the Illnesses of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">CCA1 and LC2</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The first element the Secretary must prove to establish a § 5(a)(1) violation is: “A condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard.” The alleged violation description (AVD) of the Citation identifies the workplace at issue as the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“outdoor environment” in the area covered by Beacon Hill Station in San Antonio, Texas, through which the city carriers walked as they delivered mail on their routes. The Citation identifies the hazard presented as “excessive heat.” The AVD does not ident</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ify the “condition or activity” that presented the hazard. The implication is the condition presenting the hazard of excessive heat is hot weather, but the AVD does not specify at what temperature weather is “hot,” and it does not include the high temperat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ures or heat indexes for June 13 and 15, 2016.<span>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Hazards</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary called Dr. Tustin to testify regarding excessive heat exposure.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref67" href="#ftn67">67</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court determined Dr. Tustin was qualified to provide expert testimony “regarding occupational<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">medicine in general, heat stress exposure assessments, and the epidemiology of occupational heat-related illnesses.” (NH Tr. 254)<span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin explained heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stress results from a combination of a person’s metabolic heat and environmental heat. Metabolic heat is generated by the human body and environmental heat results from sources outside the body. Sources of environmental heat include air temperature, relati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ve humidity, radiant heat, and air movement. Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air. Radiant heat is generated by electromagnetic waves, such as direct sunlight (NH Tr. 255-57). Sunlight is “radiation that is striking the worker. So moving</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>from the shade into the sunlight, even if the air temperature doesn’t change, you’ll be struck by the radiant heat so it can feel hotter.” (NH Tr. 258) The National Weather Service uses the heat index to combine air temperature and relative humidity as a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">single metric. “What it’s doing is accounting for two of the main environmental factors. . . . If the humidity rises, the heat index rises for a given temperature. So it’s assessing how it feels to a worker.” (NH Tr. 274)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The most serious illness caused<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">by heat stress is heatstroke, which causes a dysfunction of the brain. Symptoms include slurred speech, disorientation, confusion, unconsciousness, or coma. Heatstroke causes an elevated body temperature, generally defined as 104 or 105°F (NH Tr. 259). Hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t exhaustion is a less severe result of heat stress. Its symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and profuse sweating. Heat exhaustion does not result in an elevated body temperature or brain dysfunction (NH Tr. 260). Dr. Tustin stated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541). Unlike heat stroke, there is no diagnostic test for heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 536). Less sev</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ere conditions caused by heat stress include heat cramps, heat rash, and heat syncope (fainting) (NH Tr. 261).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">CCA1 and the June 13, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin reviewed certified weather data from the National Weather Service (NWS) for San Antonio, Texas, on June 13 and 15, 2016 (NH Exhs. C-144 & C-146; NH Tr. 415). The NWS data showed the highest temperature in San Antonio on June 13 occurred at 3:58<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">p.m. It was 93°F, and the relative humidity was 57 percent, resulting in a heat index of 105°F.<span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified a heat index of 105°F is hazardous, based on epidemiological studies and cases he has reviewed (NH Tr. 418). He stated his belief is “als</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o consistent with other recommendations, for example, from the National Weather Service and OSHA, heat index charts and thresholds that they’ve published.” (NH Tr. 419)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin reviewed CCA1’s hearing testimony and medical records, including tests cond</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ucted at the urgent care center where CCA1 went the evening of June 13 (NH Exh. C-175). Dr. Tustin discussed the test results.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I remember they tested his blood for -- the one that I remember was -- abnormal was the creatinine level. The creati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nine level was elevated, which creatinine is a measure of kidney function. So when the creatinine level is elevated, that indicates that there may be kidney injury.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [D]o you recall if he received any intravenous fluids?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes, I beli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eve he did.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And do you recall what happened in terms of the creatinine level after he received intravenous fluids?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I don't recall if they checked it again after he got the IV fluids. I didn't -- I don't think I saw a follow-up test after<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he got the IV fluids.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And in this case, was this an acute kidney injury in your opinion?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I think it probably was. And the reason I say that is because when you have the word "acute," now you're talking about whether this was someth</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing that had a sudden onset during that day or whether this was a chronic kidney condition. And I didn't see any evidence that he had any chronic kidney condition. I don't believe he reported that as part of his past medical history. And so given the fact<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that this creatinine level was mildly elevated on a day when he had been working outdoors in conditions that I considered to be hazardous, and that he had sweated profusely, that's a risk factor for developing acute kidney injury. So that's why I think it<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">probably was a mild case of acute kidney injury, yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: To a reasonable degree of medical certainty?</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I would say so, yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: At the urgent care center, a physician diagnosed dehydration and an upper respiratory tract infection. Do you agr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ee with those diagnoses?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes. I didn't see any reason to dispute those diagnoses.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And acute kidney injury was not specifically diagnosed. But in your opinion, he did suffer from acute kidney injury?</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I think it's more likely t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">han not – than not, yes. I mean, I would have liked to see a follow-up creatinine level afterwards, just to verify that. But I think, given the circumstances, it's likely that it was acute kidney injury.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. In terms of the dehydration diagnosis,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">what's your conclusion as to what caused the dehydration?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I believe that it was a result of the -- at least in part a result of the heat stress conditions to which he was exposed.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Why do you say that?</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Heat stress -- like I sai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d before, heat stress can cause sweating. He described it, I believe, as profuse sweating. And profuse sweating can cause people to become dehydrated. The body loses water, so they have what we call volume depletion and not as much blood plasma volume as n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ormal. . . . And so that can cause dehydration. The heat stress causes profuse sweating, which causes</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dehydration.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In terms of the diagnosis of an upper respiratory tract infection, do you think that that could've contributed to the dehydration?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ustin: Yes, I think so.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 420-24)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Dr. Tustin agreed CCA1 had been ill with an upper respiratory tract infection for several days prior to June 13, 2016, and the condition could cause dehydration (NH Tr. 732). He conceded the s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">teroid injection CCA1 received and the discharge instructions given to him were not treatments for heat-related illness. The treating physician also ordered a rapid strep test and prescribed several medications, which Dr. Tustin agreed were not consistent<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with a diagnosis of a heat-related illness (NH Tr. 738). Dr. Tustin agreed that in the three visits to the urgent care center CCA1 made on April 19, May 21, and June 13, 2016, his symptoms were relatively consistent and indicative of an upper respiratory i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nfection (NH Tr. 738-39).</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Shirly Conibear also reviewed CCA1’s medical records.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref68" href="#ftn68">68</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court determined Dr. Conibear was qualified, based on her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testify as an expert “in occupational medicine,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with specialized expertise in heat stress and abatement measures that may materially reduce the hazard of excessive heat.” (NH Tr. 3013)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear concluded CCA1 did not experience a heat-related illness on June 13, 2016 (NH Tr. 3086-87). She noted th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e following regarding the record of his urgent care center visit: the attending physician ordered a rapid stress test and a CHEM8+ test.; the physician prescribed Cheratussin (a cough syrup) and Ventolin (an asthma inhaler used to treat bronchospasm); and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>CCA1’s lab results do not indicate a heat-related illness. None of these treatments or results is typical for heat-related illnesses. The only treatment CCA1 received that was consistent with a heat-related illness was administration of IV fluids for dehy</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dration. Dehydration may be related to heat stress, but it is also a symptom of infection (NH Tr. 3094-95). Dr. Conibear testified CCA1’s discharge instructions relate to an upper respiratory tract infection (NH Tr. 3096). Dr. Conibear noted the symptoms t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat prompted CCA1’s visits to the urgent care center on April 19, May 21, and June 13 were similar and consistent with an upper respiratory infection (NH Tr. 3097-98). She concluded CCA1 would have manifested the same symptoms of upper respiratory illness<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on June 13, 2016, had the outside temperature been 70°F (NH Tr. 3128-29).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">LC2 and the June 15, 2016, Incident</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The highest temperature on June 15 was recorded at 3:58 p.m. It was 95°F, with a relative humidity of 50 percent, resulting in a heat index of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">105°F (NH Exh. C-302; NH Tr. 418, 426). Dr. Tustin testified a heat index of 105°F presents a heat stress hazard. He reviewed LC2’s medical records and concluded she was suffering from a heat-related illness on June 15 (NH Exhs. C-176 & C-177; NH Tr. 429).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 was diagnosed with dehydration at the hospital. It was Dr. Tustin’s opinion she also had heat exhaustion.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All the symptoms and signs that she expressed fit with heat exhaustion. The fast heart rate, the fact that apparently, she became so exhausted<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that she could not finish her mail route. That's why I think that I would call it heat exhaustion. . . . I think [the dehydration and heat exhaustion] were caused, at least in part, by the heat stress conditions that she was exposed to. . . . [S]he was dia</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gnosed with dehydration. And I'm well aware from, you know, reviewing many other cases that heat stress again causes sweating, which can cause people to lose volume of water in their body. So that's -- that's the main mechanism which heat stress causes deh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ydration. . . . [B]ased on being away from work for two weeks, I -- in my opinion, it was likely that she was not fully acclimatized to the heat stress conditions that she encountered when she returned to work.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 429-30)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified LC2’s s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inus infection may have contributed to her dehydration but found “pretty much all of her sinus symptoms were more consistent with a heat-related illness than with a sinus infection. Sinus infections typically have symptoms like facial pain, runny<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nose, hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dache, maybe losing the ability to smell things, whereas . . . her symptoms were becoming exhausted, fast heart rate, vomiting.” (NH Tr. 432-33). Dr. Tustin stated, “Within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, I think that this illness would not have<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">occurred without the heat stress exposure (NH Tr. 433). Dr. Tustin considered LC2’s illness “serious,” but clarified it is not a term physicians use.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I was asked to opine on whether these illnesses were serious, and since we don’t really use that as a ter</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m of art, we understand the word “serious” just like any layperson does. I decided to adopt the specific definition when analyzing these cases. . . . I adopted the definition used by OSHA or determining whether an illness has to be recorded on an OSHA 300<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">log. That includes any fatalities, hospitalizations, medical treatment beyond first-aid or illnesses that require days away from work.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 434)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear reviewed LC2’s medical records and deposition testimony. She concluded LC2 did not suffer a he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at-related illness on June 15, 2016, but instead experienced a “flare up” of chronic IBS, which caused her to be dehydrated (NH Tr. 3118-19). LC2 limited her food and liquid intake because “[w]henever you eat or drink, it creates a peristaltic wave in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gut and so that precipitates a bout of diarrhea. . . .[I]t will contribute to dehydration.” (NH Tr. 3119) Dr. Conibear stated diarrhea is “particularly problematic because a person loses electrolytes at the same time to a much greater extent than sweating.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>So it not only depletes the body of water but also of sodium and potassium. . . [Resulting in] [f]atigue and, if the loss is great enough, there can be cardiac arrhythmias or even central nervous system symptoms.” (NH Tr. 3120)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear testified the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>amoxicillin prescribed to LC2 could have side effects of dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. For a person who already has IBS, taking amoxicillin would “likely make it worse and it’s likely to manifest sooner.” (NH Tr. 3124) LC2 also took Levothyroxine, whic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h has possible side effects of increased body heat and pulse rate (Tr. 3125).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear stated a person suffering from IBS would have a difficult time acclimatizing to hot weather because IBS “interferes with the accumulation of increased body water.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . [I]t’s one of the adaptive responses that has been studied in the physiology lab. It shows that an increase in water permits earlier and more effective sweating, and also because it provides more fluid than can be used to dump heat off into the periphe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry.” (NH Tr. 3127).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with CCA1, LC2 had an active infection. Dr. Conibear testified the symptoms of infection can mimic those of heat illnesses. “[I]t relates to core body temperature, or it can. And it also causes inflammation, which is activation of t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he white blood cells in the immune system. But the effects of inflammation are such that they can cause symptoms that are similar to heat exhaustion.” (NH Tr. 3156-57)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Credibility Determination</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified unequivocally that heat stress was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">one of the causes of the illness that led to CCA1 and LC2 calling 911 for medical assistance on June 13 and 15, 2016. Dr. Conibear was just as adamant the heat index of 105°F on those days had nothing to do with their illnesses, which were caused by predis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">posing conditions. These two highly-credentialed experts reviewed the same medical reports and testimony and reached opposite conclusions. They both appeared confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy as they testified. The Court does not, however, find the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ir conclusions regarding the cause of the illnesses of CCA1 and LC2 to be particularly helpful.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear reviewed the limited information presented in the medical records and appeared to conclusively diagnose the employees’ maladies. Th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ey each appeared to be beyond doubt as to cause of the illnesses in the two employees whom they had never met or examined. Yet the basis for their certainty is not explained. For example, Dr. Tustin noted CCA1 had an elevated creatinine level on June 13 an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d concluded, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, CCA1 had suffered an acute kidney injury caused by heat stress (Tr. 422). He did so without knowing the follow-up creatinine level, which would allow him to verify his conclusion, and despite the ab</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sence of an acute kidney injury diagnosis from the attending physician. He did not cite other possible causes of an elevated creatinine level and explain why he had ruled them out.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And acute kidney injury was not specifically diagnosed. But in your op</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inion, he did suffer from acute kidney injury?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I think it's more likely than not – than not, yes. I mean, I would have liked to see a follow-up creatinine level afterwards, just to verify that. But I think, given the circumstances, it's likely</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that it was acute kidney injury.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 422-23).</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>He also determined LC2 experienced heat exhaustion, in addition to dehydration, on June 15, even though the attending physician diagnosed her only with dehydration (NH Tr. 429). Dr. Tustin had agreed ea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rlier in his testimony that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Likewise, Dr. Conibear was unwavering in her opinion the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hot weather on June 13 and 15 in San Antonio had no causal link to the illnesses of CCA1 and LC2.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [I]s it your opinion that [CCA1’s] illness was solely a result of the URI [upper respiratory infection], and heat stress did not play a role?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you recall that [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1]<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testified that while on his route prior to calling his</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>supervisor around 4 p.m., he began sweating profusely?</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Let me look. Yes, okay, I do see it in my report.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And so is it your testimony t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat, in your opinion, [CCA1’s] profuse sweating starting in the afternoon was not related to his walking more than five miles, his carrying a satchel weighing up to 30 pounds, or the fact that the heat index exceeded 100 degrees on that day?</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ibear: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So do you believe if, let's say, [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1] h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ad been at home that day in air conditioning and sitting down, do you believe his URI would have caused him to start sweating profusely in the afternoon?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH TR. 3206-07)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.:<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[LC2] testified that she walks 12 to 15 miles per day and that her satchel weighs between 20 and 40 pounds on a normal day. You concluded that neither the environmental heat conditions nor the metabolic heat conditions played any role in [LC2’s] illness; i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s that correct?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: I don't believe that they caused her illness.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you believe that they played a role in her illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: I don't know what "played a role" means.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Is it possible that her illness manifested that day<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">based in part on the heat stress conditions?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Not in my opinion.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3208-09)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The unyielding stances of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear as to whether heat stress caused the illnesses of CCA1 and LC2 on June 13 and 15, 2016, are not pe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rsuasive. Dr. Tustin stated humans have a range of tolerability for heat stress, depending on factors such as predisposing conditions and acclimatization (NH Tr. 546-47). The certitude of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear, formed after reviewing the limited info</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rmation available in the medical records, is at odds with their testimony that the symptoms of heat illness often mimic the symptoms of other conditions, and vice versa (NH Tr. 538-41, 3156).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 451 F.3d 104, 127 (2d Cir. 2006)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 552 U.S. 312 (2008) (stating that “[a]n expert opinion requires some explanation as to how the expert came to his conclusion and what methodologies or evidence substantiate that conclusion[ ],” and dismissing negligent manufacturing claim where ex</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pert failed to explain the basis for his opinion that catheter burst radially, not longitudinally);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SkinMedica, Inc. v. Histogen Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 727 F.3d 1187, 1210 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (evidentiary value of conclusory expert testimony is “unhelpful”; such opinions “lac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">k any substantive explanation tied to the intrinsic record” and “without a more detailed explanation” as to how the expert “formed his<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">conclusions,” they “deserve[] no weight”). . . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mosser Constr., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 23 BNA OSHC 1044, 1046-47 (No. 08-0631, 2010)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(finding expert’s opinion “unpersuasive” where the expert failed to explain factual details underlying it);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Peterson Bros. Steel Erection Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 16 BNA OSHC 1196, 1203-04 (No. 90-2304, 1993) (discounting expert’s testimony because he did “not include the fac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tual basis and reasoning behind [his] opinion”),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>26 F.3d 573 (5th Cir 1994).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *5-6 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On the issue of whether heat stress or some other physical condition caused the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">illnesses of CCA1 on June 13 and LC2 on June 15, the Court accords no weight to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear. They testified previously in the national hearing that symptoms of heat illness can also be symptoms of other conditions. Neither<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">doctor provided a substantive explanation for insisting on one diagnosis over the other.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is the Secretary’s burden to establish a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard to employees. Here, he did not prove the illnesses of CCA1 and LC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2 were caused by exposure to heat stress (the Postal Service did not prove they were not caused by heat stress exposure, but it is not the respondent’s burden). It is not essential to the Secretary’s case, however, to prove a causal connection between the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited condition and the illnesses of the employees. The fact the incidents cited in the AVD may not have been caused by the cited condition or activity does not disprove the alleged violation.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Proof that a cited activity actually caused harm or necessarily</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>could have caused harm under the precise physical conditions that happened to be present at the time of the violation, or at any other specific time, is not required. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Bomac Drilling</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 9 BNA OSHC 1682, 1691-92 (No. 76-450, 1981) (consolidated) (“Under s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ection 5(a)(1) case law, the ‘hazard’ that must be “recognized' is not a particular set of circumstances at a specific location and specific point in time but rather the broader, more generic or general hazard.”), </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overruled on other grounds by United State</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">s Steel Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brennan v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 494 F.2d 460, 463 (8th Cir. 1974) (Secretary need not prove general hazard was cause of the accident that gave rise to the citation); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1171 (same).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Judge Ball’s 2014 Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Even though the Secretary is not required to establish excessive heat caused the illnesses of CCA1 and LC2 in June of 2016, it is still his burden to prove that high temperatures or heat indexes on those days exposed San Antonio city carriers to the hazard</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of excessive heat. In support of his position, the Secretary cites Judge Ball’s 2014 decision finding a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2014 WL 5528391</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary states, “On facts similar to those presented here, Judge</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ball found that there was ‘no real dispute’ that letter carriers in Independence, Missouri, were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat.” (Secretary’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">brief, p. 21, n. 20)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref69" href="#ftn69">69</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In this case, however, the Postal Service vigorously disputes the temperature or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat index on June 13 and 15, 2016, presented a hazard to San Antonio’s carriers, and consequently the record evidence differs markedly from the Independence case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As an unreviewed ALJ decision, the Independence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>case is not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Commission precedent. “[R]eliance on an unreviewed administrative law judge decision involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) [is] misplaced.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Leone Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 3 BNA OSHC 1979, 1981 (No. 409</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0, 1976) (unreviewed administrative law judge decision does not constitute binding precedent for the Commission).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">TNT Crane & Rigging, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 16-1587, 2020 WL 1657789, at *7 (OSHRC March 27, 2020). A case decided by the Commission last year involving<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a citation under § 5(a)(1) for exposure to excessive heat is, however, binding precedent for this Court.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. The Commission’s Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On February 28, 2019, the Commission issued its decision in a case involving an employee who collapsed at a worksite and subsequently died from complications of heat stroke after working on a roofing project.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">WL 1099857 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019). Commissioner (now Chairman) Sullivan, with then-Chairman MacDougall concurring, vacated two items alleging serious violations that had been affirmed by the ALJ in the underlying case. Commissioner Atwood dissented. Of inte</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rest here is Item 1 of the citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1) for exposing employees “to the hazard of excessive heat from working on a commercial roof in the direct sun.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 2019 WL 1099857, at *1.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The roofing project Sturgill was w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">orking on involved tearing off the old roof of a flat-topped bank building in Ohio so a new roof could be installed. The crew included three temporary employees.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">One of the temporary employees was “MR,” a 60-year-old man with various preexisting<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">medical conditions, including hepatitis C and congestive heart failure. It was the first day that MR was assigned to work at Sturgill. He began work that day at 6:30 a.m. and was tasked with standing near the edge of the roof where other employees brought<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">him a cart full of cut-up pieces of roofing material that he then pushed off the roof into a dumpster below. The assignment of this work was intentionally made by Foreman Leonard Brown because it was MR's first day on the project. When MR began his work, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he temperature was approximately 72°F with 84 percent relative humidity. There is no dispute that Brown encouraged all employees to utilize the immediate access to ice, water, rest, and shade, without fear of reprisal.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At around 11:40 a.m., after other em</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ployees reported being concerned about MR to Brown and Brown himself observed him “walking like clumsy,” MR collapsed and began shaking. The temperature at that point was approximately 82°F with 51 percent relative humidity. Emergency medical personnel wer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e summoned, and they took MR to the hospital where his core body temperature was determined to be 105.4°F. MR was diagnosed with heat stroke and died three weeks later. According to the coroner, his death was caused by “complications” from heat stroke.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *1-2. The Commission found the Secretary failed to establish “the existence of a hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">4. Is “Excessive Heat” a Cognizable Hazard Under §<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">5(a)(1)?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service argues that in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. In her concurring opinion, Chairman MacDougall questioned the meaning of the cited hazard:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In this ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">se, what is meant by “excessive heat?” Is it the heat index the judge formulated by adding degrees to the ambient temperature, or the heat index that would result from adding 10 degrees to the ambient temperature since the foreman said it felt about that m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">uch hotter on the roof, or some combination of factors perhaps set forth in OSHA’s website publication regarding “Occupational Heat Exposure”? To pose the question is to answer it. By defining the hazard merely as “excessive heat,” the Secretary has failed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to point to any specific, concrete environmental conditions, and has instead effectively defined the hazard as a sliding scale of possibilities. This open-ended, moving target is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause as it provides insuffi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">cient notice to the employer of exactly what it is required to free its workplace from to protect its employees.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In a footnote to the lead opinion, Commissioner Sullivan (now Chairman) agreed “with the concerns expressed b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">y Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as ‘excessive heat.’” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14. Contrary to the Postal Service’s argument, this agreement does not establish that a majority of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Commission conclusively found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. This reference to defining the hazard is the only one in a lengthy footnote on foreseeability, and its vague reference to “the concerns expressed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">by Chairman MacDougall” is insufficient to constitute a dispositive conclusion that a citation under § 5(a)(1) alleging exposure<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">to “excessive heat” will always fail due to fair notice to the employer.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref70" href="#ftn70">70</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If Commissioner Sullivan’s agreement with Chairman M</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">acDougall’s “concerns” constituted a majority opinion that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard, there would be no need for a concurring opinion or for most of the analysis in the lead opinion. The Court determines the Commission has not held absolu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">tely that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. The cited hazard is, however, difficult to establish under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">5. Scientific Basis of the NWS Heat Index Chart</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified he relied on the NWS and OS</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">HA heat index charts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Service cases (NH Tr. 583-84). The NWS heat index chart is reproduced here:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref71" href="#ftn71">71</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified he was curious regarding the origins of the color-coded risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>levels on the chart. “I contacted somebody at the National Weather Service to find out where these caution levels came from, and that's the article that they provided to me. . . . I was interested. I'd seen these caution levels, and I wanted to find out .</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>. . why the National Weather Service put these out there.” (NH Tr. 590) The article to which he refers is by a Dr. Steadman, who originally created a chart to show how hot it feels (the heat index) when a specific air temperature is paired with a specific</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>relative humidity. The chart was included in an article written by Quayle and Doehring, a climatologist and meteorologist, respectively, from the National Climactic Center in Asheville, North Carolina, and published in the magazine<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in 1981 (NH</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 587-94).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service hired Rodman Harvey as a consultant in the five cases before the Court.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref72" href="#ftn72">72</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court qualified Harvey to testify as an expert “in industrial hygiene, with specialized expertise in assessing the risk of exposure to excessiv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e heat, based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education.” (NH Tr. 2766)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey was asked about the phrase "Likelihood of Heat Disorders with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity” that appears on the NWS’s heat index chart.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Q.: Based on your work with heat stress, what does prolonged exposure mean</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I'm not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sure what's meant by that, exactly, by the National Weather Service.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And what is meant by strenuous activity?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: Again, I have not found a definition of that for the National Weather Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Are those terms explained in the OSHA complian</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce guidance?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: No, not that I was able to find.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2775)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified there are two different layers of information on the heat index chart: (1) “Along one axis are temperatures. Numbers along the other . . . side of the chart are relative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>humidity. And where they intersect is the corresponding heat index value for those different temperatures and relative humidities,” and (2) “The color coding that goes on top, the four different colors, and the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>exposure or strenuous activity, and the definitions . . . for the four different colors: caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme danger.” (NH Tr. 2776) Harvey stated the chart came from “the Steadman article,” which does not address “potential heal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th effects associated with different heat index ranges” or “the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity.” (NH Tr. 2777-78) In the article, Dr. Steadman was attempting to create a chart “that would provide the real feel te</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mperature or the apparent temperature based on the combination of the actual air temperature and the relative humidity.” (Tr. 2778)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified he researched the issue to determine the historical or scientific basis for the second layer of informati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on found in the heat index chart. “I was able to find a paper; it’s the oldest reference I can find that has . . . that language of dividing the heat index values up into different categories.” (NH Tr. 2782) It was the paper published in the journal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weathe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">rwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, written by climatologist Robert Quayle and meteorologist Fred Doehring (NH Tr. 2782-83). Harvey could not determine from reading the article the scientific basis for correlating temperature ranges with specific heat syndromes. He stated, “[T]he auth</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ors don’t make any reference at all to this particular chart in general or specifically with the heat syndrome and they came to those conclusions.” (NH Tr. 2783-84) It is Harvey’s opinion that OSHA based its heat index chart on the chart found in the Stead</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">man article and the paper published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 2786).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey stated he believes the first layer of the heat index chart (“where they list the heat index values”) is scientifically based. “But layer two with the four different categories and th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e terms at the bottom of the graph, no, I don’t think that it is.” (NH Tr. 2786) He does not believe there is a scientific basis for OSHA’s conclusion that the risk level is “high” when the heat index is 103 to 115°F (NH Tr. 2786-87).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is correct that, based on the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Rodman Harvey, a gap exists in the historical record that would explain the origin of the risk categories (caution, extreme caution, danger, extreme danger) that evolved from the Steadman article an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d were later included in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">article. Neither Dr. Tustin nor Harvey could find a scientific basis for how the assigned values of caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme dangers were determined. No supporting data is provided for why the l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">evels of risk are attributed to their respective temperatures (NH Tr. 584-94, 2782-87). That is not to say no scientific basis exists for the risk levels but none was presented at the national hearing or the local hearings. Despite the emphasis placed on t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his issue at the national hearing, the Secretary does not address it in his brief. The Court finds, based on the record, no evidence was presented to establish the scientific basis for the risk categories depicted on the NWS heat index chart. This conclusi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">affects the weight given to the heat index chart exhibit but does not affect its admissibility. The reliability of the heat index calculations based on the temperatures and relative humidity is not disputed.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission focused on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the phrase “Likelihood of Heat Disorder with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity,” and found the Secretary failed<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to show that any of the chart’s warnings applied to the conditions present that morning. . . . [F]or any of the warnings [(caution, ext</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reme caution, danger, and extreme danger)] to have been applicable at the time of the alleged violation, the Secretary must show either that there was “prolonged exposure” to heat index values that fall within the chart or that the work involved “strenuous</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>activity.” The record fails to establish either of these prerequisites.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3-4.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">6. Prolonged Exposure</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Commission in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited the failure to define “prolonged exposure” as a major flaw in the Secretary’s case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s to the extent of exposure, the evidence shows that the heat index values were at most in the caution range for two of the five hours the crew worked on the day in question. Yet, we cannot determine if two hours in those conditions constitutes “prolonged<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposure” because the Secretary does not establish what the NWS means by “prolonged exposure”—in fact, there is no record evidence on this issue.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3-4.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Both CCA1 and LC2 drove air-conditioned vans on the days at issue. Both were delivering on routes that were primarily park and loop, so they spent only 20 minutes or so driving during the day (Tr. 112, 143-47).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CCA1 began work at 8:30 a.m. on June 13, 2016. He did not case mail that day, so he began delivering mail on Route 13 immediately (Exh. R-13, p. 1416). At approximately 4:00 p.m., he called Beacon Hill Station and informed his supervisor he was ill. CCA1 c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alled 911 after speaking with his supervisor. (Tr. 84). Assuming CCA1 took his two 10-minute breaks and his 30-minute lunch break, he was walking outdoors for approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC2 testified her start time was either 7:00 or 7:30 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in June of 2016 (Tr. 145, 246). She started delivering mail on Route 30 at 8:30 a.m. (Exh. C-8, p, 1445). LC2 testified she usually did not take her two 10-minute breaks and “[s]ometimes but not usually” took her 30-minute lunch break. She does not recall</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>if she took any of her breaks that day (Tr. 163). LC2 was walking outdoors for approximately 8 hours (without breaks) or 7 hours and 10 minutes (with breaks), until she called 911 at 4:30 p.m.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>From this schedule, the exposure of CCA1 and LC2 to temperat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ures at specific times can be extrapolated. Dr. Tustin created charts based on data from the NWS for June 13 and 15, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas (NH Exhs. C-144 & C-146; NH Tr. 415-16).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">June 13, 2016</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Local</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Central</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Temperature</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Relative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heat Index</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Standa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Daylight<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Humidity</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Time (CDT)</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">_________________________________________________________________</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">758</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>8:58 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>80°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>84%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>85°F</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0958</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>10:58 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>83°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>77%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>90°F</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1158</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>12:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>88°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>100°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1358</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>89°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>66%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>101°F</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">145</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>3:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>93°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>57%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>105°F</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-302)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On June 13, at 8:58 a.m., after CCA1 had been working for approximately 30 minutes, the heat index was 85°F, which is in the caution section of the chart. At 10:58 a.m., after CCA1 had been delivering mail</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for about 2.5 hours, the heat index was 90°F, which is in the extreme caution section. At 12:58 p.m., the heat index was 100°F, which is still in the extreme caution section. The next heat index recorded is 105°F, in the danger section of the chart, at 3:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">58 p.m., which is approximately the time CCA called 911.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">June 15, 2016</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Local</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Central</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Temperature</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Relative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heat Index</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Standard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Daylight<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Humidity</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Time (CDT)</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">_________________________________________________________________</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">758</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>8:58 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>82%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>87°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0958</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>10:58 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>87°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>62%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>94°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1158</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>12:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>90°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>58%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>99°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1358</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>92°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>53%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>100°F</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1458</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>3:58 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>95°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>50%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>105°F</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-302)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On June 15, at 8:58 a.m., after LC2 may have been working outside for approximately 30 minutes, the heat index was 87°F, which is in the caution section of the chart. At 10:58 a.m., after LC2 may have been delivering mail for about 3 hours, the heat index<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was 94°F, which is in the extreme caution section. At 12:58 p.m., the heat index was 100°F, which is still in the extreme caution section. The next heat index recorded is 105°F, in the danger section of the chart, at 3:58 p.m., approximately 30 minutes bef</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ore LC2 called 911.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Over the course of approximately 7.5 hours, CCA1 worked outdoors in heat index values ranging from 85°F to 105°F, which the heat index chart places in the caution, extreme caution, and danger sections. LC2 worked outdoors in heat inde</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">x values ranging from 87°F to 105°F for perhaps 8.5 hours. Nothing adduced by the Secretary in the San Antonio and national hearings assists in making the determination whether these exposure times are<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. One definition of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is “continuing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1356 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> ed. 2005). “Long time,” “longer than usual,” and “lengthy” are relative terms that provide no guidance for ascertaining what standard of measurement an employer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>should use to calculate the point at which exposure becomes prolonged. City carriers are contractually guaranteed 8 hours of work each workday, most of which is performed outdoors. For them, 8 hours of exposure to hot weather in the summer months is not “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">longer than usual.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission held that if the Secretary relies on the heat index chart to prove an employee was exposed to the hazard of excessive heat, he must show either “prolonged exposure” to specified heat index values on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the chart or “strenuous activity” on the part of the employee at those heat indexes. Dr. Tustin, the Secretary’s expert, testified he relied on the NWS and OSHA heat index charts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Servi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce cases (Tr. 583-84). The Court determines the Secretary has<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">failed to establish prolonged exposure.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">7. Strenuous Activity</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Strenuous activity” is the second phrase from the heat index chart that lacks clear meaning.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Strenuous</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>means “requiring or using great exertion.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1676 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed. 2005). Again, no criteria values are provided by the heat i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ndex chart to help determine when activity becomes strenuous. Some clarity is found, however, in Dr. Tustin’s testimony regarding the metabolic heat generated by carriers as they deliver the mail.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I read the descriptions of the activities that [the carrie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs] were doing, specifically their physical activities in terms of whether they were walking or whether they were seated driving a vehicle, for example. I compared their physical activities to tables found in ACGIH heat stress documents. They give a table<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">where they categorize workload as either light, moderate, heavy or very heavy, and they give examples of different activities within the category.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 302)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified the metabolic workloads of CCA1 and LC2 on the days at issue were moderat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">e (Tr. 419, 426). A workload characterized as “moderate” (“average in amount, intensity, quality or degree.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">he New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 1089 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">nd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ed. 2005)) does not equate to strenuous activity.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he chart states the color-coded categories are used specifically to denote the “Likelihood of Heat Disorders<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">with</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity.” (emphasis added) The Secretary failed to establish either of the two metrics the chart identifies a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">s correlatives of the likelihood of heat disorders at the given heat index values. The Court determines the Secretary failed to establish CCA1 and LC2 were engaged in strenuous activity while working on June 13 and 15, 2016, respectively. As in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ll</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Secretary has not met his burden of establishing the employees identified in the Citation’s AVD engaged in either prolonged exposure or strenuous activity at specific heat index values listed on the chart.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">8. Significant Risk of Harm</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>To establish<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a cited condition or activity presents a hazard in the workplace, the Secretary must prove the condition or activity<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposed employees to a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">See Beverly Enters., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1161, 1170-1172 (No. 91-3144, 2000) (consolidate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d); </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">see also </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1983139073&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_63&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_63"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney Aircraft v. Donovan,</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>715 F.2d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 1983)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (holding that a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> can be established by showing a “meaningful<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">possibility” of injury); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1978119394&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_541&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_541"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Titanium Metals Corp. v. Usery</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 579 F.2d 536, 541 (9th Cir. 1978)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (the possibility of harm resulting must be “upon other than a freakish or utterly implausible c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oncurrence of circumstances”); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1973112769&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_1265&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_1265"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat'l Realty & Constr. Co. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d 1257, 1265 n.33 (D.C. Cir. 1973)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:10.667px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref73" href="#ftn73">73</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Agency's re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sponsibility to determine, in the first instance, what it considers to be a “significant” risk. Some risks are plainly acceptable and others are plainly unacceptable. If, for example, the odds are one in a billion that a person will die from cancer by taki</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng a drink of chlorinated water, the risk clearly could not be considered significant. On the other hand, if the odds are one in a thousand that regular inhalation of gasoline vapors that are 2% benzene will be fatal, a reasonable person might well conside</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r the risk significant and take appropriate steps to decrease or eliminate it. Although the Agency has no duty to calculate the exact probability of harm, it does have an obligation to find that a significant risk is present before it can characterize a pl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ace of employment as “unsafe.”</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>448 U.S. 607, 655 (1980) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues he has established excessive heat exposure presents a significant risk of harm to carriers generally. He points to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard regarding the statistical correlation between the number of heat-related fat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alities and illnesses and higher temperatures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Screening Levels</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks the number of annual occupational heat-related deaths and nonfatal heat-related illnesses in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Fro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m 2011 to 2016, the CFOI reported an annual average of 36 heat-related fatalities and 3,500 nonfatal heat-related illnesses (NH Tr. 267-68). Dr. Tustin reviewed employer reports to OSHA of heat-related hospitalizations over a three-year period. The employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs reporting the most hospitalizations were the United Parcel Service (UPS) (63 hospitalizations) and the Postal Service (49 hospitalizations). Nationwide, UPS and the Postal Service accounted for 14 percent of all reported occupational heat-related hospit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alizations over a 3-year period (NH Tr. 270).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#222222; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ACGIH) publishes threshold limit values (TLVs) for hazards to which a worker can be exposed on a daily basis<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">without adverse effects. Dr. Tustin<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testified the ACGIH and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) implement “screening levels.” “If the environmental heat is above the screening level, then there’s a hazard and the employer should take additional steps to try to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reduce the hazard to protect workers.” (NH Tr. 280) Based on his research, Dr. Tustin concluded, “[A] screening threshold of about 80°F seemed appropriate for using the heat index to screen for hazardous conditions.” (NH Tr. 285)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref74" href="#ftn74">74</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> He conceded some workers may experience heat-related illnesses even if the TLV for outdoor temperature is not exceeded, perhaps due to predisposing conditions. “Predisposing conditions are medical conditions or medications that could increase the risk of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat-related illness.” (NH Tr. 577-78)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>A dose-response relationship is the relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) to a substance or condition and the resulting changes (response) in body function. He believes there is dose-response relation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ship between heat indexes above 80°F and heat stress—the higher the heat index, the greater the heat stress hazard. He conducted a meta-analysis of 570 heat-related deaths dating back to 1947 (NH Tr. 287). He calculated the heat index for each case. A heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>index of less than 80°F did not appear to present a heat stress hazard. A higher heat index increased the risk of heat stress (NH Tr. 291-92).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A heat index between 80 -- when the heat index was between 80 and 90, there definitely seemed to be more<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk. I think about 10 to 20 percent of all the fatalities happened when the heat index was between 80 and 90. Then when the heat index was over 90, there seemed to be higher risk in the sense that I think about 80 percent of the fatalities occurred when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the heat index was over 90. So we concluded that a heat index of about 80°F seemed to be a reasonable screening threshold for figuring out whether there was a heat stress hazard present.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 292) He concluded, “[T]here's a hazard when the heat index is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>over 80 for the type of work that city carriers are doing.” (NH Tr. 581)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Thomas Bernard also testified regarding the effects of heat stress on outdoor workers.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref75" href="#ftn75">75</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court found Dr. Bernard qualified, “based on his knowledge, skill, experience,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tra</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ining, and education,” to testify as an expert “in the areas of industrial hygiene and specifically regarding industrial heat stress.” (NH Tr. 808) Dr. Bernard testified CCA1 and LC2 were above the occupational exposure limit for heat stress (NH Tr. 992).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Number of Heat-Related Incidents Among Carriers</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends the significant risk of harm from excessive heat to which carriers are exposed is made manifest if the Court expands the scope of reported heat-related illnesses beyond the date and l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ocation of the Citation’s AVD in this case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]he Beacon Hill Station is in the Rio Grande District. In the summers of 2015 – 2018, (46) forty-six carriers reported heat related incidents at 317 different Rio Grande District Stations; all but three of the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>46 incidents occurred in the month of June, July or August. ([NH Exh.] C-127) Twenty-six (26) of the 46 carriers lost a combined 60 days away from work. ([NH Exh.] C-127) On four different dates, numerous letter carriers in the Rio Grande District reporte</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d heat illnesses.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 11)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If consideration of heat-related illnesses is expanded nationwide, the Secretary believes the significant risk to carriers of excessive heat exposure is evident.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">According to USPS’s records. . . , the number<span>
					</span>of heat-related incidents per year since 2015 classified by USPS on its official accident reports (PS Form 1769/301) as caused by “GEN-EXPOSURE EXTREME TEMP-HOT” are as follows for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018: 378, 564, 399 and 631 ([NH Tr. 1670-71]) In total, the number of heat-related incidents over the four years was 1,972. ([NH Tr. 1668-69]) When broken down, the 1,972 heat-related incidents came from 1,258 different USPS facilities across the country and resulted in carriers missing a total of 8,757 days away from work. [NH Exh.] C-127)<span>
					</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 13)</p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service counters that the number of carriers reporting heat-related illnesses is miniscule when compared to the number who did not report heat-related illnesses. Rodman Harvey state</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d, “On June 13 and 15, 2016, there were approximately 2,900 city carriers working in the postal district that includes San Antonio, Texas, and there was only one alleged heat-related illness reported on each day.” (NH Tr. 2886-87)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service retai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ned Dr. Joshua Gotkin to analyze its data on heat-related accidents.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref76" href="#ftn76">76</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court qualified Dr. Gotkin as an expert “in the field of economics, with specific expertise in the field of statistical analysis and the application of statistics in sampling.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Tr. 1631-32) Dr. Gotkin reviewed data on the number of heat-related incidents involving carriers that had occurred from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2019 (NH Tr. 1632-33). For that 4-year period, he found 1,023 reported heat-related injuries to carrie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs and compared those to the total number of carrier workdays. “[Y]ou really just divide the number of events into the total number of carrier days, and that gives you a 1 in 308,000 workdays in terms of the odds of having a heat-related stress incident. .</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>. . I also restricted it to the warmer summer months, and the odds are then reduced to 1 in 142,000 workdays.” (NH Tr. 1651) Dr. Gotkin stated, “[T]hese odds are so small that the probability associated with those are nearly zero.” (NH Tr. 1652-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Linda</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>DeCarlo is the manager of safety and OSHA compliance programs for the Postal Service. She is its highest ranking safety officer (Tr. 1245). DeCarlo tracks trends of hazards as part of her duties. DeCarlo estimated that, since 2015, approximately 500 to 60</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0 Postal Service employees (including carriers) annually have reported heat-related occupational injuries (NH Tr. 1257-59). The number of heat-related injuries does not cause her concern. “We have close to 120,000 accidents, incidents, near misses and cust</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">omer events that take place in any given year. Thirty thousand of those are related to motor vehicle. Maybe 20,000 slip, trips, and falls. Seven thousand dog bites. So 500 heat-related claims only which of half are recordable is not a major concern when th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ere are other opportunities that we have in front of us.” (NH Tr. 1261)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary argues the small percentage of carriers affected with heat-related illnesses does not disprove excessive heat hazards existed on the days they were affected. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">dge Farm, Ind.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employer argued different employees were affected differently by the ergonomic activity cited as a hazard. The Commission held susceptibility to illness or injury alone is not a basis for finding no hazard exists.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Pepperidge further poi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nts out, however, and the Secretary's experts agree, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">non-workplace factors may cause or contribute to the illnesses at issue, and that individuals differ in their susceptibility to potential causal factors. However, such characteristics (and the inability<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to determine threshold of harm) are not unique to putative ergonomic hazards but inhere in other workplace hazards as well. For example, some or all of these characteristics obtain for many chemical, toxic and other workplace hazards. Thus, to preclude the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>application of section 5(a)(1) to a hazard with the characteristics cited by Pepperidge would be to preclude the use of Section 5(a)(1) for many occupational ills. To be clear, characteristics such as those identified by Pepperidge may (as discussed later</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) bear on questions of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">causation or feasibility of abatement. They do not, however, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ipso facto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> preclude the possibility of regulation under Section 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 89-265, 1997 WL 212599, at *23 (OSHRC Apr. 26, 1997). The Secretary also contends he is not required to state the temperature or heat index at which heat becomes excessive. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While knowledge of the threshold for injury may be essential in some cases, h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">owever, the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to regulation under the general duty clause.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1997 WL 212599, at *22.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Secretary’s burden to prove it is likely a heat-relate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d illness will occur at certain temperatures, only that if such an illness occurs the carrier would be exposed to a significant risk of harm. “[T]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here is no requirement that there be a ‘significant risk’ of the hazard coming to fruition, only that if the h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">azardous event occurs, it would create a ‘significant risk’ to employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 322–25 (5th Cir.1984).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 89-2804, 1993 WL 119662, at *11 (OSHRC April 2, 1993). The Secretary mu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">st prove, therefore, that if “excessive heat” occurs, it would create a significant risk to carriers delivering mail that day. “[I]n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>order to prove the existence of a hazard within the meaning of the general duty clause, the Secretary cannot merely show th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at there may be some degree of risk to employees. He must show, at a minimum, that employees are exposed to a significant risk of harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986 WL 5351412, at * 5(OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Magnitude of the Risk</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tusti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n was unable to quantify the degree of risk to which outdoor workers would be exposed in 100°F weather. Counsel for the Postal Service cross-examined Dr. Tustin regarding a scenario in which 1000 carriers are working on a day when the temperature is 100°F:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me in that scenario how many employees -- what percentage of employees working in that 100-degree day would experience a heat-related illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: You can't tell me how likely it is?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can't give you an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exact number as far as a number of employees who will have an illness, no.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: When you say you can't give me an exact number; can you give me any number?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can tell you, like I said before, that there's a dose-response relationship, and it's</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>--from the data that I've seen, it's more likely that employees will become sick on a 100-degree day compared to an 80-degree day. But I can't give you an exact number.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me, on a 100-degree day with 1,000 employees working outside<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">under identical conditions, what percentage will sustain a heat-related illness that is "serious" by your definition?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you recall during your deposition giving testimony about the likelihood that a cohort of workers would experience</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat-related illness? . . . [Reading from deposition]: QUESTION: "The employees that would develop an illness, what sort of characteristics would you expect to see in those employees, if any?" ANSWER: "Like I said, I can't predict. If you gave me a cohort</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of workers at the beginning of the day, and so predict which workers are going to develop a heat-related illness, I don't think I can do that -- I could do that." Do you recall giving that testimony?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you agree with it?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tusti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 546-47)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin’s testimony establishes incidents of heat-related illness are likely to increase as the heat index rises above 80°F, but it does not establish the magnitude of the risk or its significance. Dr. Tustin stated the severit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related illnesses varies. Some, such as heat stroke, can be deadly, but others (such as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat rash and dehydration) can be minor (NH Tr. 261). Dr. Tustin reviewed spreadsheets compiled by the Postal Service when he was preparing his expert report.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>They listed heat-related incidents reported by Eastern Area Postal Service employees in the summers of 2017 and 2018 (NH Exh. C-162 & C-163).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. So you testified earlier that there are incidents in the data that clearly weren't reportable; is that correc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t, just from your review?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I mean, just looking at the spreadsheet there are some that say the person felt dizzy and remained working, so yes. I mean, that doesn't seem to be a reportable incident.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And is it your understanding that t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hese reports could include situations like an employee calling their supervisor and saying, "I feel really hot, I'm going to sit down for a while " and drinking a bottle of water and then continuing working?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes, it appears that there are some</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>like that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I mean, there's one in there that just says, "I feel hot," right?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I don't know. There might be.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, if that employee sits down and drinks a lot of water and says, "Hey, I feel great, I'm going to go back to work,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">" do they have a heat illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: They may have -- they might have had symptoms that would cause them to stop working, so that could be a mild heat illness, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you characterize that as serious?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 628-29)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Determination of causation is also an issue. In recording injuries from vehicular accidents, falls, or dog bites, there is little doubt of the actual cause of the injury. Not all conditions diagnosed as heat-related are, however, heat-r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elated. Dr. Tustin conceded the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tolerability of Heat Stress</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At one point, Dr. Bernard co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mpared ACGIH’s TLV levels for heat to OSHA’s occupational noise exposure standard. Section 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise exposure during an 8-hour day to 90 dBA for all workers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The PEL for noise is 90 dBA. And you might argue</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a little bit about what the number is, but [there] generally are between 20 and 25 percent of the population will suffer an occupational hearing loss at 90 dBA. So that's the reason for the hearing conservation amendment where you have audiograms. That's<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">your way of catching somebody who will be less tolerant of the noise. Even with the ACGIH TLV at 85 dBA, there's a small percentage of people who will still have an occupational hearing loss. So again, the audiograms are a way of catching that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(NH TR. 994-95)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Counsel for the Postal Service returned to the subject on cross-examination.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If we think about people being exposed to noise levels of 90 dBA or higher, you or somebody like you could tell us at those ranges this percentage of workers would los</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e hearing; is that fair?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: With these TLVs would you agree that even at levels below the TLV there will be certain workers who will have heat-related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And you would agree with me that at levels<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">above the TLV, perhaps significantly above the TLV, there will be workers that will not have heat- related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [W]e know that above 90 dBA there's a certain percentage who are pretty likely to lose hearing; do we not? T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat's why OSHA set the limit at 90?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you agree with me that the TLVs are designed -- currently designed such that 99 percent of workers exposed at levels below the TLVs will keep their core body temperatures at 38.3°C or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: The final question on ACGIH, the ACGIH guidelines are set not to prevent heat illness. They're set to -- the goal of them, if you will, is to keep the core body temperature at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, and more im</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">portantly -- or more specifically so that you can maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So again, those are unlike, for example, the noise standard which is set to prevent hearing loss? This is set to maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t's not set to prevent an illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Not directly.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, I mean, you already agreed that certainly you will have some unspecified percentage of workers who will experience a heat illness even when working at levels below the TLV?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1056-59)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with heat exposure, noise exposure affects different people differently. A certain percentage of workers will suffer some hearing loss at a level below the PEL, and a certain percentage may not register hearing loss at c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ertain levels above the PEL. The difference is employers know at what level OSHA, for the purpose of compliance, has determined noise presents a hazard. Section 1910.95 establishes a regulatory baseline that provides notice to employers of the PEL for nois</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e exposure and the requirements for hearing monitoring and testing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quantification of “Excessive” Heat</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary must show a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard. Here, the condition and the alleged hazard are identical. The condi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion of excessive heat presents an alleged hazard of excessive heat. The precise temperature at which regular heat becomes excessive heat is, however, unclear. OSHA has been urged to promulgate a heat stress standard since shortly after the Act went into e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ffect.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992) (“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In 1972, NIOSH recommended that OSHA adopt a standard governing exposure to heat, and a panel appointed by OSHA endorsed that recommendation in 1974.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Nevertheless, OSHA has not adopted a heat stress regulation[.]”).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The local and national hearings in the Postal Service cases establish people tolerate environmental heat at different levels, and other factors, such as underlying medical conditions or me</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dication use, can affect their usual tolerability. Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard agree that some<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">people may sustain a heat-related illness at temperatures below 80°F, their recommended screening level. The statistical evidence from the national hearing establ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ishes the vast majority of carriers completed their routes without incident on the dates the heat-related illnesses cited by Secretary occurred. Without a temperature- or heat index-specific standard, it is difficult for employers to know when heat is “exc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">essive.” Chairman Sullivan commented on the lack of a uniform measurement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. “The Secretary’s failure to establish the existence of an excessive heat hazard here illustrates the difficulty in addressing this issue in the absence of an OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">standard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *5, n.8.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In her concurring opinion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">former Chairman MacDougall addresses the nebulous phrase “excessive heat.”<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Excessive heat” is a condition that is inherent in the performance of outdoor work and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>one that only presents the possibility for harm, not an employment condition that by itself necessarily carries a significant risk of harm.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mo. Basin Well Serv., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 26 BNA OSHC at 2316 n. 5 (MacDougall, Chairman) (“As the Commission observed in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ron,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an employer cannot reasonably be expected to free its workplace of inherent risks that are incident to its normal operation.”). This vague definition also neither identifies a condition or practice over which an employer can reasonably be expected to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exercise control nor provides an employer with fair notice of what it is required to do to protect its employees.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Whether there exists a significant risk depends on both the severity of the potential harm and the likelih</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ood of its occurrence, but there is an inverse relationship between these two elements. As the severity of the potential harm increases in a particular situation, its apparent likelihood of occurrence need not be as great.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weirton Steel Corp,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 98-0701</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 1999 WL 34813785, at *5 (OSHRC July 31, 2003).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The record demonstrates the difficulty of accurately determining the etiology of illnesses presumed to be heat-related. The Secretary has not shown the incidence of carriers’ self-reported heat-related illne</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">sses establishes a “significant” risk of harm, either in the statistical likelihood of occurrence or in the severity of potential harm.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Conclusion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary did not establish the cited weather conditions exposed San<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Antonio’s carriers to a significant risk of harm from excessive heat on June 13 and 15, 2016.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref77" href="#ftn77">77</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "> The Secretary has not met his burden to establish a condition or activity presented a hazard. The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">B. Feasible and Effective Means to Elim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">inate or Materially Reduce the Hazard</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assuming the Secretary had established the temperatures or heat index values on June 13 and 15, 2016, presented an excessive heat standard, as well as the elements of industry or employer recognition, likelihood of de</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ath or serious physical injury, and knowledge, the Court finds he failed to establish the element relating to feasible and effective means of abatement.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the feasibility of a proposed abatement measure, the Secretary must ‘demonstrate both tha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t the measure[] [is] capable of being put into effect and that [it] would be effective in materially reducing the incidence of the hazard.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Arcadian,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>20 BNA OSHC at 2011 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Beverly Enters. Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 19 BNA OSHC at 1190). Where an employer has undertaken m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">easures to address a hazard alleged under the general duty clause, the Secretary must show that such measures were inadequate.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">U.S. Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 21 BNA OSHC 1767, 1773-74 (No. 04-0316, 2006).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *8.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. Alternative Means o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">f Abatement</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission stated,</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Before addressing this element of proof [for abatement], however, we must first determine whether the Secretary proposed each measure as an alternative means of abatement, in which case implementing any</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>one of them would constitute abatement of the alleged violation, or as a component of a single means of abatement, in which case all of the measures must be implemented to abate the violation. If the former, the Secretary can prevail on this element only<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">if he proves that Sturgill implemented none of the measures. . . . If the latter, he need only show a failure to implement one of them.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation presents ten proposed methods of abatement for the alleged excessive heat e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">xposure hazard:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard include, but are not limited to, the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. Acclimatize new employees by gradually increasing their exposure to heat or hot environment. This is also applicabl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e for employees returning from absent periods of three or more days. Gradually increase workers’ time in hot conditions over 7 to 14 days.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. For new workers, the work schedule should be 20% of the usual duration of work in the heat on Day 1 and no more t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">han 20% increase on each additional day.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. Develop a work/rest cycle based on validated measures of heat stress, such as a heat index or wet-bulb globe temperature index.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. Reduce the metabolic demands of the job. Provide other means of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carrying and transporting heavy mail loads aside from satchels for letter carriers to relieve physiological burden during the hot summer months.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. During the summer months where excessive heat conditions may contribute to employee safety and health issue,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>begin mail delivery routes earlier in the workday to aid in the completion of outdoor work prior to the hottest hours of the day.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. Provide for a cool and shaded rest area.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. Limit time in the heat and/or increase recovery time spent in a cool environm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ent.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. Provide cooled air, cooled fluid or ice cooled conditioned clothing such as ice vests or neck towels that can maintain the body’s core temperature to below 98 degrees Fahrenheit.</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref78" href="#ftn78">78</a></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. Assign a supervisor or other personnel to closely<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">monitor employees for adequate hydration and work-rest cycles.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. Provide training for employees prior to the arrival of excessively hot weather conditions regarding the health effects associated with heat stress, symptoms of heat induced illnesses, and t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he prevention of such illness.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Here, the language used to introduce the proposed abatement list (“Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard include, but are not limited to, the following”) is similar to the formulation used</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by the Secretary in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when introducing the list of proposed abatement methods (“Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include but are not limited to”). The Commission found</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> portion of the citation . . . begins wit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h a sentence that uses and references the plural word “methods”: “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Feasible</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and acceptable </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">methods</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> to abate this hazard include, but </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> not limited to: ...,” suggesting that each measure is an </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alternative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> means of </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (emphasis added).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">WL 1099857, at *9, n. 17.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In his post-hearing brief, the Secretary acknowledges the proposed abatement methods are distinct alternatives, and not components of a single abatement method. “[T]he evidence shows that USPS could have taken<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">several steps</span><span><span></span>
					</span>to abate or materially reduce the heat stress hazard its employees faced.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">These steps include</span><span><span></span>
					</span>an adequate work/rest cycle, an adequate emergency response program, analyzing existing data on employees’ heat-related illnesses, employee<span>
					</span>monitoring, and reducing outdoor exposure time.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">By failing to implement these or equally effective abatement measures,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>USPS needlessly exposed its workers to dangerous heat stress hazards.” (Secretary’s brief, pp. 37-38) (emphasis added)<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
				</p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having found the Secretary proposed altern</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ate methods of abatement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission concludes, “[I]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the record shows that Sturgill implemented any one of the Secretary's proposed measures, or is equivocal in that regard, the abatement element of the Secretary's burden of proof has</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>not been established.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9. So it is here. If the Postal Service implemented any one of the Citation’s ten proposed abatement methods, the Secretary cannot meet his burden on this element. The Court finds the Postal Service impl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">emented heat stress training.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Heat Stress Hazard Training</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In his post-hearing brief, the Secretary addresses five methods of abatement: 1. Work/Rest Cycles; 2. Acclimatization; 3. Emergency Response and Employee Monitoring; 4. Analyzing Existing Data on Heat-Related Illnesses; and 5. Reducing Time Outdoors (Secre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tary’s brief, pp. 38-45).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>What the Secretary does not address is the Citation’s tenth proposed method of abatement: “Provide training for employees prior to the arrival of excessively hot weather conditions regarding the health effects associated with h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eat stress, symptoms of heat induced illnesses, and the prevention of such illness.” </span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is undisputed Beacon Hill Station supervisors provided heat stress training, including the recognition of heat stress symptoms and the prevention of heat stress, to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carriers prior to the June 13 and 15, 2016, incidents at issue. Beacon Hill Station supervisors and carriers testified extensively on this issue (Exhs. C-3 & R-6; Tr. 351-52, 423-24, 475-76, 651-56, 717, 721, 731-32).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court finds the Postal Service t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rained Beacon Hill carriers in heat stress symptom recognition and prevention prior to the arrival of “excessively hot weather conditions,” in accordance with the Secretary’s proposed method of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. Economic Infeasibility</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, the Secretary<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">failed to establish its proposed abatement methods regarding work/rest cycles, acclimatization programs, and additional paid breaks are economically feasible. It is the Secretary’s burden to show his “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed abatement measures are economically feasible.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . . In cases involving the general duty clause, the Commission has generally held that an abatement method is not economically feasible if it ‘would clearly threaten the economic viability of the employer.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">National Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 n.37. ” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beve</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">rly Enterprises, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Nos. 91-3144, 92-238, 92-1257, 93-724, 2000 WL 34012177, at *34-35 (OSHRC Oct. 27, 2000).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref79" href="#ftn79">79</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Two of the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods listed in the San Antonio Citation are:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. Develop a work/rest cycle based on validated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">measures of heat stress, such as a heat index or wet-bulb globe temperature index[, and]</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. During the summer months where excessive heat conditions may contribute to employee safety and health issues, begin mail delivery routes earlier in the day<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to aid in the completion of outdoor work prior to the hottest hours of the day.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At the national hearing, the issues of additional paid breaks and acclimatization schedules were also addressed. All of these proposals would require the Postal Service to pay</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>carriers for time during which they are not working or pay additional carriers at regular or overtime rates.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified regarding abatement measures that he recommends the Postal Service implement to reduce its employees’ exposure to excessive</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat. Safety organizations used the concept of hierarchy of controls to prioritize measures to reduce hazardous exposure. The first and most effective measure is elimination of the hazard, followed by substitution, engineering controls, administrative con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">trols, and personal protective equipment (PPE) (NH Tr. 498-500). Dr. Tustin stated elimination of the hazard (hot weather) is not an option for the Postal Service, nor is substitution.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Work/Rest Cycles</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed, as an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">administrative control, work/rest cycles to lower the carriers’ metabolic heat. “[T]he employer would give workers rest breaks . . . and they would increase in either frequency or duration as the temperature increases.” (NH Tr. 508) He advocated for a “pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tocol for giving more frequent breaks” such as “when the temperature reaches a certain level, workers might break for 15 minutes out of every hour and rest in a cooler location. As the temperature increases even more, there might be another threshold where</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they have to rest even more than 15 minutes per hour—maybe 30 minutes per hour.” (NH Tr. 509)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin believes the most effective use of the work/rest cycle is to require mandatory breaks. “[F]or heat-related illnesses in particular, . . . if it’s pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gressing to heat stroke that can cause disorientation and confusion, mental status changes. So somebody who is progressing to heat stroke might not realize that they need a rest break. So relying on the worker to take a rest break could be dangerous in tha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t situation.” (NH Tr. 513) He does not think the Postal Service’s policy of allowing comfort breaks to be an effective administrative control. “To be honest it<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">didn’t even really appear sincere to me. The testimony that I reviewed indicated that sometimes<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">supervisors said that workers were allowed to take extra rest breaks but then when workers either reported symptoms or said they wanted extra rest breaks; they were . . . either disciplined or supervisors became angry.” (NH Tr. 514) It is Dr. Tustin’s opin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that exposure to excessive heat “would have been significantly reduced in all seven incidents [cited in the five Postal Service cases before the Court] if a work/rest cycle program had been implemented.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Tr. 514)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Acclimatization</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed three types of acclimatization in the context of abatement measures. First, a worker may not be acclimatized if he or she is newly hired and has not been exposed to the work environment. “In that case allow</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing the person to become acclimatized to heat stress is thought to be helpful.” (NH Tr. 515) Second, a worker who has taken time off work, either due to vacation or illness, “might lose acclimatization or when the worker comes back the heat stress might be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>higher when the worker left. So allowing that worker to gradually acclimatize, . . . if the absence has been more than about two weeks, is helpful.” (NH Tr. 515-16) The third case involves “situations where essentially the entire workforce is unacclimatiz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed if it’s, . . . for example, a heat wave. Protecting the entire workforce somehow during a heat wave can materially reduce the hazard.” (NH Tr. 516)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recommended newly hired carriers and carriers returning after a work break follow an acclima</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tization schedule that builds up daily to increased heat exposure (NH Exh. C-312). He believes his recommended acclimatization is technically feasible for the Postal Service. “[I]t's with the preplanning that goes into things. And they do plan their routes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. They do have unexcused absences and others. So there's a capability of managing how you can assign routes and a workload, so I think this fits into that possibility.” (NH Tr. 837)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard acknowledged on cross-examination he did not know realistical</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly how the Postal Service could implement his recommended acclimatization plan.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In those scenarios where, you know, you're going to have in your opinion workers who cannot be on the street working outside because they returned from that 3-week vacatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n, you said they can be productive in other ways. Given what you know about the Postal Service operation, what are they going to do during that time?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, I don't know.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So you don't know if they can be productive or not?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d: Yeah, I mean, I can create scenarios and the Post Office will laugh at me. You know, so this isn't my business, but the Post Office knows their business. . . . But the goal is, you know, is some sort of progressive increase. The classic one is 50 percen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t on day one. 60, 80, 100. . . . And that is the outdoor portion, the casing doesn't count.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1080-81)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Reducing Time Outdoors</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin also advocated for earlier start times. Noting temperatures typically are highest between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., Dr. Tustin recommended the Postal Service could adjust its delivery schedule, so carriers are not working during the hottest hours in the afternoon. “[I]f you shifted the work hours that they finish by 1:00 p.m. then [the carriers] would be exposed to b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oth lower levels of environmental heat overall. So the level of heat would be lower and the amount of time that they were exposed to a hazardous level of environmental heat would be shorter.” (NH Tr. 518)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Funding the Proposed Abatement Methods</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secreta</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry presented no witnesses, expert or otherwise, to show funding the proposed additional rest/recovery/acclimatization/break time is economically feasible. Instead, the Secretary argues the Postal Service could simply raise prices for competitive products,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">such as packages, or borrow $4 billion from the U.S. Treasury (Secretary’s brief, p. 46). These suggestions are speculative and presented without evidence of their efficacy. The Secretary also claims the Postal Service is not actually operating at a defici</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t because it has defaulted on its financial obligations for several years.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The 2018 Presidential task force report provides a clear snapshot demonstrating six consecutive years of postal profits totaling $3.8 billion in revenue. (DC Ex. C-135 at p.19) All<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of USPS’s claimed losses are merely paper losses. After nine years of not paying into the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF), it is clear the prefunding mandate of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act is not a true expense because the act has no<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mechanism to enforce payment, USPS suffers no penalty from default, and it intentionally chooses to spend its revenue elsewhere.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 47)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service, in contrast, presented a detailed analysis explaining why the Secretary’s prop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">osed time-related abatements are unworkable.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">David Williams Jr., chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, testified at length regarding its precarious financial condition resulting from increased competition and the obli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gation to prefund the RHBF (NH Tr. 1751-52). He described how the complex network of employees, contractors, facilities, airplanes, trucks, and other vehicles coordinate nationwide to meet the timetable imposed by 24-hour clock, and how one snag could crea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">te a bullwhip effect (NH Tr. 1760, 1780-81, 1783-84, 1791-92, 1795-97). Williams stated, “Every step depends on the previous step. And if we change one thing, we change another.” (NH Tr. 1814)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams testified the Secretary’s recommendations for work/re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">st cycles and unlimited paid breaks were economically (as well as technically) infeasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If you think about the 24 hour clock that I talked about the need for our carriers to get back by 6:00 p.m. so that we could meet the dispatch schedules and start th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at whole process around our operating plan to insure that we achieve the service expectations of our customers, when an employee can take an unlimited break for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work 75 percent of the time that means that for -- at least for the one where the [temperature<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">required] 45 minutes work 15 minutes break for every hour, that’s significant.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">That impacts our ability to deliver mail on time to make the 24 hour clock. If you think about 50 percent of the time where a carrier is working 30 minutes out of every hour, totally infeasible in terms of our ability to provide prompt, reliable and effici</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ent service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And then if you think of 15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of break, totally infeasible. Then the unlimited breaks, I don’t know of any business, any business that provides unlimited breaks whenever anybody would want to take a break.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. [W]e’re hemorrhaging money every day. And the costing that was performed on this analysis is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We can’t afford it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 1911-13)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulated that the Postal Service’s net losses were in the billions f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or 2016, 2017, and 2018:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Do Yeun Sammi Park, financial economi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">st for the Postal Service, testified regarding the financial impact of implementing the abatement methods proposed by the Secretary related to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">paid worktime.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref80" href="#ftn80">80</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court determined Dr. Park was qualified “in terms of her knowledge, skill, experience, train</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing, and education” as an expert in economics with a “specialized expertise in cost modeling.” (Tr. 1559-60)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>She explained her process for developing a costing model to determine how much proposed changes in CBAs would cost the Postal Service. CBAs usual</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly expire after 3 or 5 years, and then the terms have to be renegotiated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]henever we do the negotiation, the major portion is an economic proposal, which is determining the wage increase, the general wage increase or COLA increase or step increase. Tho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">se are the three main parts of the wage increase.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So whenever we do the negotiation, there's a lot of proposals going on, and we – my task was to cost each economic proposal, how much it's going to cost to the USPS. . . . So I developed a fairly complica</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted model, the costing model. And so I polish up the model, develop it and prove it and update it before the negotiations start. And whenever the negotiation is actually going on, the main spokesperson talks to the union's head, and then they discuss – the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y bounce each other the proposals, and they let me -- tell me I need to cost what it's going to cost USPS 1.3 percent of general increase next year or throughout the 3-year contract. And I have to cost -- for example, it's going to cost $800 million to the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>USPS. . . . So a costing model consists of basically wages and benefit part. . . . So the general increases on . . . the salaries, so that comes into it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The benefit part, we also have to -- so whenever we increase a salary, that also affects the benefi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t, and we have to cost that part out. Mainly, the cost part of the benefit is -- we look at the proportion of how much, if we increase salary -- the basic salary goes up, then what's the proportion of benefit goes up with it. So those are the main big comp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">onents of the costing model.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1556-58)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August of 2018, the Postal Service asked Dr. Park to determine the cost of two proposed changes designed to reduce the exposure of carriers to excessive heat: an acclimatization program and an additional pa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">id 5-minute break. For the acclimatization program, Dr. Park assumed the targeted carriers are returning to work after a 3-day layoff and after a 7-day layoff. For both layoff periods, Dr. Park assumed the carriers’ return schedule would start the first da</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y with restricting them to working only 2 hours outdoors, then 4 hours the second day, and then 6 hours the third day. On the fourth day, the carriers can return to their regular schedules. Dr. Park relied on the acclimatization analyses developed by Rober</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t Mullin, a data<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">analyst in field staffing and support for the Postal Service, to perform her cost modeling the proposed changes (NH Tr. 1473, 1560-63).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Park used a “consolidated rate” to calculate the cost. The consolidated rate is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">determined by combining the various wage rates for full-time, part-time, and non-career postal employees into one wage rate. She also reviewed the CBAs for city and rural carriers for details relating to guaranteed hours the Postal Service is contractually</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>obligated to pay (NH Tr. 1564-68). Based on her analyses of six hypothetical situations, Dr. Park determined the total costs of the acclimatization program and the paid 5-minute break:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(1) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$333,877,519</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$487,864,332</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(2) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$209,293,069</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$312,124,391</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(3) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid B</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reak, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$179,628,724</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$263,267,664</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(4) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$126,620,282</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$188,428,747</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(5) Cost of 7 Day A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$87,849,671</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$130,815,782</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(6) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$67,536,663</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$100,540,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">277</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. R-202, pp. 6-8; NH Tr. 1599-1602)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues these figures are inflated.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref81" href="#ftn81">81</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:67.2px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The calculation is a gross over-estimation of costs as acclimatization is not needed after a mere three or seven days off; rather, it is necessary for new workers and workers returning from a two to three week absence. Therefore the group selected for cost</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing was over-inclusive. Further, acclimatization is generally only needed when the heat index is at least 91°F, so calculating for every single day inside a three month time period is also grossly over inclusive.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 48, n. 33)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot the Postal Service’s burden to establish the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods are economically feasible. The Postal Service has presented the analysis of a cost modeling specialist who projected the cost of implementing specified extra break and a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cclimatization schedules. The Secretary had the opportunity to rebut the projected costs with his own expert or to cross-examine Dr. Park more extensively on the accuracy of her projections.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“OSHA is not required to prove economic feasibility with certain</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ty but is required to use the best available evidence and to support its conclusions with substantial evidence.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">American Iron & Steel Institute v. OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">939 F.2d 975, 980–81 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead II)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. OSHA must also provide “a reasonable estimate of com</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pliance costs and demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that these costs will not threaten the existence or competitive structure of an industry, even if it does portend disaster for some marginal firms.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United Steelworkers of America, AFC-CIO-CLC,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>647 F.2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d 1189, 1272 (D.C. Cir. 1960), (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">N. Am.'s Bldg. Trades Unions v. Occupational Safety & Health Admin.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>878 F.3d 271, 296 (D.C. Cir. 2017).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary’s burden to prove the economic feasibility of his proposed abatements.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary di</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d not provide an estimate of compliance costs or demonstrate a reasonable likelihood compliance costs would not threaten the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, was asked about financing the proposed acclimatization and paid break programs. He stated, “We don’t have sufficient funds to even pay our existing obligations. So</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, no, we do not have funds to pay additional obligations. . . . We just don’t have sufficient cash. We—we can’t.” (NH Tr. 2383-84)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Restrictions Imposed by the CBA</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Alan Moore has been the Postal Service’s manager of labor relations since 2007 (NH Tr. 2211). He is responsible for contract administration for the NALC and for managing the labor relations process when rules are created or changed (NH Tr. 2214-15). His te</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stimony illustrates how the CBA creates further obstacles to feasibly implementing the Secretary’s proposed time-based methods of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Reorganization Act requires the Postal Service to bargain with its employees’ labor unions. The partie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s bargain over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions (NH Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2216). Generally, when a contract is set to expire, the parties have an approximately 90-day window to bargain. They jointly establish the ground rules, including what discussions will b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e off the record. They set up bargaining teams who work on proposals (NH Tr. 2218). The Postal Service looks at the total cost of any proposed contract. “[G]enerally there’s a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quid pro quo<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">process. So if the union . . . wants something, then we get somethi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng in return.” (NH Tr. 2219) During the term of the CBA, the Postal Service cannot unilaterally change wages, hours, benefits, or working conditions of the contract (MH Tr. 2225-26).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>NALC is the exclusive bargaining representative of city carriers. Not al</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l city carriers are members of NALC but the CBA for NALC applies to all of them. City carriers include career employees, who are either full-time (with 40-hour assignments) or part-time. Part time employees are divided into part-time regulars and part-time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>flexibles. The CBA limits the number of part-time regular employees to 682. The part-time flexible position is being sunsetted and replaced by city carrier assistants (CCAs). CCAs are non-career employees who are on a path to become career employees when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a regular position opens up. The CBA limits the number of CCAs to 15 percent of the full-time employees per district, and no more than 8,000 CCAs nationwide. The Postal Service is prohibited from unilaterally exceeding any position caps set out in the CBA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. R-117; NH Tr. 2228-34).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA does not permit the Postal Service to divide a city carrier’s assignment so part of it is worked in the morning and part in the late afternoon. “[T]here’s a requirement that full-time assignments are either 8 or 9<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hours within 10 hours.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref82" href="#ftn82">82</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>[T]he 8 hours within 9 hours . . . is in offices with a hundred employees or something. There’s a baseline there. . . . So the biggest gap you can have in a regular assignment is 2 hours.” (NH Tr. 2234-35)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA guarantees full-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time city carriers 8 hours of work or 8 hours’ worth of pay daily. If a full-time city carrier works only 2 hours during a day’s assignment, the Postal Service still owes the city carrier for 8 hours’ pay (NH Tr. 2235-36). The Postal Service must assign ov</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ertime work first to full-time employees who have signed up for the overtime-desired list. If the Postal Service assigns an employee who is not on the list to work overtime, it must also pay the employee on the overtime-desired list for the same work (NH T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 2237-38).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service has demonstrated the Secretary’s proposed time-based abatement methods<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">threaten its economic viability. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Court concludes the Secretary has failed to establish his proposed abatements relating to acclimatization programs,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times are economically feasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VIII. CONCLUSION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary has not met his burden of proving the cited conditions presented a hazard of excessive heat exposure to San Antonio ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers on June 13 and 15, 2016. He has not shown the Postal Service failed to implement any of the alternative methods of abatement he proposed. And he has failed to establish the economic feasibility of his proposed abatement methods<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">related to acclimatiz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ation programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Because the Court finds the Secretary did not prove a violation of the general duty clause, it is not necessary to address the Secretary’s request for enterpri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">se-wide abatement of excessive heat exposure for carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IX. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The foregoing decision constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">X</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">. ORDER</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the foregoing decision, it is hereby<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDERED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Item 1 of the Citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1), is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and no penalty is assessed.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">SO, ORDERED.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">___________________________<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; ">Dated: July 29, 2020</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Administrative Law Judge, OSHRC</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:-48px; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Washington, DC</span></p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Un</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ited States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "> OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">th</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary of Labor,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Complainant</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">United States Postal Service,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket No.:<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">16-1872</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Association of Letter Carriers (NALC),</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> And</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA)</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:10.667px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dolores Wolfe, Esq.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, Dallas, Texas<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Eric E. Hobbs, Esq., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Jennifer L. Janeiro, Esq., USPS, Dallas, Texas and Heather L. McDermott, Esq., US</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">PS, Chicago, Illinois</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Anita Lewallen<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For NALC</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">BEFORE: Administrative Law Judge Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">I. INTRODUCTION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On the afternoon of June 10, 2016, a city letter carrier for the United States Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">began to feel sick as he delivered mail on his route in Benton, Arkansas. He experienced a spinning sensation and began to stumble. He started vomiting and sweating profusely. He staggered to a van parked on the street, opened one of its doors, and collaps</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed on the front seat. A homeowner eventually noticed him and called 911. Emergency medical technicians arrived, provided emergency treatment for the carrier, and transported him by ambulance to a hospital.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton Post Office notified the Occupational<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Safety and Health Administration of the carrier’s hospitalization. OSHA opened an inspection of the Benton Post Office on July 14, 2016. As a result of the inspection, the Secretary issued a one-item Citation and Notification of Penalty to the United State</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s Postal Service (referred to in this proceeding as the Postal Service or USPS) on October 14, 2016. The Citation alleges a repeat violation of § 5(a)(1), the general duty clause (29 U.S.C § 654(a)(1)), of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>U.S.C. §§ 651-658) (Act).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref83" href="#ftn83">83</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Citation alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees “to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and delivering mail in an outdoor environment.” The Secretary proposes a penalty of $124,709 for the alleged violation and seeks enterprise-wide i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mplementation of specified abatement measures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This case is one of five pending before the Court in which the Secretary alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees to excessive heat or high heat levels as they delivered the mail. The National Associ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ation of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), authorized employee representatives, elected party status in the proceedings. They did not present evidence, examine witnesses, or submit post-hearing briefs in th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is proceeding (Tr. 16). The five cases were consolidated early in the proceedings for settlement purposes, but the parties were unable to resolve the issues. On January 26, 2018, Judge Heather Joys, the settlement judge, severed the cases for hearing, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they were reassigned to the Court, who heard the five cases sequentially in October and November of 2018.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref84" href="#ftn84">84</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties agreed the Court would hold a separate hearing (referred to as the national hearing) to present testimony from expert witnesses and wit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nesses addressing issues common to the five cases. The Court held the 12-day national hearing in Washington, D.C., from February 25 to March 12, 2019. The testimony and exhibits in the national hearing are part of the records in the five cases, unless othe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rwise noted. The records of the individual cases were not admitted in the other actions, unless noted.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref85" href="#ftn85">85</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This is the first of the five Postal Service cases heard by the Court. The hearing was held from October 16 to October 19, 2018, in Little Rock, Arkan</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sas.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref86" href="#ftn86">86</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties submitted briefs for all five cases on September 17, 2019.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For the reasons that follow, the Court finds the Secretary did not establish a condition or activity in the workplace presented an excessive heat hazard to Benton’s carriers on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>June 10, 2016. The Court also finds the Secretary failed to show an economically feasible means existed to materially reduce the alleged hazard of excessive heat. The Citation is vacated.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">II. JURISDICTION AND COVERAGE</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service timely contested<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Citation on November 1, 2016. The parties stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under the Act (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 1-2; Tr. 24).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref87" href="#ftn87">87</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Based on the stipulations and the record evidence, the Court<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">finds the Commission has jurisdiction over this proceeding under § 10(c) of the Act, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under § 3(5) of the Act.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">III. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13892</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties filed post-hearing briefs on September 17, 2019, in the f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ive Postal Service cases. On October 15, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 13892</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 84 Fed. Reg. 55239 (October 15, 2019) (E.O. 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3892)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Section 4 of E.O. 13892 provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Sec. 4.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fairness and Notice in Administrative Enforcement Actions and Adjudications.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When an agency takes an administrative enforcement action, engages in adjudication, or otherwise makes a determination that has le</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gal consequence for a person, it may apply only standards of conduct that have been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise. An agency must avoid unfair surprise not only when it imposes penalties but also whenever it adjudges past</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>conduct to have violated the law.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On November 6, 2019, the Postal Service submitted a letter to the Court with a copy of E.O. 13892 attached “as supplemental authority.” The Postal Service states:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[E.O. 13892] is relevant to two primary arguments in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service’s Post-Trial Briefs:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1. The Commission has already recognized that defining a hazard as “excessive heat,” which the Secretary has done in this case, falls far short of due process. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA is required to affor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d regulated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">parties safeguards “above and beyond” those required for due process. Vaguely defining a hazard as “excessive heat” does not meet [E.O. 13892’s] requirements;<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA’s reliance on its heat chart and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">other guidance documents as the basis for establishing a heat hazard is impermissible. While agency guidance documents can be useful in enhancing the regulated community’s understanding of a regulation, they are not intended to form the basis of a violatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n. Guidance documents do not have the benefit of undergoing notice and comment rulemaking, and thus do not provide the regulated community with fair notice.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Letter, p. 2) (footnotes omitted)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary filed a response on December 4, 2019, stating the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>terms of E.O. 13892 do not create rights enforceable against the Secretary, and due process concerns are not implicated where the Postal Service has recognized or should have recognized the alleged excessive heat hazard at issue. The Secretary notes the P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service has suffered no unfair surprise as that term is used in the Order.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By order dated January 30, 2020, the Court accepted the Letter and attached copy of E.O. 13892 as supplemental authority in this proceeding in accordance with FRCP 15(d), whi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ch provides:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(d) SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS. On motion and reasonable notice, the court may, on just terms, permit a party to serve a supplemental pleading setting out any transaction, occurrence, or event that happened after the date of the pleading to be su</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pplemented. The court may permit supplementation even though the original pleading is defective in stating a claim or defense. The court may order that the opposing party plead to the supplemental pleading within a specified time.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having considered the p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arties’ arguments, the Court concludes the Secretary did not overstep the terms of E.O. 13892 when he cited the Postal Service for a violation of § 5(a)(1) for excessive heat exposure. Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 states, “This order is not intended to, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.” Section 11(c) of E.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">O. 13892 bars review of an agency’s compliance with E.O. 13892 in adjudicative proceedings.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Furthermore, § 9(c) of the Act grants the Secretary the authority to cite employers for violations of § 5(a)(1). 29 U.S.C. § 658(a). Section 11(a)(i) of E.O. 13892</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>provides, “Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof.” E.O. 13892 cannot be used to restrict the Secretary’s congressional authority t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o implement § 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Finally, E.O. 13892 states agencies “may apply only standards of conduct that have been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise.” Section 5(a)(1) requires employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of emp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">loyment which<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). Hazards are recognized within the meaning of § 5(a)(1) if they are known to the cited employer o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">r would be known to a reasonably prudent employer in the industry.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SeaWorld of Fla., LLC v. Perez,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">748 F.3d 1216 (D.C. Cir. 2014). The Secretary previously cited the Postal Service for the willful exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards, and a Commi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ssion judge affirmed the violation. The decision and order became a final order of the Commission.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service cannot claim plausibly that it was unfairly surprised by</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>subsequent citations for repeat violations alleging exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IV. THE BENTON HEARING</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stipulations<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulate the following:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref88" href="#ftn88">88</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. [The Postal Service] is divided into seven Areas which are in turn<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">divided into Districts.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. The seven areas are: Northeast Area; Eastern Area; Western Area; Pacific Area; Southern Area; Great Lakes and Capitol Metro.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. This hearing involves operations at the post office at 1425 Military Rd., Benton, Arkansas (Benton)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">which is located in the Southern Area.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. On June 10, 2016, [LC-1]</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref89" href="#ftn89">89</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was an employee of [the Postal Service] who worked at the Benton post office.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. On June 10, 2016, LC-1 was a city letter carrier who delivered mail for [the Postal Service].</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. On June<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10, 2016, LC-1 was assigned to Route 15006 which was his regular route.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. On June 10, 2016, LC-1’s scheduled begin tour time was 7:30 a.m.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. On June 10, 2016, the total weight of the mail that LC-1 was supposed to deliver was 95.75 pounds.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">11. On June [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10], 2016, the total number of pieces that LC-1 was supposed to deliver was 1,426.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12. The members of management working at the Benton Post Office on June 10, 2016, do not recall having had any specified discussions with LC-1 before he departed to his rout</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e that day.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13. On June 10, 2016, LC-1 drove a Long Life Vehicle (LLV) for [the Postal Service].</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">14. The LLV did not have air conditioning.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">15. The LLV did have a fan on the dashboard that was 6” in diameter.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16. LC-1 was hospitalized on June 10,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2016.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exh. J-1)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Background</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Benton Post Office</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In June of 2016, city letter carriers for the Benton Post Office delivered mail on seventeen full-time routes (configured so carriers can deliver the mail in 8 hours daily) and three<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">auxiliary routes (which can be completed in fewer than 8 hours).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref90" href="#ftn90">90</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>City carrier associates (CCAs) are contract carriers who usually deliver mail for the auxiliary routes, aided sometimes by city carriers (Tr. 176, 570-71, 751, 774). In postal nomenclature,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">pivot</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is the portion of a route assigned to a carrier in addition to his or her regular route.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref91" href="#ftn91">91</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Pivots include auxiliary routes as well as regular routes whose assigned carriers are not working that day (Tr. 176-77). Carriers designated as T6 have rota</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ting schedules, working five days on five different routes, to cover the days off of the regular carriers (Tr. 220).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By union contract, city carriers are guaranteed 40 hours of work per week but may volunteer for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">work assignment list</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, meaning they ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e willing to work overtime during their regularly scheduled days but only on their own their routes. City carriers may also volunteer for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overtime-desired list</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, indicating their willingness to deliver on other routes and to work on their scheduled days</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>off. City carriers have the opportunity to sign up for the lists once a quarter and may remove themselves from them at any time (Tr. 69-70, 233-34, 533-34). In some circumstances, supervisors may mandate carriers to work overtime even if they are not on t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work assignment or overtime-desired lists. Rules established by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Postal Service and NALC determine the order in which supervisors assign overtime (Tr. 235).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Trucks hauling the day’s mail for Benton<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arrive at the post office at 4:15 a.m., 5:30 a.m., and 6:45 a.m. (Tr. 775-76). The incoming mail comprises different classes (Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, periodicals, etc.) with different delivery schedules. The delivery schedul</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e is determined by the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">service standard</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the delivery time to which the Postal Service has committed. If a post office does not meet the service standard for Priority Mail Express, it must refund the service fee to the customer (Tr. 777-78).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ost Office staffs a morning (A.M.) supervisor and an afternoon (P.M.) supervisor. The A.M. supervisor arrives at 6:00 a.m. and ensures all delivery routes are covered and assigns pivots if necessary. When the clerks arrive, they unload the mail and separat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e it. They place the letter mail in a designated area for the carriers to pick up. They also sort magazines (which the Postal Service calls<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">flats</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) and place them at the individual cases the carriers use to prepare their mail for delivery. This morning sort</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing process lasts approximately 3 hours (Tr. 222-23, 777). Carriers are not permitted to assist with or perform tasks assigned to clerks because it would be “crossing crafts” and is prohibited by the CBA (Tr. 223).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The post office anticipates increases in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>mail volume on certain days: Mondays (due to mail accumulating on Sunday, when no delivery occurs); days following a federal holiday (especially Tuesdays following a Monday holiday, when mail accumulates for two days); and Wednesdays (when pennysaver cou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pons are delivered to every residence) (Tr. 329-31).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>During the day, carriers collect<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">outbound mail</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on their routes, and customers also bring mail to the post office or deposit it in blue USPS collection boxes. The P.M. supervisor ensures the day’s outbou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd mail is brought to the post office before the last dispatch truck leaves for the Postal Service’s processing and distribution center in North Little Rock. The first dispatch truck leaves at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 5:40 p.m. (Tr. 780). It takes appro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ximately 30 minutes to load the truck for dispatch. If carriers do not bring outbound mail to the post office in time for dispatch, a Postal Service employee must drive approximately 40 minutes to the North Little Rock plant to deliver the late mail. The d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eadline for delivery to the plant is 8:00 p.m. (Tr. 225-26, 781). Outbound mail that does not arrive at the North Little Rock center in time is “a failed product.” (Tr. 781)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Daily Routine of City Letter Carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 is a city letter carrier for the Bent</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on Post Office. He has worked for the Postal Service for almost 24 years. He served as president of the local union from 2009 to 2017. LC-2 acquired his route when it came up for bid in 2014, and he is on the work assignment list for overtime. He regularly</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>delivers mail on his route 5 days a week, but he often works 6 days (Tr. 67-72, 83).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 described a typical day for him as a carrier at the Benton Post Office. When he gets up, he looks at a weather app on his phone “to see if it’s going to rain and .</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>. . to see what the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperature is going to be.” (Tr. 131) He arrives at the post office and clocks in at 7:30 a.m. (city carriers are not permitted to clock in early) (Exh. J-1, ¶ 9; Tr. 91). He first goes to the parking lot and inspects his Long Life Ve</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hicle (LLV), the familiar boxy Postal Service delivery truck. Using a checklist, he notes any deficiencies for listed items (“turn signals, headlights, and windshield wipers, and those type of things” (Tr. 88)) and, if necessary, submits a form to the main</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tenance department to request needed repairs. He then goes to the post office workroom to prepare the mail for his route (Tr. 87-88). The post office is air-conditioned in warm weather (Tr. 155, 228).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In the post office workroom, the supervisor’s desk is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>set in the center on a raised platform. The cases in which the carriers organize their mail are set in a U-shape around the desk, in view of the supervisor (Tr. 75). Sometimes supervisors will notify carriers they have automated delivery point sequence (D</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PS) mail that has already been organized in trays. The supervisor also informs the carriers what time the supervisor expects them to be out of the post office and delivering mail, based on that day’s volume of mail (Tr. 72-73). About once a week, usually o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n a Friday, the supervisor gives a 5-minute<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">standup safety talk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as the carriers gather around the supervisor’s desk (Tr. 92-93, 255).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 proceeds to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">case<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the letters, flats, and small parcels or rolls (SPRs) to be delivered on his route. A case has fiv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e shelves, with every shelf containing numerous 1-inch cells or slots for each address on the route, so the carrier can organize the mail in delivery sequence. Supervisors expect carriers to maintain a standard pace of “18 and 8,” meaning casing 18 letters</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and 8 flats per minute (Tr. 93, 227). After casing the day’s mail, LC-2 pulls the larger parcels for his route and takes them out to his LLV in a hamper, sometimes making several trips. He then withdraws his DPS and checks the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">hot case</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(where clerks conti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nue to process mail as carriers’ case their routes) one more time before clocking out to the street. He drives his LLV to the first<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park point</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(designated parking spot) on his route. On an average day, casing takes about an hour and 20 minutes. The casing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time is included in the 8 hours allotted for completing the route. City carriers at the Benton Post Office are usually on the street by 9:00 a.m. (Tr. 88-92, 227).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">MDDs and Cell Phones</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton Post Office maintains a call log listing the cell phone nu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mbers of its carriers so supervisors can contact them on their routes (Tr. 241, 244). The post office forbids carriers from using cell phones while driving their LLVs (Tr. 246). Prior to June 10, 2016, LC-1 and LC-3 understood they were not to use their ce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll phones while delivering mail on foot (Tr. 552-53). Benton Post Office Supervisor K.S. testified the post office instructed the carriers that if they were in an emergency situation, they should first call 911 and then call their supervisors. She was unaw</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are of a rule requiring carriers to leave their cell phones in their LLVs when delivering mail on foot (Tr. 242, 247).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Carriers use handheld mobile delivery devices (MDDs) to scan packages when they deliver them. Supervisors can use the MDDs to track the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>location of the carriers and the speed at which they are moving. The Benton Post Office provided training to its carriers when they received the MDDs (Tr. 399-400).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1, LC-2, and LC-3 stated that prior to June 10, 2016, they were instructed they could<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">use the MDDs to text supervisors. LC-2 testified, “We were told that they had a text feature that could be used to text management and also by the employee, and that it had some preset text messages that we could use on the scanner to send to management.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 121) LC-3 stated a supervisor had told him he could use the MDD to text the post office in an emergency situation (Tr. 524). Following the June 10, 2016, incident, Benton Post Office supervisors informed carriers they could not use their MDDs to text<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 122).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LLVs</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The post office configures routes for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">mounted delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(for which the carrier delivers mail from the LLV to curbside mailboxes);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">dismount delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(for which the carrier parks and delivers mail to one or two houses at a time and then retu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rns to the LLV and drives to the next park point); and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park and loop delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(for which the carrier parks the LLV at a park point and walks down one side of the street delivering mail to each address and then crosses to the other side to deliver mail, loo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ping back to the LLV) (Tr. 132, 230, 785-86). A loop may include 50 to 60 addresses but typically includes closer to 25 addresses (Tr. 133).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The LLVs are not air-conditioned. They are equipped with a small fan mounted on the dashboard (Exh. J-1, ¶¶14-15;</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 95, 23). LLVs have two side windows that can be rolled manually up and down (Tr. 145, 231, 340). The LLV driver cannot roll down the side window opposite the driver’s side from inside the vehicle (Tr. 162-63, 489-90).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-2’s route is designed for mounted delivery. He spends approximately 7 hours per day in his LLV. He walks for approximately 10 minutes per day when he delivers mail to a strip mall and when he has to deliver parcels to the doors of buildings (Tr. 132-33,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>145). In warm weather, he drives with the LLV windows rolled down. The interior of the LLV becomes quite hot in the summertime. “[I]f you’re on a mounted route, which means that if you’re delivering curb line routes from the vehicle, you can feel the heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>from the floorboard of the truck coming through the soles of your shoes and your feet will actually get hot from that.” (Tr. 97-98)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When delivering mail on foot, LC-2 leaves the windows rolled down as long as he can see the LLV. “The rule is that if<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">you lose sight of the vehicle, you have to secure the vehicle.” (Tr. 145-46) Carriers who deliver on park and loop routes must either roll the windows up or “crack” them “an inch or two” when they are out of sight of the LLVs (Tr. 157). When he delivered o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n a park and loop route, LC-2 testified, “I would roll down the driver’s side window after I’d come back from my park and loop on to the next one, so I would have one window down.” (Tr. 162) He would not roll down the opposite side window “[b]ecause it wou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld take extra time. . . . It really wouldn’t be worth it. . . You’ll have to get out of the vehicle and walk around to roll the window up or down.” (Tr. 162-63) LC-1, who delivered on a park and loop route, only rolled down the driver side window when driv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing his LLV. He did not roll down the opposite window because “[m]anagement would consider that a time-wasting practice because I would have to roll it back up every time I stopped for a park and loop.” (Tr. 340)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In hot weather, the interior of LC-1’s LLV</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“was hot enough that you couldn’t leave your hand on the floorboard because it would burn your hand. . . . [M]y water cooler could actually<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">get squishy on the bottom because the floorboard was so hot.” (Tr. 336) He nicknamed his LLV “the oven.” (Tr. 341)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Heat and Hydration</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton Post Office provides two water fountains and a water faucet in the employees’ break room. The water fountains “break down quite often.” (Tr. 98, 228, 344) There is also an ice machine, purchased with union funds, which breaks</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>down periodically (Tr. 99, 342). Supervisors occasionally provide Gatorade or electrolyte powders to the carriers (Tr. 101). There is, however, no discretionary fund for unbudgeted items. A former Benton Post Office postmaster stated, “Everything requires</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>approval. . . [S]ometimes as managers and postmasters, we go out and purchase bottled water to hand it out to employees.” (Tr. 701) It is undisputed the break room water faucet was always in working order and carriers had access to it daily (Tr. 341, 537)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In the spring and summer of 2016, Benton Post Office supervisors gave a number of standup safety talks focused on delivering mail in hot weather conditions as part of the Postal Service’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Exhs. R-5 & R-15; Tr. 258-59,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>313-14). Supervisor K.S. testified carriers “were advised to hydrate, avoid eating heavy meals during their route, smoking and tobacco use, alcohol. Mostly hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate. You need to drink before, during, and after work. You need<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to drink small amounts intermittently throughout the day. But to hydrate continuously.” (Tr. 256) </span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton carriers understood the importance of proper hydration. LC-2 testified “anytime it gets over 80°F, you’d better have you some fluids with you,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a large amount of fluids to drink. . . . I would say I probably take three or four bottles of Gatorade. . . . And then I would take a couple of bottles of water. . . There’s a gas station on my route that I stop and I’ll get tea or something to drink.” (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 131-32) His fluid intake increases when the temperature exceeds 90°F, drinking “way more than a gallon” as he completes his route, “[b]ecause you’re sweating, and all day sweating, and . . . if you don’t, you’re in trouble because you’ll end up having s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ome sort of heat illness.” (Tr. 132) LC-1 testified that on hot days, “I could go through a gallon [of water] easy, and then I’d have to go refill.” (Tr. 343) LC-3 stated he drinks at least 2 gallons of water a day in hot weather (Tr. 535-36).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 has e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">xperienced symptoms he attributed to excessive heat while driving his LLV in temperatures over 90°F. “I’ve had nausea and dizziness while driving a vehicle because of the heat inside the vehicle. . . . In the summertime, it occurs all the time.” (Tr. 137-3</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8) He does not call his supervisor when this occurs. “I just feel that it’s my job to get the job done, and that’s kind of the way we’ve been programmed, so that’s what I do.” (Tr. 138)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-3 has never felt ill due to heat when the temperature rose above<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">90°F, but he has experienced discomfort. “Just being uncomfortable in the heat and exhaustion.” (Tr. 522) He has never reported this discomfort to his supervisor because “it’s a typical thing. . . . [Y]ou work, you get exhausted. . . . [I]t’s never been to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a point for me personally where I’ve felt that I was in danger or needed any type of assistance . . . or medical attention.” (Tr. 523)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Time Pressure and Form 3996</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The postmaster of a post office is “the overseer for the entire facility, which include[s]<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">all of the employees, the supervisors, custodians, clerks, carriers.” (Tr. 699) For budgetary purposes the Postal Service expects each post office to accomplish its scheduled work for all operations within a certain number of allotted work hours (Tr. 691-9</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6). The Postal Service does not allow for adjustments to be made in the allotted work hours due to hot weather (Tr. 746).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If carriers believe they will not be able to complete the route in 8 hours, they submit a form (Form 3996) requesting more time (ove</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rtime) or help (auxiliary assistance) to complete delivery. The carriers estimate on the forms how much additional time they will need to complete the routes (Exh. C-24; Tr. 72-73, 76-77, 81). Benton carriers must submit the Forms 3996 by 8:00 a.m., which<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they do by placing them in a tray on the supervisor’s desk (Tr. 76, 404, 747).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Supervisors use a computer program each morning to generate a workload status report based on measurements they enter for the mail volume. The workload status report calculate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s the time required for individual carriers to case the mail and deliver it on their designated routes (Tr. 249). Supervisor K.S. stated that when carriers submit the 3996 forms, the supervisor “could go over the information with them and either approve or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>disapprove the auxiliary assistance or the overtime.” (Tr. 248) The supervisor would not approve a request for auxiliary assistance if the volume of mail “did not warrant the assistance, or if they were not on the overtime list. If they were on the work a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssignment list, you did not authorize assistance because they had requested to work the overtime.” (Tr. 248) Requests for overtime would be denied “[i]f the volume did not warrant the overtime, or if they weren’t going to make dispatch.” (Tr. 248) Supervis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or K.S. estimated five or six carriers would submit request forms on an average day, and supervisors would disapprove half of them (Tr. 302). If a carrier submits a Form 3996 that is disapproved, he or she may call the supervisor later that day to request<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">auxiliary assistance or overtime (Tr. 301).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 testified the 8:00 a.m. deadline does not allow enough time for carriers to determine whether they need to submit the forms because “oftentimes the mail is still being worked, especially now the parcel vol</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ume is so heavy. . . . So the letter carrier does not always know how much mail that he’s going to have.” (Tr. 77) LC-2 estimated he submits a Form 3996 “four out of five days on average.” (Tr. 77) He has submitted forms listing excessive heat as the reaso</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n for needing additional time to deliver the mail (Tr. 103).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-3 delivered on City Route 14 in 2016. He walked approximately 5 hours daily on the route, covering a distance of 11 miles. He spent approximately an hour a day in his LLV (Tr. 499, 501). Typ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ically, he was able to complete his route in 8 hours except on Mondays. His route had “a lot of businesses that are closed on Saturdays, so that the mail for closed businesses with nowhere to deliver the mail on Saturday gets delivered on Monday. It’s held</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at the post office till Monday.” (Tr. 497) More mail also requires more casing time. LC-3 estimated Monday and post-holiday mail required an additional 15 to 20 minutes to case (Tr. 499). He routinely submitted a Form 3996 each day (Tr. 555).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>LC-2 stat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed requesting more time creates “a contentious situation because the carrier is asking for overtime and the manager does not want to give you overtime. So you’re both approaching the issue coming from different viewpoints.” (Tr. 78) To discourage carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">from submitting Forms 3996, supervisors “will threaten to put a seat in your vehicle and ride it with you” because they assume “you’re not being honest and they’re threatening to go with you so that they can prove that you’re not telling the truth.” (Tr. 7</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 testified supervisors rushed carriers out the door “almost daily” because “they want you out of the office as soon as they can because when you get out fast, you can get back fast. And that’s what their concern’s with.” (Tr. 85-86) Benton Post Of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fice supervisors have disciplined carriers for taking too long to deliver the mail, citing them for “time wasting practice.” (Tr. 164)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Carriers are contractually entitled to a 30-minute lunch break and two 10-minute breaks (one before and one after lunch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) (Tr. 108, 238, 790). The Benton Post Office provides carriers with a route book that identifies approved locations for breaks that “are along their route, and they have multiple places that they get to choose.” (Tr. 240) LC-3 usually ate lunch in his LLV</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“to avoid having any travel time associated with” his 30-minute lunch break. “I would park it under a shade tree and open up both doors. And . . . typically leave the key turned on with the dash fan blowing.” (Tr. 501-02)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton Post Office told car</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">riers they may take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">comfort breaks</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as needed (Tr. 147). A comfort break is usually a bathroom break or an opportunity to refill or purchase beverages. The post office does not limit comfort breaks in hot weather (Tr. 239-40, 790). In standup safety talks g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iven the summer of 2016, supervisors informed carriers “they were allowed to get extra breaks. . . . [An extra break is] a comfort stop. . . . It’s not a contractual break. It’s above and beyond what we already allow them contractually.” (Tr. 301) LC-2 sta</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted he occasionally takes a break just to cool off. He does not ask permission to take breaks to cool off or report taking them to his supervisor afterward (Tr. 148).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Despite the post office’s official position allowing comfort breaks, supervisors discou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rage carriers from taking them, as well as their contractually guaranteed breaks (Tr. 109-11). LC-2 testified, “I have been asked to not take my lunch break before.” (Tr. 149) LC-1 testified he had been discouraged from taking extra breaks. “[W]e had to g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">et done in 8 hours. Management stressed that to us on a daily basis. And if we went over, we would get in trouble or there would be confrontation back at the office if we didn’t make 8 hours.” (Tr. 368-69) The post office held talks, called “official discu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssions” with carriers who committed infractions. Benton’s former postmaster explained, “As part of the collective bargaining agreement we’re required to give an employee an official discussion which is putting them on notice of whatever the infraction is.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">And then there’s progressive corrective action.” (Tr. 821) LC-1 testified supervisors had held five or six official discussions with him because he had exceeded 8 hours to complete delivery on his route. “They were never sympathetic about not making your 8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>hours.” (Tr. 369)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CCA is a contract position not entitled to the benefits accorded to city carriers (Tr. 508). CCA-1 testified CCAs are “expected to move faster than regular letter carriers. . . . We’re told<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">not to take our lunches, . . .to skip breaks.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” (Tr. 580) He stated, “Even in training, when I went to training, before I was ever even on job training at the plant, the trainer told us in our 90 days [probation period], it’s a good idea not to take your lunch breaks so you can show that you’re perfor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ming faster, because if not, they’ll let you go. Or fire you.” (Tr. 584) One supervisor repeated this to CCA-1 “all the time in the morning. He says you’d better skip break.” (Tr. 586) CCA-1 testified that when he submitted Forms 3996 in 2017, the supervis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or “[would] tell you, ‘[Y]ou don’t need that,’ and [he would] try to swipe the form from you. Also, there’s a time where they would hide the 3996s underneath paperwork, but I knew where they were kept on the shelving over by the hot case, so I would just g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o get one and fill it out and put it on the supervisor’s desk.” (Tr. 590)<span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 witnessed an incident when the former postmaster and a supervisor called a carrier into the office because he failed to complete his route in 8 hours. LC-2, as union steward,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">accompanied him to the office. LC-2 testified the carrier was “very distraught after the meeting occurred,” and he rested his head against the wall (Tr. 139). LC-2 observed the supervisor “taking a photograph of him leaning against the wall. And him and [t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he postmaster] were laughing at [the carrier].” (Tr. 140)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref92" href="#ftn92">92</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Benton Post Office supervisors discouraged carriers from taking time off. LC-2 testified they “will kind of give you a hard time about it” if a carrier calls in sick, telling the carrier, “You d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on’t really need to take off. We really need you here today.” (Tr. 118) He testified that after he had called in sick one day, his supervisor called him at home three times and sent a carrier to his house to confirm he was there (Tr. 118). The supervisors<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">also pressured employees to work on their scheduled days off. CCA-1 stated the post office called several times while he was sleeping on his day off. “I was asleep for the first bunch of calls, but eventually I woke up, and I saw that they’d been calling.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">And they sent a CCA out and knocked on my door. Well, he pounded on my door, woke up my baby.” (Tr. 681) </span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">June 10, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1 was one of approximately 25 city carriers working for the Benton Post Office on June 10, 2016. He has worked for the P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service for 14 years, and he transferred to the Benton Post Office in 2013 (Tr. 173, 308). (LC-1 now works at a post office in another state (Tr. 342).) He was on the work assignment list indicating his willingness to work overtime (Tr. 234).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">delivered mail on City Route 6, most of which was a park and loop route, with 15 park points (Tr. 310-13). LC-1 spent 45 minutes to an hour daily in his LLV (Tr. 349). He described his route as “assisted living, businesses[,] . . . residential, and it was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">kind of hop outs and then walking. . . .Mainly walking, and then I had cluster boxes in the morning that I would pull up to. But it was maybe like 45 minutes of that.” (Tr. 310-11) LC-1 typically spent 5 hours walking on his route, and he was in direct sun</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">light about half of that time (Tr. 347). LC-1 carried<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a pedometer with him. He typically walked 9 to 10 miles daily delivering mail (Tr. 333-34). He estimated approximately 100 houses on his route required him to walk up ten or more steps (“the StairMaster</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>loop”) (Tr. 346-47).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Benton Post Office expected LC-1 to complete his route in 8 hours (Tr. 319-20). New addresses had been added to the route since 2013. In 2014, the post office conducted a route check and recalculated the delivery time for City R</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oute 6. “[T]hey took off like 20 minutes, and they added 40 minutes, and they still wanted me to get it done in 8 hours.” (Tr. 320)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Although LC-1 often completed his route in 8 hours, he submitted a Form 3996 every day “just in case.” (Exh. C-1; Tr. 405)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“[W]e usually fill one out every day. Otherwise, we would get in trouble for coming back after 8 hours. So they would want us . . . to kind of like take a guess on how many parcels we had, how [many] flats we had cased up, and how much DPS we’d have.” (Tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 322-23)<span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Supervisors typically discouraged him from submitting a Form 3996. “They usually said that ‘You can do it in 8. We don’t even need this 96.’” (Tr. 325) LC-1 described the supervisors’ tones as “confrontational” and stated, “They kind of degraded you.” (Tr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>326) LC-1 would usually wait until the supervisor left the desk before submitting his form. “That way, I could avoid confrontation.” (Tr. 327)<span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 began his workday on June 10, 2016, as he usually did, clocking in at 7:30 a.m., inspecting his LLV, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">then casing his mail for the approximately 650 houses on his route. This process generally lasted 1 to 3 hours (Tr. 312).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1 was supposed to deliver 1,426 pieces of mail that day, weighing a total of 95.75 pounds (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 10-11).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He left the post office at approximately 8:45 a.m. (Tr. 366).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 would have either watched the news in the morning or looked at his cell phone to check the predicted high temperature and to see if rain were forecast (Tr. 332). LC-1 was dressed in short</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s and a T-shirt that day and wore a baseball cap and sunglasses (Tr. 350). The Postal Service provides an annual allowance to carriers to purchase weather-appropriate clothing (Tr. 432). LC-1 submitted a Form 3996 the morning of June 10, 2016, which superv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">isor K.S. disapproved (Tr. 202-03). She testified the Postal Service has not trained her to evaluate the impact of the day’s temperature forecast when evaluating the forms (Tr. 204-05). She did not notice anything out of the ordinary with LC-1 during her e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ncounter with him that morning (Tr. 251).<span>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1 used to carry his cell phone with him as he walked on his route and listened to podcasts. At some point before June 10, 2016, a supervisor instructed the carriers during a standup safety talk they had to lea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ve their cell phones in their LLVs while they walked their routes. He would check his cell phone for texts from his supervisor when he returned to his LLV or use it to find addresses. “If I had a pivot that I didn’t know where it was, I would use my maps t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">o see where it was. Like punch up the address and go do my pivot.” (Tr. 358, 363-64) At times<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he used his cell phone to try to call his supervisor, but the calls were not always answered (Tr. 365, 429).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Nothing unusual occurred the morning of June 10 for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1. He took his 10-minute morning break between 10:00 and 11:00 (Tr. 401, 425). He took his lunch break sitting in his LLV (Tr. 368). He explained, “I don’t like to travel to a certain place because that would take out of my half-hour break. But I would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">have my door open and so there’d be a breeze and my fan on.” (Tr. 401) By the early afternoon, he had drunk approximately a half gallon of water (Tr. 344).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Around 12:50 p.m., as he was driving to his next park point, he began to experience problems with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his vision (Tr. 367). “[M]y vision started bouncing back and forth to the left and right while I was driving. And I was in the turning lane. I was about . . . two blocks away from my next park point. There was oncoming traffic, so I had to wait for them to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>pass by. Then when they passed by, I felt good enough to drive[.]” (Tr. 351) LC-1 drove to his park point and drank some water. He felt well enough to start the next loop which comprised 11 houses (Tr. 351).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The first two houses were okay. The third hous</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e, the mailbox was on the garage . . . so I turned around, put the mail in the box, and when I turned around like the whole world was spinning, and I couldn’t walk and I kind of had to catch myself. I stumbled to a light pole that I saw. . . . I grabbed on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to that and I started vomiting, and I was still spinning, vomiting, and I could hardly stand up. . . . There was a van beside me, and I managed to make my way over to that, and it was kind of like I let go of the light pole and my body was just falling har</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d to the right. Then I got onto the van, managed to get my way around that. And I noticed the window was down. So I managed to get the door open and I tried to honk on the horn, but the horn was broke. . . . [I was] sweating. Sweat was just pouring off of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me. Still vomiting. Dizziness. My head was spinning. Sweating terribly, and I could see it running down the seats and just like—you know, like I was in the shower pretty much.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 353)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 had left his cell phone in the LLV (Tr. 362-64). He recalled the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>supervisor’s instruction that carriers could text Benton Post Office supervisors using their MDDs (Tr. 360) “I thought I would get help if I sent a text message in an emergency situation to my supervisor.” (Tr. 362) He texted the Benton Post Office using<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his MDD and texted again when he did not hear from a supervisor. He sent a third text using a preset option that requested emergency assistance because he “couldn’t type any more buttons to make a sentence.” (Tr. 353) He received no response to his texts.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref93" href="#ftn93">93</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>After approximately 45 minutes, one of the residents on the street came out and asked if he needed help. At LC-1’s request, the resident called the Benton Post Office<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and 911. Emergency medical technicians arrived and transported LC-1 by ambulance to a h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ospital, where he stayed for three days (Tr. 353-54).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The former postmaster received a telephone call at around 1:30 p.m. alerting her that LC-1 had been taken to the emergency room (Tr. 702). She and supervisor K.S. drove to the location of LC-1’s LLV t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o retrieve it and secure the undelivered mail. Driving the LLV, K.S. followed the former postmaster to the hospital where they briefly visited LC-1 in the emergency room (Tr. 201, 251, 354, 704).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The former postmaster subsequently completed an accident r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eport (Form 1796/301) for the incident. Line 41 of the form asks, “What object or substance directly harmed the employee?” She responded, “Temperature was 91°F.” (Exh. C-14; Tr. 706). She testified she believed her response “was necessary information” bas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed on LC-1’s initial diagnoses of heat exhaustion (Tr. 706). The former postmaster testified she later determined LC-1 contributed to “an unsafe personal factor” because when he began to feel ill, “he tried to push himself to go on, and he should’ve, you k</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">now, contacted the supervisor or 911.” (Tr. 716) The Postal Service did not discipline LC-1 for his actions on June 10, 2016 (Tr. 725). LC-1’s admission diagnosis was heat exhaustion but was later changed to vertigo (Tr. 447, 898).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref94" href="#ftn94">94</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">prior to June 10, 2016, he had never been hospitalized. He described himself as “fairly healthy.” (Tr. 356) He walked an average of 50 miles a week for work and would often go hiking with his family on Sunday (Tr. 356). After LC-1 was released from the hos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pital, he went through several weeks of physical therapy (Tr. 373). He continued to experience trouble with his balance and used a cane. He had difficulty rising from a seated position (Tr. 357). At the time of the hearing, more than two years after the ep</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">isode, LC-1 still had trouble walking. “I’ll like to lose my balance and I’ll fall to the right still. I’ve kind of adapted to catch myself before I fall down.” (Tr. 357) He also experienced ringing in his ears (Tr. 357).</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">OSHA’s Inspection</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Compliance safe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ty and health officer (CSHO) John Wolfe works at OSHA’s Little Rock, Arkansas, area office (Tr. 860). In July of 2016 he was assigned to investigate the June 10 incident that resulted in LC-1’s hospitalization. He went to the Benton Post Office and met wit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h post office personnel and union representatives and later spoke with LC-1 (Tr. 861-63). He did not walk LC-1’s route or take temperature readings inside LLVs (Tr. 891-92, 915-26).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The National Weather Service (NWS) does not have a data acquisition site<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in Benton, Arkansas. The nearest site is located 15 to 20 miles away, in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the Adams<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Field Airport. CSHO Wolfe obtained Little Rock’s weather data for June 10, 2016, from the NWS (Tr. 864). The NWS data shows the temperature that da</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y at 12:53 p.m. (the approximate time LC-1 began to experience vision problems) was 91°F, with a relative humidity of 42 percent (Exh. C-3).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CSHO Wolfe compared this data with the heat index chart issued by the NWS (Tr. 869-70).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref95" href="#ftn95">95</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The chart indicates tha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t when the temperature is 91°F and the relative humidity is 42 percent, the heat index (“how hot it feels”) is 93°F. The NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Little Rock did not issue a heat advisory for June 10, 2016 (Tr. 929).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the NWS’s weather</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>data for June 10, 2016, for Little Rock, Arkansas, and NWS’s heat index chart, CSHO Wolfe concluded Benton Post Office carriers “were exposed to heat stress while working delivering the mail” that day (Tr. 888). As a result of his inspection, CSHO Wolfe r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecommended the Secretary cite the Postal Service for violating the general duty clause by exposing carriers “to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and delivering mail in an outdoor environment.” The Secretary issued the Citation on October 14, 2016</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">V. TESTIMONY ADMITTED IN THE SOUTHERN AREA CASES</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area is one of the seven areas into which the Postal Service divides the United States for regional delivery (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 3-4). Three of the five post offices in the cases before the Court a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re located in the Southern Area. The parties agreed the testimony of Daniel Penland, the Postal Service’s manager for the Southern Area safety department, is relevant to the three Southern Area cases. The Court ruled Penland’s testimony in the hearing for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Docket No. 17-0023 in Houston, Texas, is also admitted as part of the record in the present case and the San Antonio case (No. 16-1713) (Tr. 1005).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref96" href="#ftn96">96</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area comprises Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">portion of Georgia. Approximately 33,000 postal employees work in the Southern Area. Daniel Penland has worked for the Postal Service since 1986 and has been the manager for the Southern Area safety department since November of 2011 (No. 17-0023 Tr. 303-04</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 313-14). Penland summarized his duties. “I work with all the districts in the Area Office and Headquarters to ensure all the safety programs and assist the districts in implementing those safety programs. We also help develop and help the districts analy</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ze accident data to help reduce employee injury. We also work with OSHA compliance, inspections and monitoring, as well as working with the unions to ensure all the safety of the employees is met.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 310-11). Penland was aware that in 2015 a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t least 119 postal employees in the Southern Area reported sustaining heat-related illnesses while working. In 2018, there were at least 77 such incidents (No. 17-0023 Tr. 329, 334).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In April of 2016, Penland issued a letter to postal operations in the So</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uthern Area with attached materials for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 17-0023 Exh. C-2; No. 17-0023 Tr. 329). He developed the campaign to “help improve the awareness of our employees about a climate condition that happens every year. . . . T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o heighten the employees’ awareness and make them aware of things that they may be able to do and perform to improve their ability to work in that climate condition.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 330) Employee training in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>mandatory (Tr. 331). Penland explained the difference between a Postal Service safety program and a safety campaign: “[W]hen I put out a program, it’s usually related to a required element. A campaign is an awareness level. . . . The heat element was a ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mpaign informational awareness.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 333)</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">What the intent of the campaign was to provide a wealth of information in different media forms. As you can see when you look through the campaign, there were videos in there, there were PowerPoint pre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sentations. There were links to other outside data sources. There were postings. There were just informational standup talks on a number of different elements that all can relate to a possible employee experiencing heat stroke or heat stress. All of these<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">things could help that employee prepare themselves. . . . But none of it was mandatory.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 374-75)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland stressed the importance of acclimatization for carriers, which he defines as preparation “for the heat level that you’re going to be working in, whether it’s proper hydration, proper clothing, being aware of the surroundings.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 341)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Penland places the primary responsibility for preventing heat-related illnesses on the carrier. He stated it is the policy of the Postal Service “to accommodate medical restrictions as best as possible.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 345)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland does not believe th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e temperature the day of any given reported incident is a relevant factor. “It’s how each individual person identifies with that heat and the heat level itself is not necessarily the concern. It’s how that person can deal with that heat and how that heat l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">evel affects them. I can be affected by a heat level of 80 degrees or somebody could be out there working in 100 and have no effect. So the temperature itself is not the issue, in my opinion.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 352-53) He listed factors he did believe are r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elevant to heat-related incidents: </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Had [the carriers] eaten properly that day? Had they provided hydration the night before? Had they had a high alcohol intake the night before? Were they on medication? Were they properly dressed? Were they wearing a hat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>or was the sun beating down on their head? There's lots of different elements that are part of an investigation where the heat temperature or the temperature outside itself to me is irrelevant because that's a climate condition.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 353-54)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland was dismissive of the relevance of the heat index chart for the Postal Service. “I believe it would be valuable as information to the employee. As far as eliminating future injuries, I do not see it has a high value, no. Again, it's more of a con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dition of what's going on with that employee versus the temperature outside because temperatures are so much different. . . . Heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itself I do not believe is a hazard, no. I believe it is a climate condition.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 354-55)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland discounted t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he importance of heat in the reported heat-related incidents, estimating that as many as 40 percent of the reported incidents were not, in fact, due to high temperatures on the day they occurred.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Mr. Penland, I think you were testifying about the fact</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that some of the reported illnesses due to heat may have not been due to heat, correct?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: Possibly, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And have you investigated what percentage that is?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The exact percentage, no. I just know that there are--when we look<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at cases, we want to look and see if the factors are present. And we always want to look at the root cause of the case. So sometimes during that root cause analysis, we will make determinations that the heat maybe is not--wasn't the root cause. . . . And m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">aybe it's a diabetic reaction. We don't know.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And have you gone back and done that analysis?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The specific analysis, no, but we've done-- we've done the root cause. When you talk about analysis, I refer to that as the general -- all o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the cases that we're dealing with versus just those specifics. We do go into the specifics on each individual case, especially the more severe ones.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So have you gone back and made some determination that -- I mean, have you gone back and look</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed at the number that you set out in April of 2016 and determined what amount were reported as heat, extreme heat, when the root cause was something predominantly else?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I've looked at it, and I could estimate the percentage of about 40 percent.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And you have looked at all 119 injuries from 2016 and –<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: No, I haven't. That's why I estimated. No, ma'am, I have not delved into each one of these 119. But a cursory review gives -- leads to an estimate of about 20 percent [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">sic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">].<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Okay. And what did you do in this cursory review?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I would review whether or not this case was reported with the employee was working indoors or outdoors, first. Then I would look at the occupation that the employee was working in. How much con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">trol did they have over their climate?</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(No. 17-0023 Tr. 380-83)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland noted OSHA has not promulgated a specific standard addressing excessive heat and testified he did not consider hot weather an appropriate condition for safety regulation. “When you're</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>dealing with the climate, . . . it literally changes from block to block, from city to city, and it's -- it's the natural climate. Also, the other thing that when you look at a hazard, I've<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">been taught through my safety aspect is we work the processes to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eliminate that hazard. Again, we can't control the climate. So we will make people aware because the – the climate affects each individual person differently.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 392)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VI. THE NATIONAL HEARING</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Joint Stipulations</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The national hearing was held</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>from February 25 to March 12, 2019, Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the hearing, the Court admitted the parties’ statement of joint stipulations into the record:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. As of September 30, 2018, the Postal Service employed approximately 497,000 career employees and approximately 137,000 non-career employees.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. In FY 2016</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>170,885 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>40,436 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>68,261 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>53,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. In FY 2018, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">168,199 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>42,115 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70,852 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>59,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. In FY 2016, the Postal Service had approximately 144,571 city delivery routes and 74,724 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n FY 2018, the Postal Service had approximately 143,358 city delivery routes and 78,737 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. In FY 2016, the Postal Service managed a combined total of approximately 31,585 post offices, stations, and branches.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. In FY 2018, the Po</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stal Service managed a combined total of approximately 31,324 post offices, stations, and branches.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100; NH Tr. 11)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Postal Service’s Operations<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>David Williams Jr. has been the chief operating officer and executive vice preside</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nt for the Postal Service since February of 2015. He is responsible for all operations required to process, transport, and deliver mail (NH Tr. 1728, 1746). He explained the Postal Service’s operations are divided into three primary sectors: network opera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tions, delivery operations, and retail and customer service operations (NH Tr. 1774-75).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Network operations cover mail processing plants where mail is sorted, processed, and distributed to some level of ZIP Code order (NH Tr. 1775-76). Network operations</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>include the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">surface and air transportation that is coordinated with the distribution centers and post offices throughout the nation. The Postal Service coordinates surface transportation with the assistance of over 1,900 contractors and covers approximate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly 1.9 billion miles a year (NH Tr. 1774-76). It relies on “a vast air network,” which includes 90 airplanes during the day and 140 at night provided by FedEx, as well as planes provided by UPS (NH Tr. 1760). The Postal Service also uses commercial airline</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s (mainly Delta, United, and American) to transport mail (NH Tr. 1779). The extensive transportation network is necessary due to the Postal Service’s unique mandate to deliver to every address in the United States.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[A] lot of transportation is involved in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">moving product because of the complexity of our network, the fact that we go everywhere. We go everywhere because our mandate is to serve every American, no matter where they live, no matter what community they're in. And the connectivity that's required t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o make that happen involves a very complex, very sophisticated transportation network. We spent about $7.9 billion a year on transportation, so a significant spend. It's the second-largest spend, and 11 percent of our expenses are involved in transportatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1780-81)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Nationwide, delivery operations require city and rural carriers to complete approximately 226,000 routes 6 days per week (NH Tr. 1783-84). The Postal Service uses the concept of “FirstMile” to identify the initial contact the customer<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">has with the Postal Service during delivery operations. A customer wanting to send a letter puts a stamp on it, places it in the household mailbox, and raises the red flag. The raised red flag “is a signal to our carrier workforce that there is mail to be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">collected. . . We also have a FirstMile component at our post offices. . . [T]here’s a slot where they can drop mail into any one of approximately 31,000 post offices.” (NH Tr. 1785-86)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Retail and customer service operations also involve a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">FirstMile component when customers buy stamps or mail packages at post offices. Williams stated the Postal Service has the largest retail footprint in the United States, with more retail units than Starbucks, Walmart, and McDonald’s combined. Service and s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ale associates (SSAs) work in the fronts of the post offices and interact with customers while postal clerks work in the backs sorting mail (NH Tr. 1787-89).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams expounded on the scope and complexity of its operations.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I can't think of any network th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at is as complex as ours. You think about all the touch points that we have in our network, every 226,000 carriers, 31,000 post offices, 285 processing and distribution centers. Back through our network of transportation, whether it's air or surface, 2 bil</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lion miles. Airplanes that are flying all over the country, connecting that promise and that thing, that message of sympathy and love, transactions, educational material to anybody else in the United States or our territories, even the world. We deliver 47</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>percent of the world's mail.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So significant, significant operational footprint that we have, supported by a tremendous amount of complexity to make sure that we're delivering the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">promise of when you put that stamp on that birthday card for one of your lo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ved ones, they're going to get it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1791-92)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In order to ensure its operations run smoothly and punctually, the Postal Service implements “the 24-hour clock” as an organizing principle. “[W]e have critical points on the clock, developed to make s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ure that we're hitting the mark, all to achieve on-time service to points. Our mission to provide prompt, reliable, efficient service is based on this 24-hour clock. And it's critical.” (NH Tr. 1795)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The clock starts with carriers retrieving mail at the FirstMile. At the end of the workday, the carriers return to their post offices and place the collected mail in containers that are loaded onto trucks to transport the mail to processing and distributio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n centers. The operational process starts with cancellations, during which the stamps on mail are marked to show they have been used. The Postal Service expects 80 percent of all collected mail to be canceled by 8:00 p.m. Aligning the cancellation process</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with the 24-hour clock is crucial for the Postal Service’s overall operations (NH Tr. 1795-97). “[T]hat very first step is highly important because any variation in the very first processing step, it could be a slight variation, but that slight variation<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">creates greater variation at the next step. It creates even larger variation on the third step. Fourth step, even larger. By the time you get to the last step, which is the delivery, we call it the bullwhip effect. A small variation at the front end create</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s this huge swing of variation at the back end.” (NH Tr. 1797)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The next step is the outgoing primary processing, where mail is sorted to a destinating plant based on the first three digits of the ZIP Code.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref97" href="#ftn97">97</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> This step needs to be completed by 11:00 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to align with the 24-hour clock. A second sorting is completed by midnight (NH Tr. 1798-1800). “[A]t midnight, across the country, all this mail that's been collected, the mail that's received over a retail operation, mail that you have put in your mailbo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">x to be collected by the carriers, mail that was inducted into our plant operations by any one of our mailers that have discounts, that so some level of sort, all of that has to take place by midnight.” (NH Tr. 1800-01)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>After the mail is sorted, it must<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">be assigned to transportation by 2:00 a.m. “No wiggle-room on in that. Trucks have to leave. Our entire surface network has been designed by the transport time that it takes to go from point A to point B. Can’t bend time; can’t bend distance. . . [T]his nu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mber is fixed in our operating window. By 2 o’clock we have to have that mail assigned. . . [P]lanes and trucks have to leave on time. That is the mark that has to be made.” (NH Tr. 1801-02)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Once mail reaches its destinating plant, the incoming processin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g begins. Mail arrives throughout the day and night, but it must be processed by 3:00 a.m. because that is the time postal employees start delivery point sequencing (DPS). DPS must be completed by 6:00 a.m. Priority mail takes longer and is not sorted to D</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PS but is sorted to a specific post office. It must<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">be finished by 4:00 a.m., when trucks leave the destinating plant to transport mail to the post offices. Once the day’s mail has arrived at the local post office, it must be delivered to the intended addr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ess by 6:00 p.m. that day (NH Tr. 1803-06). “[W]e want to get our carriers off the street by 6:00 p.m. And that’s important because the trucks have to come back from the post office, back to the originating processing plant so we can get cancellations done</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by 8:00 p.m., 80 percent of them.” (NH Tr. 1806)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Finances of the Postal Service</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service originated in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin its first postmaster general. President George Washington signed the Po</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stal Service Act in 1792, creating the Post Office Department. It became a cabinet-level department and transitioned to an independent agency in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (NH Tr. 1747-1750).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2006 Congress passed the Postal Accoun</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) which, Williams stated, “created some business model changes for the Postal Service, split our products into two product types, competitive products and market dominant products, [and] placed some restrictions on pricing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for market dominant products so that we could no longer rise our rates beyond [the Consumer Price Index,] CPI.” (NH Tr. 1751)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The PAEA requires the Postal Service to prefund the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF) annually. Williams stated this requirem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ent “really is a millstone around the Postal Service’s neck in terms of finances. The manner in which we’re required to prefund that obligation is one that I don’t think the vast majority of companies or any other government agency is required to do.” (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 1751-52)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jim Sauber of NALC</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref98" href="#ftn98">98</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>agreed the prefunding obligation is “really the central driving force of Postal Service’s finances. . . . Most companies just pay their retiree health premiums on a pay-as-you-go basis for their current retires. This law</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>added an additional obligation to the Postal Service, not only to pay their existing retirees’ health and premiums, but to pay in advance, decades in advance the cost of future retiree health benefits.” (NH Tr. 894-95) The Postal Service operated at a los</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s in 2016, 2017, and 2018 (NH Tr. 890-93).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref99" href="#ftn99">99</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This prefunding mandate cost the Postal Service $9.1 billion in 2016, $4.3 billion in 2017, and $4.5 billion in 2018. The year 2016 “was the last year in which the Postal Service was required to prefund their</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>retirees’ health, but also out of their own operating budget pay for current retirees’ health benefits. Starting in 2017 and going forward, they can now use the fund<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that they’ve set aside for these prefunding payments, which . . . has nearly $50 billion<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in it.” (NH Tr. 896-97)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Since 2010 the Postal Service has been unable to meet the RHBF payments. “They have to report it as an expense, but then it gets reported as an additional liability on their balance sheet.” (NH Tr. 897) Because the Postal Service i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s a federal agency and not a private company, it cannot file for bankruptcy. “So this has become the center of all the discussions about postal reform legislation, is what to do, how to reduce or repeal this prefunding burden.” (NH Tr. 898) If the unpaid a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mounts for the retiree health benefits were removed from the budget statements for 2013 to 2018, the combined operating income for those years would be $3.8 billion (NH Exh. C-135; NH Tr. 899-903).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Sauber explained the retiree health benefit is not a debt</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>owed to a third party.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]his is not like defaulting on your mortgage if you don't make these payments. It's like if you're in tough times and you stop putting money into your kid's college fund. It's a future obligation and a future liability that you're</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>going to have, but nonetheless it's out there and just by law Congress has decided that the Postal Service and only the Postal Service -- no other private company has to do this, has to prefund retiree health.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 903-04)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is an age</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ncy of the federal government and, as such, does not file taxes. It is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to file annual 10-K reports (NH Exh. C-131; NH Tr. 874-75). The Postal Service is funded entirely by the sales of postage and stamps—i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t receives no revenue from federal taxes “with one small exception.” (NH Tr. 876) Market dominant services (MDS), which include “letters, invoices, statements, [and] marketing mail,” are items for which the Postal Service is the main provider (NH Tr. 877).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) permits the Postal Service to raise rates once a year for MDS, indexed to the CPI (NH Tr. 878) The Postal Service increased rates in January of 2019 by 2.5 percent and estimated it would “generate approximately $891<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">million in annualized income.” (NH. Tr. 881)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Congress also provides a “sort of safety valve” for circumstances where higher rate increases are deemed necessary, called “exigent rate increases” that are “above and beyond the CPI.” (NH Tr. 881-82). In 2011<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or 2012, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, the Postal Service experienced a severe drop in mail volume. It petitioned the PRC for a 4.3 percent exigent rate increase above the CPI, which the PRC granted in December of 2013. The exigent increase was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temporary, staying in effect until the Postal Service recovered $4.6 billion. It expired in April of 2016 after meeting that goal (NH Tr. 882-83).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service also raises revenue by offering competitive services in the categories of priority mail,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">priority mail express, first-class package service, and parcel select. It has more flexibility in setting the rates according to market conditions for competitive services (NH Tr. 883-85). Sauber stated competitive services have given an economic boost to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service. “There was a booming, booming growth in e-commerce, and so the demand was providing the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ability for the Postal Service to raise their rates. The demand was also raising their costs too, so that's in part why they did these rate increase</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s.” (NH Tr. 890) The Postal Service raises about $21.5 billion of its annual $71 billion revenue from competitive services. In 2018, approximately 4 percent of the total number of pieces carriers delivered were categorized as competitive services (NH Tr. 8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">86-67). In January 2019, the Postal Service implemented a 7.4 percent increase in its competitive rates (NH Exh. C-131; Tr. 887).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Another anomaly of the Postal Service’s business model is its partnership with its direct competitors. Williams stated, “[W]e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>rely on FedEx and we rely on UPS, but we also compete with them. So in the package market there is a lot of competition, as you might imagine, with two big package delivery companies like UPS and FedEx. So within the competitive product line, most of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">products and services are around packages.” (NH Tr. 1753) The Postal Service is committed to meeting service standards for mail delivery, meaning the transit time for different types of mail is predictable. First class mail has overnight, 2-day, 3-day, 4-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">day and 5-day service standards (NH Tr. 1756). The Postal Service recognizes its customers rely on its promise to meet its service standards for both business and personal reasons.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]e have a 2-day service commitment for first class mail if you're mailing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>within a 6-hour drive time within the United States, 2-day service standard. You're expecting to have that mail delivered in 2 days. If you're mailing a bill or if you're synchronizing when you're mailing a birthday card to your mother, and you know she l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ives within six hours of you, you know you've got 2 days to get that mail piece delivered, the promise that we're making our customers through our service standards.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And cataloguers plan their promotions around expected delivery times in the home. They st</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">aff up their call centers expecting when we're going to deliver a catalogue in somebody's home so that when you receive a catalogue, you're calling up the call center and making an order.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So our customers are counting on us. Amazon is counting on us to ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ke their 2-day promise. Cataloguers are staffing up and counting on us to deliver catalogues so that whatever product is being sold can be bought. And if you've got personal correspondence, business correspondence or paying your bills, we've got a promise<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that we're going to deliver on that promise. When those expectations aren't met, our customers can get quite agitated, right. If you make a payment to your mortgage and it's not received on time and you get hit with a late fee, that's a major issue for our</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>customers. If you staff up your call center and expecting a lot of calls because you've entered product into one of our plants and we don't deliver</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that timely, number one, you're not getting the sales that you're expecting. You've paid for a lot of peopl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e to be in call centers that aren't taking calls.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1762-64)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">For certain guaranteed types of mail, the Postal Service must refund the customer’s postage if the mail is not delivered in the promised time, which, Williams stated, is a financial penalty. However,<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the bigger penalty for us is when customers use us and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">we don't deliver on the promise that we're making, they go to alternative places, right? We're competing in every single product line. It's not just the competitive products where people traditionally see us as competing with United States Parcel Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or FedEx.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We're competing now with our own customers. We're competing with Amazon. Amazon is creating their own delivery network. We're competing with electronics. . . . If you go on any social media app, whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, whe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ther it's email, you're getting hit multiple, multiple times by an unlimited number of companies that are using electronic media to deliver their message, whether it's a business message, whether it's a transaction, whether it's a bill payment, bill presen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tment, advertising piece, if it's periodicals, online periodicals.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So even within our market dominant products, we're competing in every product, and service -- it's very hard to compete when somebody can deliver an email to your account free and when the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y want. . . . But if we're not delivering on our standards and we're losing customers, we call that churn, so churn is a term that we use. Last year we lost $5.5 billion for customers that left us. About 1.8 billion of that was because of service-related i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssues.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So when we're not delivering on service, promises that we're making when we ink deals with some of the major e-commerce companies, they leave us. Some of them left us this past Christmas season when we were having difficulties in certain pockets of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the country. We lost business because some of these e-commerce companies diverted packages that we would normally have received and were expecting to receive, they diverted them to some of our competitors.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1765-67)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">NALC and Heat Stress<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Awareness</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Manuel Peralta works in Washington, D.C., as the national director of safety and health for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">NALC. NALC, with approximately 295,000 active and retired members, is “the union that has exclusive jurisdiction to represent city carriers throughou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t the country.” (NH Tr. 43)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In July of 2012, Peralta learned a carrier in Independence, Missouri, “had died, and it was believed to have been related to the heat.” (NH Tr. 52) In December of 2012, the Secretary issued a willful citation to the Postal Ser</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vice for a § 5(a)(1) violation for exposing employees to excessive heat. The Postal Service contested the citation and the case went to hearing in February of 2014.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attended the hearing presided over by Judge Peggy S. Ball. He observed the testim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ony of the Secretary’s expert witness, Dr. Thomas Bernard (NH Tr. 52-54).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref100" href="#ftn100">100</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Dr. Bernard’s testimony inspired Peralta to address the issue of excessive heat exposure for carriers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As a direct result of the testimony of the doctor and the Occupational Safet</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y and Health expert . . . I was stunned over what they explained, how it -- the heat affects the body. . . . The steps that I personally took is, I started to speak with the Business Agent, speak with the other officers, and determined that we had to learn</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>more about the heat, learn more about its effects, learn more about what do we have to do as a craft to prevent our brothers and sisters from getting hurt. A few months later, the judge issued her decision.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref101" href="#ftn101">101</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And in reading her decision, I decided to star</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t writing articles where I specifically made reference to her findings and her opinion. And I started to read more and more and more, including documents that came out from NIOSH and recommendations, and started to put together information and sending it m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ore and more to the field.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 55-56)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response to increased awareness of heat stress, the Postal Service and NALC negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2015 (NH Tr. 56, 59). Section 1 of the MOU addresses training and provides:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">New lett</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er carrier employee orientation will include the heat stress training identified below. Training will also be provided annually (no later than April 15) to all employees, with regular reminders throughout the summer season by local management.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LMS Course 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0019802—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors and Carriers)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PowerPoint Presentation—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors to present to carriers). This program is designed as alternative training for those employees without acce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ss to the online Learning Management System.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Heat Stress SDOM Video: http://blue.usps.gov/hr/safety/video/heat-stress.htm</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stand Up Talks and Info Pak Information (attached as an appendix).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106, p. 3) The Postal Service did not make the heat st</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ress training mandatory for supervisors until May of 2018 (NH. Tr. 61).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU was signed on May 5, 2015, and applies to the post office in Independence, Missouri, but states, “While this Agreement applies solely to the Independence, Missouri, Post Offic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e, including its stations and branches, the parties recognize that heat abatement is an essential element of on-the-job safety for city letter carriers in all locations where city letter carriers are exposed to excessive heat.” (NH Exh. C-106)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>section of the MOU addresses increased supervisory monitoring of carriers when the heat index rises to 103°F:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2) Monitoring Employees</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]o the extent practicable, management will increase contact with employees performing street duties for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">purpose of monitoring employees’ well-being on days when the National Weather Service predicts a heat index (air temperature and relative humidity combined into a single value) at or above 103°F. For purposes of this agreement, the combination of air tempe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rature and relative humidity at or above 103°F is deemed an “excessive heat day.” The chart below indicates the heat index system used by the National Weather Service. [The NWS’s heat index chart is depicted.]</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 147-51)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU incl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">udes a section on work/rest cycles, again finding the heat index of 103°F to be a triggering event for additional measures:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5) Work/Rest Regimen</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On days where the National Weather Service predicts a heat index at or above 103°F, in addition to their regula</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r scheduled break(s) and lunch break, city letter carriers are encouraged to take additional breaks in designated climate-controlled or shaded areas . . . when necessary to mitigate the impact of excessive heat. Additionally, the parties understand and agr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ee that it may be necessary for individual city letter carriers to take additional breaks when the heat index is under the threshold set above. Individual city letter carriers retuning from absence or illness may be especially vulnerable to the effects of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">excessive heat, and therefore, are especially encouraged to take necessary breaks pursuant to this paragraph. City letter carriers taking an extra break under this provision, using their assigned MDD, send a text message to their assigned facility at the M</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">DD, send a text message to their assigned facility at the beginning of the break (indicating the break location) and another text message at the conclusion of the break. The parties understand and agree that there may be circumstances where a city letter<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carrier taking a break under this provision may not immediately report the breakthrough the MDD.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 151-53)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2015, without input from NALC, the Postal Service implemented a heat stress awareness program that supervisors communicated</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to carriers during standup safety talks (NH Tr. 62-63). Peralta found the program to be “very shallow in the depth of information provided. . . . [I]t’s the limitation of hydrate yourself, avoid certain things, but very little, and none that I remember on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>acclimatization.” (NH Tr. 63) He also objected to the format of standup talks being used to communicate the information, based on the 5 years he had worked as a carrier in California.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When I was a carrier in Anaheim, I remember being called together for s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tandup talks where the supervisor would read in the most monotonous, boring, uninspiring tone what he was required to read. And it felt like they were making a little checkmark on a piece of paper, telling you to finish up, go back to your case. It was abs</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">olutely worthless. So I spoke up because I was very disappointed with the quality of training. And that's one of the reasons that my president later volunteered me for the safety committee.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 63-64)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Peralta created a form entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Initial Heat Injury Report</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and distributed copies to the local union branches and posted it on NALC’s website (NH Exh. C-105; NH Tr. 65-67). The purposes of the form are to track heat injuries and to assist injured carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with claims under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (NH Tr. 67). NALC developed yearly spread sheets to track the heat injury reports (NH Exhs. C-107 (2015), C-108 (2016), C-109 (2017), C-110 (2018); NH Tr. 79-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta investigated many of the in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">jury reports and found a pattern emerged.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[I]t surprised me how much pressure the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing. We have a heat wave. We know</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>we're affected by the heat wave. . . . It was my understanding that the employees were suffering from pressure to keep pushing forward. When I read the statements, in some of them it was, "I called my supervisor. My supervisor told me to keep going in spi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">te of a standup talk that told us to recognize the symptoms. When we did call, we were forced to keep going." And that happened a lot.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 70-71) Eventually, Peralta became aware that carriers who suffered heat injuries were subject to disciplinary pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cedures (Tr. 89, 96).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attributed the death of a carrier in Medford, Massachusetts, in July of 2015 to excessive heat exposure (NH Tr. 102). He testified regarding the death of another carrier in Woodland Hills, California, in July 2018 on a day w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hen the temperature was 117°F. The carrier “had been off duty for approximately three months. She had suffered an on-the-job injury. I believe it was either a severely sprained or a broken ankle. She was on medication, off work for three months. That Frida</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y was her first day back.” (NH Tr. 104) Peralta discovered the Postal Service had certified the deceased carrier had undergone heat safety training during a period of time when she was not working.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[D]uring my meeting on May the 15th of 2018 with manageme</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nt, they also told me every single letter carrier in the country will also undergo the LMS training for the heat safety program that we audited in 2015. They specifically put, to me, confirmation that 640,000 employees will undergo that training. Because I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was very doubtful that they were going to have everybody go. I said, are you talking every single letter carrier? Well, we're not talking about individually, but in groups. Every single letter carrier and every single supervisor. So as the facts revealed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">themselves, I am provided with documents that indicated [the deceased<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">letter carrier] was certified as having gone through that training when she wasn't ever at work yet. Her first day at work, she returns and dies, but they certified that she had gone thr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ough that training weeks earlier, which was absolutely untrue. They were embarrassed, and then they later, after the fact, corrected their records.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 106)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LLVs and Air Conditioning</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Thomas Bernard testified regarding the benefits of providing car</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">riers with air-conditioned vehicle.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref102" href="#ftn102">102</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court found Dr. Bernard qualified, “based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education,” to testify as an expert “in the areas of industrial hygiene and specifically regarding industrial heat stress</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.” (NH Tr. 808)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recommended air conditioning be provided in the carriers’ vehicles, and he found it to be technically feasible (NH Tr. 823). The goal of a heat stress program is to reduce the metabolic rate. An air-conditioned space is “more<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">favorable to dissipating heat by sweat evaporation[.] . . . [T]he air conditioning provides a less humid environment, so that's the thing that really helps make it more favorable to evaporative cooling.” (NH Tr. 820) Carriers could take breaks in their air</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-conditioned vehicles instead of spending time driving to air-conditioned rest areas. Air-conditioned vehicles would also assist with the first aid response in the event a carrier recognizes the onset of a heat-related disorder. “[A]n air-conditioned vehic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">le helps facilitate the recovery so that it doesn’t progress into an incident.” (NH Tr. 823)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Han Dinh works for the engineering department of the Postal Service as its manager for vehicle engineering (NH Tr. 314). He has a Master of Science and a Bachelo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r of Applied Science, both in mechanical engineering (NH Tr. 316). He is “the chief technical advisor for the Postal Service when it comes to vehicles. . . . [He is] responsible for the research, development,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">technology, testing and evaluation, including t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he specifications for mail vehicles for the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 315).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh testified the Postal Service introduced the LLV to its workforce in 1987 and the fleet of over 200,000 vehicles was fully deployed by 1994 (NH Tr. 317, 347-48). In 2014, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service began its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) project because by that time the LLVs were from 20 to 27 years old and the costs to maintain and repair them were increasing. “[T]he spare parts have been very hard, difficult to find because</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>General Motors stopped making the spare parts for the vehicle. . . . [The engineering department had] to actually design and rebuild and make the new frame for the” LLVs (NH Tr. 320).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LLVs and NGDVs are purpose-built vehicles with right-hand driving. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Postal Service’s engineering department convened a supply conference in 2015, attended by representatives from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, among others (NH Tr. 321-22). The Postal Service issued a statement of objectives (SOO) and subsequently sel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ected the top six suppliers to build prototypes meeting the SOO and to deliver them to the Postal Service by the end of September of 2017. The Postal Service began testing and evaluating the prototypes, and that process continued at the time of the nationa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l hearing (NH Tr. 323-26). Dinh stated the Postal Service is “planning to have the vehicle go into production assembly lines in December 2021, if everything goes right.” (NH Tr. 332) Air conditioning was listed as “optional” at the supply conference, but t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Postal Service listed it as a requirement in the SOO (NH Tr. 337-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The SOO, updated November 20, 2015, by Dinh, provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The vehicles must have air conditioning/cooling systems sufficient to cool the operator’s torso area when seated in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">driving position with the driver’s window open, so that the air temperature at the operator’s torso area is maintained at or below 85 degrees Fahrenheit when the outside temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooling is only required in the operator cab.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">NH Exh. C-161; NH Tr. 352-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh explained the Postal Service has not committed to deploying air-conditioned vehicles to its workforce but wanted to study its efficacy.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We wanted to study the feasibility of the air conditioning in the delivery vehicle<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with the window open, with carriers getting in and out all the time. So the intent behind to have a requirement in the SOO codified so that we can have a chance to study whether we can efficiently cool the vehicle with everything open and we go at the extr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">emely low speed. And you probably are aware that all delivery vehicles, from UPS, from FedEx, none of them have air conditioning today in their vehicles. So we wanted to study it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 339-40)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh explained the rationale for requiring the capacity fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r cooling the interior of the cab to 85°F when the outside temperature is 120°F.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">My research at the time found out that when the outside temperature 120 degrees, the maximum temperature they can achieve with the AC system is around 70 degrees at the vent w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here the AC vent is inside the vehicle. So we made an educated guess at the time, if the vent temperature, the coolest temperature at the vent is about 70 degrees and the torso area is far away from the vent because of heat loss between where the vent is a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd the torso of the driver, so we made an educated guess about 15 degrees. So by the time it gets to the torso with the heat loss -- heat environment coming from the environment, the torso area probably at best can achieve -- optimum temperature would be a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">round 85 degrees. That's educated guess of how the air conditioning system would -- could operate at the time.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 353-54)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is Dinh’s opinion that equipping vehicles with air conditioning is a matter of comfort, and not safety, for the drivers (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 367-68). He testified the Postal Service had not reached a final decision on whether it would require its NGDV to be equipped with air conditioning (NH Tr. 341, 368-69).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Kevin McAdams works for the Postal Service in Washington, D.C., as its vice presi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dent of delivery and retail operations. He agreed with Han Dinh that air conditioning is a matter of comfort, not safety, and the ubiquity of air conditioning in contemporary vehicles reflects a societal shift in lifestyle. “What's different today is air c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">onditioning as a comfort feature has become like satellite radio, right? You don't have a tape deck anymore. It's just standard equipment. . . . So that decision is really – society has made that decision. The car manufacturers have made that decision for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">us. But in 1980 that was not an unusual decision [to drive a vehicle without air conditioning].” (NH Tr. 2098-99)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Aaron Tustin testified regarding the temperatures inside LLVs.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref103" href="#ftn103">103</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court determined Dr. Tustin was qualified to provide expert testimon</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y “regarding occupational<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">medicine in general, heat stress exposure assessments, and the epidemiology of occupational heat-related illnesses.” (NH Tr. 254)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">concluded the interiors of LLVs were hotter than the outside air temperature after reviewing a report entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Postal Vehicle Temperature Test Phoenix District Safety Office 2005</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Exh. C-151; NH Tr. 299). The Phoenix report explained the setup and proce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ss for the Phoenix test:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The test set-up consisted of taking temperature readings on three days when the temperatures were above normal in the Phoenix area. The first test was to get baseline data on temperatures in a Long Life Vehicle (LLV) with readings<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on dew point, heat index, percent relative humidity and the outside air temperature on May 19th, 2005. The follow up testing, on May 20th, consisted of gathering data points comparing two LLV side by side measuring one LLV with windows up and the other LLV</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with windows down 11⁄2 inches to quantify the difference in temperature. Additional testing was performed on May 23</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>gathering data on temperatures on a static Ford Windstar and 2-ton delivery vehicle; both vehicles closed with windows up. The hypothesis w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as designed to take accurate measurements of the temperature in postal delivery vehicles to answer the question “Are vehicles any cooler with the windows down 11⁄2 inches opposed to windows closed?” The hypothesis was further tested to find out if the vehicl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e inside temperature increased 75% within the first 5 minutes and 90% of the temperature increase occurred within 15 minutes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-151, p. 1)</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The report summarized the Phoenix test results:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The following conclusions were made from the analysis of th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e series of tests to compare the rate of rise of temperature in static postal delivery vehicles:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The temperature reached a maximum of 122 degrees inside the LLV at 5 p.m. when the temperature was 101 degrees outside; a temperature differential of 21 degree</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s. The temperature rose only 4 degrees in the first 5 minutes and 10 degrees within 15 minutes. This did not verify the hypothesis of 75% temperature increase in the first five minutes nor 90% within fifteen minutes. However, the hypothesis did not take in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to account the constant rise of the outside air temperature during the day. The temperature on the test day ranged from 86 degrees at 10 a.m. to 101 degrees at 5 p.m.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The side by side test of two LLV’s comparing temperatures with the windows closed in one<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LLV and the windows down 11⁄2 inches in the other show very small difference. The results show that at the maximum temperature the difference in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperature was only 21⁄2 degrees. This equates to only a 2% difference in temperature.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In conclusion, this<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testing shows that having windows down in a parked LLV does not make a significant impact on the inside temperature.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-151, p. 3)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin summarized the results of the temperature test:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">They put temperature sensors inside an LLV, both<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with the windows completely closed and also with the windows cracked open about an inch and a half, and they were comparing the interior temperature to outside temperature. I believe they had several conclusions, but some of the main conclusions that I tak</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e away from this were that the interior temperature was always hotter, at least 5°F hotter, than the outside conditions.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 299-300)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Dr. Tustin conceded the test was conducted in LLVs parked in direct sunlight in a parking lot i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n Phoenix, Arizona, with the doors closed and the windows either closed or open 1.5 inches. It took an hour for the interior temperature to increase 21°F, and the interior temperature reached 122°F after the LLV sat in direct sunlight for 7 hours. Dr. Tust</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in agreed he could not think of an example in any of the five Postal Service cases where a carrier left an LLV parked in direct sunlight for an hour or more (NH Tr. 650-52). He also acknowledged the Phoenix test did not factor in any cooling effects from a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>carrier opening the door to reenter the LLV and driving it with the windows down to the next park point (Tr. 653-54).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service hired Rodman Harvey as a consultant in the five cases before the Court.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref104" href="#ftn104">104</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court qualified Harvey to testify as an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>expert “in industrial hygiene, with specialized expertise in assessing the risk of exposure to excessive heat, based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education.” (NH Tr. 2766)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey found the Phoenix test report to be unreliable. “In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reviewing the document, there's errors with regard to definitions of terms. There's nonsensical statements about temperatures increasing by a certain percentage point. There's representations in the conclusions<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that don't appear to be supported by the test</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing that was done. And the testing conditions were not very rigorous in terms of standardization or trying to standardize other variables.” (Tr. 2838)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey elaborated on the errors he found in the report:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: You mentioned definitions. Can you be specif</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ic about what you found with regard to the definitions?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: Yeah. On page 4 of that document, there's a section called "Definitions". And it has a definition for "heat stress" and then in parentheses it says, "heat index". And then the definition is pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imarily a definition of heat index and has nothing to do with heat stress, which is the primary word or phrase being defined.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Mr. Harvey, I notice on the first page of the document, which is marked 0001085, in the first paragraph, there's a reference t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o "hypothesis" and then it's got 75 percent and 90 percent. What does that sentence mean?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I have no idea what it means. It talks about the hypothesis that the temperature increased 75 percent in a certain period or 90 percent, but the temperature i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s not an absolute scale. So you can't compare two different temperatures using percentages. For instance, 60 degrees Fahrenheit is not twice as hot as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. So I don't know what the hypothesis was or what they were trying to test.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elieve that the document describes – I guess what I would call the testing conditions for the various vehicles. Did you find any flaws in the testing methods?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: [I]n describing the methods when they tested the LLVs, they made a point to point<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">out that the LLVs were both pointing south so that the effect of the sun would be the same on each. And then later they test two other vehicles and one was pointed to the south and one was pointed to the west. So the effect of the sun would be completely d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ifferent.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If you look at the first chart or graph or whatever it is on the first page, which begins 0001085, is this trying to tell us the temperature with windows open or windows closed, or what is this trying to communicate? Based on your review of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">this.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I don't know that I can tell the condition of the LLV from what's written here.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2838-40)</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref105" href="#ftn105">105</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Form 3996 and Time Pressure</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jennifer Thi Vo works as the Postal Service’s director of city delivery (NH Tr. 2583). She has worked for the Postal Service for 25 years and has held a variety of positions, including post office supervisor (NH Tr. 2584). She oversees all work aspects of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">city carriers and the approximately 143,000 routes on which they deliver. The Postal Service employs approximately 161,000 full-time city carriers and 2,800 part-time employees, plus approximately 44,000 CCAs (NH Tr. 2587-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo has experience as a post</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>office supervisor receiving Form 3996 requests from carriers due to predicted hot weather. She explained the process she used with the requesting carriers to determine whether she approved or disapproved the requests.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I supervised in Memphis during the s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ummer of 2014. . . . [I]t's hot, so on the 3996 they asked for overtime based on the heat. . . . What I looked at and what I try to teach is that each one of the 3996s are different because the employees are different and the routes are different. So the f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">irst one that I disapproved was for 30 minutes and it had heat. The conversation with the employee is that they leave their route at 10:00 o'clock and then usually are back by 4:00. But that day they were leaving at 9:30, so they're leaving an extra half a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n hour early. So the conversation that I would have is, "I'm disapproving your 3996. You asked for 30 minutes "O[vertime]" due to the heat. I do think that you might take the 30 minutes but you're leaving a half an hour earlier. I'm not going to give you a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ny extra work." So I would disapprove that.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second one might be different. 30 minutes, and I remember this one. He asked for 30 minutes. He was leaving on time, so he's leaving at 10:00. He's supposed to leave at 10:00. He put heat, but his building,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his route is 95 percent in</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the building. It's in the Civic Center, which is air-conditioned, which the heat should not affect it. But usually what I did on that was I disapproved the 30 minutes. I gave him 15 minutes and told him that I would approve it. U</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">se it if he needs it. If he needs more, let us know. But that's the conversation.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The last two we approved because they were out on the street. They were leaving at the same time, so we went ahead and approved it.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On those three cases, none of those employees worked overtime. It's really about the communication and talking to them. If they need it, they need it. If they don't -- 3996 is just a form to kind of determine if you need something.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It's going to change o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nce you get on the street. It might be that they used 35 minutes. It might be they used 15 minutes, but every single form is not the same, every route is not the same and every carrier is not the same.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So that supervisor is really the key because they're<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the ones that are talking to employees every day. . . . [Form 3996 requests are] made at the beginning of the day, but all of the stations and branches usually have a requirement to call by a certain time. So if you know -- so at my stations, they're requi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">red to call at 3:00 o'clock. So they know -- it doesn't mean wait until 3:00 o'clock to call. It means that as soon as they find out that there's an issue there, give us a call.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We have three options. The supervisors that pick up the phone have three opt</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ions when they call. The first option is go ahead and use the overtime. Second option is I'll send you some help. And the third option is bring back the mail.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Now, there's situations. Just like there's different carriers, there's different supervisors out</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>there that's going to need training and stuff that will just say, "Continue going." If it's going to continue going, they have approved that overtime.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2597-2600)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When asked if it is proper procedure if a supervisor “just had their employees put a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>3996 in a folder, doesn’t look at them, disapproves them,” Vo responded, “It would be. . . . A 3996 is—if it doesn’t get approved or disapproved, it’s automatically approved. So if you put in a request for overtime and the supervisor doesn’t address it or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>any point, then the overtime’s approved.” (NH Tr. 2672)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref106" href="#ftn106">106</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo testified a carrier’s medical condition could affect the time needed to complete a route (NH Tr. 2636). When a carrier notifies the post office in the morning he or she is not feeling well, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>supervisor can allow extra time for overtime or assign part of the route as a pivot. If a carrier is on the street and calls to say he or she is not feeling well and may require extra time to complete the route, Vo stated, “We usually won’t have an issue<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">with that.” (NH Tr. 2637)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Vo was asked about testimony from carriers in the local cases indicating their supervisors consistently discouraged them from submitting Forms 3996 or taking lunch or breaks due to hot weather. She responded</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, “So what I heard from the testimony is that the employees felt they were pressured to be done on time. And I don't see that to be the case of my experience and what I see as in data. These looked like isolated incidents. But I don't see -- I haven't seen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>any factual, just what I've heard on it. But I don't think that that is representative of the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 2728)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo presents an idealized description of conversations between supervisors and carriers regarding Form 3996 requests. The pleasant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, civilized discussions she envisions, based on mutual respect between carriers and supervisors are not, however, the norm. Rather than being “isolated incidents” when “employees felt they were pressured to be done on time,” the records in the five Postal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Service cases, across five cities, demonstrate rural and city carriers experience near-constant pressure to complete their routes faster and to discourage them from taking breaks, reporting injuries or illnesses, or calling in sick. In this case, carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testified at length that when they submitted 3996 forms, supervisors reacted by acting “domineering,” belligerent,” “intimidating,” and “confrontational,” and they “degraded” the carriers. Supervisors also encouraged carriers to skip breaks and harassed ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers who called in sick or did not respond to phone calls on their days off (Tr. 78-79, 85-86, 109-11, 139-40, 149, 164, 369). The Court agrees with Peralta’s opinion regarding the attitude of the Post Office to its carriers. “[I]t surprised me how much<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pressure the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing.” (NH Tr. 71)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard testified carriers are influenced by the corporate culture of the Postal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Service to prioritize productivity. “[T]here seems to be a dance where I ask for extra time with a form 3996 . . . and [the forms will] sit on a desk, and so it becomes an effective denial. . . . [T]here's pressure that comes down . . . to the senior supe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvisor in an office down to the first-line supervisors to the employees about the need to meet these goals. And I mention it from the dance point of view is there was no evidence that people were punished on taking more time, but there was certainly this c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ulture of discouraging, you know, that was there.” (NH Tr. 847-48) He stated carriers who in 2016 did report heat stress symptoms “were nonetheless encouraged to continue their routes.” (NH Tr. 945) Even though supervisors received heat stress training, “t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hey still had the emphasis on productivity versus trying to make sure that there was an early identification of signs and symptoms and early first aid.” (NH Tr. 947)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In each of the five local cases, supervisors exhibited dismissive or disparaging attitude</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s towards the carriers. Here, as in two of the other local cases, it was a homeowner who happened to notice and respond to the carrier’s distress after his messages sent to the Benton Post Office went unanswered. To discourage requests for overtime or sick</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>leave, supervisors intimidated, belittled, and, in at least once instance, bullied carriers, creating an atmosphere of disquiet and suspicion. These cases reveal a pervasive culture of mistrust and skepticism on the part of postal supervisors regarding re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ports of injuries or illnesses made by carriers. The supervisors’ indifference and the carriers’ reluctance to engage in confrontational conversations with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">management contribute to the stress already inherent in meeting the unforgiving demands of the 24-ho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ur clock.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VII. THE CITATION</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Secretary’s Burden of Proof</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of the general duty clause, the Secretary must prove: “(1) a condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard; (2) the employer or its industry recognized the haz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ard; (3) the hazard was causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and (4) a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S. J. Louis Constr. of Tex.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>25 BNA OSHC 1892, 19 1894 (No. 12-1045, 2016).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Qu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ick Transp. of Arkansas, LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 14-0844, 2019 WL 33717, at *2 (OSHRC March 27, 2019). “The Secretary also must prove that the employer ‘knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tampa Shipyards Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 1533, 1535 (No. 86-360, 1992) (consolidated).”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *2 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Alleged Repeat Violation of § 5(a)(1)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of Citation No. 1 alleges,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSH ACT of 1970 Section<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to excessive heat while deli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vering the U.S. mail. Such exposure(s) may lead to serious and life-threatening heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On or about June 10, 2016, at job sites located on mail routes for the Benton Post Office, in and around Benton,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Arkansas, employees were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat while walking and delivering mail in an outdoor environment.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref107" href="#ftn107">107</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">A. Existence of a Hazard</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. Exposure to Excessive Heat Did Not Cause LC-1’s Illness</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The first element the Secretary must prove to establish a § 5(a)(1) violation is: “A condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard.” The alleged violation description (AVD) of the Citation identifies the workplace at issue as the “outdoor envi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ronment” in Benton, Arkansas, through which the city carriers walked as they delivered mail on their routes. The Citation identifies the hazard presented as “excessive heat.” The AVD does not identify the “condition or activity” that presented the hazard.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The implication is the condition presenting the hazard of excessive heat is hot weather, but the AVD does not specify at what temperature weather is “hot,” and it does not include the high temperature or heat index for June 10, 2016.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Hazards</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary called Dr. Aaron Tustin to testify regarding excessive heat exposure. He<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">explained heat stress results from a combination of a person’s metabolic heat and environmental heat. Metabolic heat is generated by the human body and environmental he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at results from sources outside the body. Sources of environmental heat include air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat, and air movement. Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air. Radiant heat is generated by electromagnetic waves,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>such as direct sunlight (NH Tr. 255-57). Sunlight is “radiation that is striking the worker. So moving from the shade into the sunlight, even if the air temperature doesn’t change, you’ll be struck by the radiant heat so it can feel hotter.” (NH Tr. 258)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The NWS uses the heat index to combine air temperature and relative humidity as a single metric. “What it’s doing is accounting for two of the main environmental factors. . . . If the humidity rises, the heat index rises for a given temperature. So it’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">assessing how it feels to a worker.” (NH Tr. 274)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The most serious illness caused by heat stress is heatstroke, which causes a dysfunction of the brain. Symptoms include slurred speech, disorientation, confusion, unconsciousness, or coma. Heatstroke caus</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es an elevated body temperature, generally defined as 104 or 105°F (NH Tr. 259). Heat exhaustion is a less severe result of heat stress. Its symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and profuse sweating. Heat exhaustion does not result i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n an elevated body temperature or brain dysfunction (NH Tr. 260). Dr. Tustin stated the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541). Un</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">like heat stroke, there is no diagnostic test for heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 536). Less severe conditions caused by heat stress include heat cramps, heat rash, and heat syncope (fainting) (NH Tr. 261).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">LC-1’s Diagnosis</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The collapse, hospitalization, and dia</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gnosis of heat exhaustion of LC-1 were the events that triggered OSHA’s inspection and subsequent issuance of the Citation in this proceeding. LC-1’s doctors later determined his diagnosis of heat exhaustion was incorrect. The symptoms LC-1 manifested on J</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">une 10, 2016, were a result of vertigo; his illness was labyrinthitis. Dr. Tustin conceded he could not state within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that LC-1’s illness<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was caused by exposure to excessive heat (NH Tr. 409, 682-761). Dr. Shirley Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nibear concurred with this opinion (NH Tr. 3014).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref108" href="#ftn108">108</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The fact the incident cited in the AVD turns out not to have been caused by the cited hazard does not disprove the alleged violation.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Proof that a cited activity actually caused harm or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">necessarily could have caused harm under the precise physical conditions that happened to be present at the time of the violation, or at any other specific time, is not required. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Bomac Drilling</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 9 BNA OSHC 1682, 1691-92 (No. 76-450, 1981) (consolidated</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) (“Under section 5(a)(1) case law, the ‘hazard’ that must be “recognized' is not a particular set of circumstances at a specific location and specific point in time but rather the broader, more generic or general hazard.”), </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overruled on other grounds by U</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">nited States Steel Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brennan v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 494 F.2d 460, 463 (8th Cir. 1974) (Secretary need not prove general hazard was cause of the accident that gave rise to the citation); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1171 (sa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Judge Ball’s 2014 Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Even though the Secretary is not required to establish excessive heat caused the illness of LC-1 on June 10, 2016, it is still his burden<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to prove the temperature or heat index that day exposed Benton city carriers to the hazard of excessive heat. In support of his position, the Secretary cites Judge Ball’s 2014 decision finding a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Servic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">e,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2014 WL 5528391</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary states, “On facts similar to those presented here, Judge Ball found that there was ‘no real dispute’ that letter carriers in Independence, Missouri, were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 21,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>n. 20)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref109" href="#ftn109">109</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In this case, however, the Postal Service vigorously disputes the temperature or heat index on June<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10, 2016, presented a hazard to Benton’s carriers, and consequently the record evidence differs markedly from that of the Independence case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As an unreviewed ALJ decision, the Independence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>case is not Commission precedent. “[R]eliance on an unreviewed administrative law judge decision involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) [is] misplaced.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Leone Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 3 BNA OSHC 1979, 1981 (No. 4090, 1976) (unreviewed administrative law judge decision does not constitute binding precedent for the Commission).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">TNT Crane & Rigging, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 16-1587, 2020 WL 1657</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">789, at *7 (OSHRC March 27, 2020). A case decided by the Commission last year involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) for exposure to excessive heat is, however, binding precedent for this Court.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. The Commission’s Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">February 28, 2019, the Commission issued a decision in a case involving an employee who collapsed at a worksite and subsequently died from complications of heat stroke after working on a roofing project.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019). Commissioner (now Chairman) Sullivan, with then-Chairman MacDougall concurring, vacated two items alleging serious violations that had been affirmed by the judge in the underlying case. Commissioner At</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">wood dissented. Of interest here is Item 1 of the citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1) for exposing employees “to the hazard of excessive heat from working on a commercial roof in the direct sun.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 2019 WL 1099857, at *1.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The roofing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>project Sturgill was working on involved tearing off the old roof of a flat-topped bank building in Ohio so a new roof could be installed. The crew included three temporary employees.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">One of the temporary employees was “MR,” a 60-year-old man with various</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>preexisting medical conditions, including hepatitis C and congestive heart failure. It was the first day that MR was assigned to work at Sturgill. He began work that day at 6:30 a.m. and was tasked with standing near the edge of the roof where other emplo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yees brought him a cart full of cut-up pieces of roofing material that he then pushed off the roof into a dumpster below. The assignment of this work was intentionally made by Foreman Leonard Brown because it was MR's first day on the project. When MR bega</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n his work, the temperature was approximately 72°F with 84 percent relative humidity. There is no dispute that Brown encouraged all employees to utilize the immediate access to ice, water, rest, and shade, without fear of reprisal.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At around 11:40 a.m., a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fter other employees reported being concerned about MR to Brown and Brown himself observed him “walking like clumsy,” MR collapsed and began shaking. The temperature at that point was approximately 82°F with 51 percent relative humidity. Emergency medical<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">personnel were summoned, and they took MR to the hospital where his core body temperature was determined to be 105.4°F. MR was diagnosed with heat stroke and died three<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">weeks later. According to the coroner, his death was caused by “complications” from hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t stroke.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *1-2. The Commission found the Secretary failed to establish “the existence of a hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">4. Is “Excessive Heat” a Cognizable Hazard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Under § 5(a)(1)?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service argues that in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. In her concurring opinion, Chairman MacDougall questioned the meaning of the cited hazard:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>this case, what is meant by “excessive heat?” Is it the heat index the judge formulated by adding 15 degrees to the ambient temperature, or the heat index that would result from adding 10 degrees to the ambient temperature since the foreman said it felt a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">bout that much hotter on the roof, or some combination of factors perhaps set forth in OSHA’s website publication regarding “Occupational Heat Exposure”? To pose the question is to answer it. By defining the hazard merely as “excessive heat,” the Secretary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>has failed to point to any specific, concrete environmental conditions, and has instead effectively defined the hazard as a sliding scale of possibilities. This open-ended, moving target is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause as it provi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">des insufficient notice to the employer of exactly what it is required to free its workplace from to protect its employees.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In a footnote to the lead opinion, Commissioner Sullivan (now Chairman) agreed “with the concerns<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as ‘excessive heat.’”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Contrary to the Postal Service’s argument, this agreement does not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">establish that a majority of the Commission conclusively found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. This reference to defining the hazard is the only one in a lengthy footnote on foreseeability, and its vague reference</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to “the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall” is insufficient to constitute a dispositive conclusion that a citation under § 5(a)(1) alleging exposure to “excessive heat” will always fail due to lack of fair notice to the employer.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref110" href="#ftn110">110</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If Commissioner<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Sullivan’s agreement with Chairman MacDougall’s “concerns”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">constituted a majority opinion that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard, there would be no need for a concurring opinion or for most of the analysis in the lead opinion. The Court determine</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">s the Commission has not held absolutely that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. The cited hazard is, however, difficult to establish under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">5. Significant Risk of Harm</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>To establish a cited condition o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r activity presents a hazard in the workplace, the Secretary must prove the condition or activity<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposed employees to a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">See Beverly Enters., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1161, 1170-1172 (No. 91-3144, 2000) (consolidated); </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">see also </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1983139073&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_63&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_63"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney Aircraft v. Donovan,</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>715 F.2d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 1983)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (holding that a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> can be established by showing a “meaningful<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">possibility” of injury); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1978119394&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_541&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_541"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Titanium Metals Corp. v. Usery</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 579 F.2d 536, 541 (9th Cir. 1978)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (the possibility of harm resulting must be “upon other than a freakish or utterly implausible concurrence of circumstan</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ces”); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1973112769&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_1265&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_1265"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat'l Realty & Constr. Co. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d 1257, 1265 n.33 (D.C. Cir. 1973)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:10.667px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Agency's responsibility to determine,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in the first instance, what it considers to be a “significant” risk. Some risks are plainly acceptable and others are plainly unacceptable. If, for example, the odds are one in a billion that a person will die from cancer by taking a drink of chlorinated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">water, the risk clearly could not be considered significant. On the other hand, if the odds are one in a thousand that regular inhalation of gasoline vapors that are 2% benzene will be fatal, a reasonable person might well consider the risk significant and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>take appropriate steps to decrease or eliminate it. Although the Agency has no duty to calculate the exact probability of harm, it does have an obligation to find that a significant risk is present before it can characterize a place of employment as “unsa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fe.”</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>448 U.S. 607, 655 (1980) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues he has established excessive heat exposure presents a significant risk of harm to carriers generally. He points to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard regarding the statistical correlation between the number of heat-related fat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alities and illnesses and higher temperatures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Screening Levels</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks the number of annual occupational heat-related deaths and nonfatal heat-related illnesses in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Fro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m 2011 to 2016, the CFOI reported an annual average of 36 heat-related fatalities and 3,500 nonfatal heat-related illnesses (NH Tr. 267-68). Dr. Tustin reviewed employer reports to OSHA of heat-related hospitalizations over a three-year period. The employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs reporting the most hospitalizations were the United Parcel Service (UPS) (63 hospitalizations) and the Postal Service (49 hospitalizations). Nationwide, UPS and the Postal Service accounted for 14 percent of all reported occupational heat-related hospit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alizations over a 3-year period (NH Tr. 270).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#222222; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ACGIH) publishes threshold limit values (TLVs) for hazards to which a worker can be exposed on a daily basis without adverse effects. Dr. Tustin<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testified the ACGIH and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) implement “screening levels.” “If the environmental heat is above the screening level, then there’s a hazard and the employer should take additional steps to try to r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">educe the hazard to protect workers.” (NH Tr. 280)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref111" href="#ftn111">111</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on his research, Dr. Tustin concluded, “[A] screening threshold of about 80°F seemed appropriate for using the heat index to screen for hazardous conditions.” (NH Tr. 285)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref112" href="#ftn112">112</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>He conceded some work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers may experience heat-related illnesses even if the TLV for outdoor temperature is not exceeded, perhaps due to predisposing conditions. “Predisposing conditions are medical conditions or medications that could increase the risk of heat-related illness.”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (NH Tr. 577-78)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>A<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">dose-response relationship</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is the relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) to a substance or condition and the resulting changes (response) in body function. He believes there is dose-response relationship between heat index values above 80°F and heat stress—the higher th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e heat index, the greater the heat stress hazard. He conducted a meta-analysis of 570 heat-related deaths dating back to 1947 (NH Tr. 287). He calculated the heat index for each case. A heat index of less than 80°F does not appear to present a heat stress<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hazard. A higher heat index increases the risk of heat stress (NH Tr. 291-92).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]hen the heat index was between 80 and 90 [degrees Fahrenheit], there definitely seemed to be more risk. I think about 10 to 20 percent of all the fatalities happened when the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat index was between 80 and 90. Then when the heat index was over 90, there seemed to be higher risk in the sense that I think about 80 percent of the fatalities occurred when the heat index was over 90. So we concluded that a heat index of about 80 °F<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">seemed to be a reasonable screening threshold for figuring out whether there was a heat stress hazard present.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 292) He concluded, “[T]here's a hazard when the heat index is over 80 for the type of work that city carriers are doing.” (NH Tr. 581) </span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Number of Heat-Related Incidents Among Carriers</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends the significant risk of harm from excessive heat to which carriers are exposed is made manifest if the Court expands the scope of reported heat-related illnesses beyond the date and lo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cation of the Citation’s AVD in this case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The hazard of heat stress extends far beyond the Benton Station and even the Arkansas District. In the summers of 2015–2018, 33 carriers reported heat related incidents at 25 different Arkansas District Stations; all but two incidents occurred in the month</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of June, July or August. . . Thirteen of the 33 Arkansas District carriers lost a combined 166 days away from work. . . . On two specific dates in 2015, numerous letter carriers reported heat incidents ([NH Exh.] C-127).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 11)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">onsideration of heat-related illnesses is expanded nationwide, the Secretary believes the significant risk to carriers of excessive heat exposure is evident.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">According to USPS’s records. . . , the number of heat-related incidents per year since 2015 classified by USPS on its official accident reports (PS Form 1769/301) as caused by “GEN-EXPOSURE EXTREME TEMP-HOT” are as follows for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018: 378, 564, 399 and 631 ([NH Tr. 1670-71]) In total, the number of heat-related incidents over the four years was 1,972. ([NH Tr. 1668-69]) When broken down, the 1,972 heat-related incidents came from 1,258 different USPS facilities across the country and resulted in carriers missing a total of 8,757 days away from work. [NH Exh.] C-127)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 13)</p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service counters that the number of carriers reporting heat-related illnesses is miniscule when compared to the number who did not report heat-related illnesses. Rodman Harvey stated, “On June 10, 2016, there were approximately 793<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">city carriers working in the postal district that includes Benton, Arkansas, and there was only one alleged heat-related illness reported.” (NH Tr. 2886)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service retained Dr. Joshua Gotkin to analyze its data on heat-related accidents.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref113" href="#ftn113">113</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">urt qualified Dr. Gotkin as an expert “in the field of economics, with specific expertise in the field of statistical analysis and the application of statistics in sampling.” (NH Tr. 1631-32) Dr. Gotkin reviewed data on the number of heat-related incidents</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>involving carriers that had occurred from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2019 (NH Tr. 1632-33). For that 4-year period, he found 1,023 reported heat-related injuries to carriers and compared those to the total number of carrier workdays. “[Y]ou really ju</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">st divide the number of events into the total number of carrier days, and that gives you a 1 in 308,000 workdays in terms of the odds of having a heat-related stress incident. . . . I also restricted it to the warmer summer months, and the odds are then re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">duced to 1 in 142,000 workdays.” (NH Tr. 1651) Dr. Gotkin stated, “[T]hese odds are so small that the probability associated with those are nearly zero.” (NH Tr. 1652-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Linda DeCarlo is the manager of safety and OSHA compliance programs for the Postal S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ervice. She is its highest ranking safety officer (Tr. 1245). DeCarlo tracks trends of hazards as part of her duties. DeCarlo estimated that, since 2015, approximately 500 to 600 Postal Service employees (including carriers) annually have reported heat-rel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ated occupational injuries (NH Tr. 1257-59). The number of heat-related injuries does not cause her concern. “We have close to 120,000 accidents, incidents, near misses and customer events that take place in any given year. Thirty thousand of those are rel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ated to motor vehicle. Maybe 20,000 slip, trips, and falls. Seven thousand dog bites. So 500 heat-related claims, only which of half are recordable, is not a major concern when there are other opportunities that we have in front of us.” (NH Tr. 1261)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Secretary argues the small percentage of carriers affected with heat-related illnesses does not disprove excessive heat hazards existed on the days they were affected. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Ind.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employer argued different employees were affected differe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ntly by the ergonomic activity cited as a hazard. The Commission held susceptibility to illness or injury alone is not a basis for finding no hazard exists.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Pepperidge further points out, however, and the Secretary's experts agree,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">non-workplace factors ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y cause or contribute to the illnesses at issue, and that individuals differ in their susceptibility to potential causal factors. However, such characteristics (and the inability to determine threshold of harm) are not unique to putative ergonomic hazards<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">but inhere in other workplace hazards as well. For example, some or all of these characteristics obtain for many chemical, toxic and other workplace hazards. Thus, to preclude the application of section 5(a)(1) to a hazard with the characteristics cited by</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Pepperidge would be to preclude the use of Section 5(a)(1) for many occupational ills. To be clear, characteristics such as those identified by Pepperidge may (as discussed later) bear on questions of causation or feasibility of abatement. They do not, ho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">wever, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ipso facto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> preclude the possibility of regulation under Section 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 89-265, 1997 WL 212599, at *23 (OSHRC Apr. 26, 1997). The Secretary also contends he is not required to state the temperature or heat index at which<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat becomes excessive. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While knowledge of the threshold for injury may be essential in some cases, however, the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to regulation under the general duty clause.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1997 WL 212599, a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t *22.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Secretary’s burden to prove it is likely a heat-related illness will occur at certain temperatures, only that if such an illness occurs the carrier would be exposed to a significant risk of harm. “[T]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here is no requirement that there<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">be a ‘significant risk’ of the hazard coming to fruition, only that if the hazardous event occurs, it would create a ‘significant risk’ to employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 322–25 (5th Cir.1984).”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 89-2804, 1993 WL 119662, at *11 (OSHRC April 2, 1993). The Secretary must prove, therefore, that if “excessive heat” occurs, it would create a significant risk to carriers delivering mail that day. “[I]n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>order to prove the existence of a hazard within<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the meaning of the general duty clause, the Secretary cannot merely show that there may be some degree of risk to employees. He must show, at a minimum, that employees are exposed to a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant risk of harm.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>WL 5351412, at * 5 (OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Magnitude of the Risk</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin was unable to quantify the degree of risk to which outdoor workers would be exposed in 100°F weather. Counsel for the Postal Service cross-examined Dr. Tustin regarding a scenario</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in which 1000 carriers are working on a day when the temperature is 100°F:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me in that scenario how many employees -- what percentage of employees working in that 100-degree day would experience a heat-related illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.:<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">You can't tell me how likely it is?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can't give you an exact number as far as a number of employees who will have an illness, no.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: When you say you can't give me an exact number; can you give me any number?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can tell you,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">like I said before, that there's a dose-response relationship, and it's --from the data that I've seen, it's more likely that employees will become sick on a 100-degree day compared to an 80-degree day. But I can't give you an exact number.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l me, on a 100-degree day with 1,000 employees working outside under identical conditions, what percentage will sustain a heat-related illness that is "serious" by your definition?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you recall during your deposition giving testimony<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">about the likelihood that a cohort of workers would experience heat-related illness? . . . [Reading from deposition]: QUESTION: "The employees that would develop an illness, what sort of characteristics would you expect to see in those employees, if any?"<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ANSWER: "Like I said, I can't predict. If you gave me a cohort of workers at the beginning of the day, and so predict which workers are going to develop a heat-related illness, I don't think I can do that -- I could do that." Do you recall giving that test</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imony?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you agree with it?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 546-47)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin’s testimony establishes incidents of heat-related illness are likely to increase as the heat index rises above 80°F, but it does not establish the magnitude of the risk or its significance. Dr. Tustin stated the severity of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related illnesse</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s varies. Some, such as heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stroke, can be deadly, but others (such as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat rash and dehydration) can be minor (NH Tr. 261).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin reviewed spreadsheets compiled by the Postal Service when he was preparing his expert report. They listed heat-related</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>incidents reported by Eastern Area Postal Service employees in the summers of 2017 and 2018 (NH Exh. C-162 & C-163).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. So you testified earlier that there are incidents in the data that clearly weren't reportable; is that correct, just from your review?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I mean, just looking at the spreadsheet there are some that say the person felt dizzy and remained working, so yes. I mean, that doesn't seem to be a reportable incident.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And is it your understanding that these reports could include</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>situations like an employee calling their supervisor and saying, "I feel really hot, I'm going to sit down for a while," and drinking a bottle of water and then continuing working?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes, it appears that there are some like that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I mean, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re's one in there that just says, "I feel hot," right?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I don't know. There might be.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, if that employee sits down and drinks a lot of water and says, "Hey, I feel great, I'm going to go back to work," do they have a heat illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: They may have -- they might have had symptoms that would cause them to stop working, so that could be a mild heat illness, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you characterize that as serious?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 628-29)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Determination of causation is also a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n issue. In recording injuries from vehicular accidents, falls, or dog bites, there is little doubt of the actual cause of the injury. Not all conditions diagnosed as heat-related are, however, heat-related. Dr. Tustin conceded the symptoms of heat exhaust</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat. There is no diagnostic test for heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 538-541).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear testified regarding the inconclusive nature of pre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sumed heat-related illnesses.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, LC-1 was initially diagnosed with heat exhaustion but his doctors later determined the correct diagnosis was labyrinthitis. LC-1 was also diagnosed with hypokalemia, or low potassium level in the blood. “Potassium is a s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alt that’s present in your cells in the blood. It’s one of the entities that’s referred to as an electrolyte. When you vomit, you lose a lot of potassium. . . [D]iuretic medications cause hypokalemia. Diarrhea causes hypokalemia, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sweating can do it als</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o.” (NH Tr. 3017) LC-1 was also diagnosed with dehydration, which Dr. Conibear attributed to his vomiting and sweating (NH Tr. 3017-18).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear stated a later diagnosis in a reported heat-related case is often more accurate than the initial<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">diagnosis.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Why are later records often more helpful?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Well, because, as this case illustrates, heat exhaustion has a course that it runs and you expect the person to improve pretty quickly and not have any symptoms in a matter of hours.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In this case that didn't happen. And he was also -- he had physical signs that were not characteristic of heat exhaustion in that he was staggering and couldn't walk. So those all indicated that this was not the right -- heat exhaustion was not the right d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iagnosis.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And Dr. Tustin testified that within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, [LC-1] did not suffer from a heat-related illness. Do you agree with Dr. Tustin’s—</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Based on your review of the records, was [LC-1]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>acclimatized?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Why do you say that?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:5.333px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Because he had been working and was doing the same work that he had been doing for weeks, and basically, he had satisfied the 2 weeks of acclimatization.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3020-21)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tolerabil</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ity of Heat Stress</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At one point in the hearing, Dr. Bernard compared ACGIH’s TLV levels for heat to OSHA’s occupational noise exposure standard. Section 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise exposure during an 8-hour day to 90 dBA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for all workers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The PEL for noise is 90 dBA. And you might argue a little bit about what the number is, but [there] generally are between 20 and 25 percent of the population will suffer an occupational hearing loss at 90 dBA. So that's the reason for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hearing conservation amendment where you have audiograms. That's your way of catching somebody who will be less tolerant of the noise. Even with the ACGIH TLV at 85 dBA, there's a small percentage of people who will still have an occupational hearing loss.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>So again, the audiograms are a way of catching that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(NH TR. 994-95)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Counsel for the Postal Service returned to the subject on cross-examination.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If we think about people being exposed to noise levels of 90 dBA or higher, you or somebody like you co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uld tell us at those ranges this percentage of workers would lose hearing; is that fair?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: With these TLVs would you agree that even at levels below the TLV there will be certain workers who will have heat-related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard:<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And you would agree with me that at levels above the TLV, perhaps significantly above the TLV, there will be workers that will not have heat- related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [W]e know that above 90 dBA there's a certain<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">percentage who are pretty likely to lose hearing; do we not? That's why OSHA set the limit at 90?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you agree with me that the TLVs are designed -- currently designed such that 99 percent of workers exposed at levels below<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the TLVs will keep their core body temperatures at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: The final question on ACGIH, the ACGIH guidelines are set not to prevent heat illness. They're set to -- the goal of them, if you will, is to keep the core body tempe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rature at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, and more importantly -- or more specifically so that you can maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So again, those are unlike, for example, the noise standard which is set to prevent hearing loss? This is set to ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">intain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So it's not set to prevent an illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Not directly.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, I mean, you already agreed that certainly you will have some unspecified percentage of workers who will experience a heat illness</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>even when working at levels below the TLV?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1056-59)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with heat exposure, noise exposure affects different people differently. A certain percentage of workers will suffer some hearing loss at a level below the PEL, and a certai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n percentage may not register hearing loss at certain levels above the PEL. The difference is employers know the precise level OSHA, for the purpose of compliance, has determined noise presents a hazard. Section 1910.95 establishes a regulatory baseline th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at provides notice to employers of the PEL for noise exposure and the requirements for hearing monitoring and testing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quantification of “Excessive” Heat</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary must show a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard. Here, the condit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion and the alleged hazard are identical. The condition of excessive heat presents an alleged hazard of excessive heat. The precise temperature at which regular heat becomes excessive is, however, unclear. OSHA has been urged to promulgate a heat stress st</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">andard since shortly after the Act went into effect.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992) (“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In 1972, NIOSH recommended that OSHA adopt a standard governing exposure to heat, and a panel appointed by OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">endorsed that recommendation in 1974. Nevertheless, OSHA has not adopted a heat stress regulation[.]”).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The local and national hearings in the Postal Service cases establish people tolerate environmental heat at different levels, and other factors, such<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as underlying medical conditions or medication use, can affect their usual tolerability. Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard agree that some people may sustain a heat-related illness at temperatures below 80°F, their recommended screening level. The statistical evi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dence from the national hearing establishes the vast majority of carriers completed their routes without incident on the dates the alleged heat-related illnesses cited by the Secretary occurred. Without a temperature- or heat index-specific standard, it is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>difficult for employers to know when heat is “excessive.” Chairman Sullivan commented on the lack of a uniform measurement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. “The Secretary’s failure to establish the existence of an excessive heat hazard here illustrates the difficulty in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>addressing this issue in the absence of an OSHA standard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *5, n.8.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In her concurring opinion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">former Chairman MacDougall addresses the nebulous phrase “excessive heat.”<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Excessive heat” is a condition that i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s inherent in the performance of outdoor work and one that only presents the possibility for harm, not an employment condition that by itself necessarily carries a significant risk of harm.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mo. Basin Well Serv., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 26 BNA OSHC at 2316 n. 5 (MacDouga</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll, Chairman) (“As the Commission observed in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pelron,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an employer cannot reasonably be expected to free its workplace of inherent risks that are incident to its normal operation.”). This vague definition also neither identifies a condition or practice over</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which an employer can reasonably be expected to exercise control nor provides an employer with fair notice of what it is required to do to protect its employees.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Whether there exists a significant risk depends on both t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he severity of the potential harm and the likelihood of its occurrence, but there is an inverse relationship between these two elements. As the severity of the potential harm increases in a particular situation, its apparent likelihood of occurrence need n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ot be as great.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weirton Steel Corp,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 98-0701, 1999 WL 34813785, at *5 (OSHRC July 31, 2003).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The record demonstrates the difficulty of accurately determining the etiology of illnesses presumed to be heat-related. The Secretary has not shown the incidence of carriers’ self-reported heat-related illnesses establishes a “significant” risk of harm, ei</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ther in the statistical likelihood of occurrence or in the severity of potential harm.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Conclusion</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary did not establish the cited weather conditions exposed Benton’s city carriers to a significant risk of harm from<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">excessive heat on June 10, 2016.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref114" href="#ftn114">114</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Secretary has not met his burden to establish a condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard. The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">B. Feasible and Effective Means to Eliminate or Materially Reduce the Hazard</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assumi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng the Secretary had established the temperature or heat index on June 10, 2016, presented an excessive heat hazard, as well as the elements of industry or employer recognition, likelihood of death or serious physical injury, and knowledge, the Court finds</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>he failed to establish the element relating to feasible and effective means of abatement.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the feasibility of a proposed abatement measure, the Secretary must ‘demonstrate both that the measure. . . [is] capable of being put into effect and t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat [it] would be effective in materially reducing the incidence of the hazard.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Arcadian,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>20 BNA OSHC at 2011 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Beverly Enters. Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 19 BNA OSHC at 1190). Where an employer has undertaken measures to address a hazard alleged under the general duty<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">clause, the Secretary must show that such measures were inadequate.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">U.S. Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 21 BNA OSHC 1767, 1773-74 (No. 04-0316, 2006).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *8.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. Alternative Means of Abatement</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission stated,</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Befor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e addressing this element of proof [for abatement], however, we must first determine whether the Secretary proposed each measure as an alternative means of abatement, in which case implementing any one of them would constitute abatement of the alleged viol</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ation, or as a component of a single means of abatement, in which case all of the measures must be implemented to abate the violation. If the former, the Secretary can prevail on this element only if he proves that Sturgill implemented none of the measures</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . . . If the latter, he need only show a failure to implement one of them.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation presents seven proposed methods of abatement for the alleged excessive heat exposure hazard:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Feasible and acceptable methods to abate<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">this hazard include, but are not limited to:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. Implement a heat stress management program with measures to address exposure to excessive heat. Such program may include the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Provide for a cool and shaded rest area. Ensure employees take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">their breaks in the shade or in a cool, climate-controlled area.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Develop a work/rest cycle based on validated measures of heat stress, such as a heat index or wet-bulb globe temperature index.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Limit time in the heat and/or increase recovery time spent in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a cool environment.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Develop and implement procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency situations and procedures for first-aid to be administered immediately to employees in those situations. Train managers and supervisors to respond to employees r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eporting heat-related illness symptoms.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assign a supervisor or other personnel to closely monitor employees for adequate hydration and work-rest cycles.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Provide training for employees prior to the arrival of excessively hot weather conditions regarding th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e health effects associated with heat stress, symptoms of heat induced illnesses, and the prevention of such illness.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Provide cooled air, cooled fluid or ice cooled conditioned clothing, such as ice vests or neck towels that can maintain the body’s core te</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mperature to below 98°F Fahrenheit.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref115" href="#ftn115">115</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. Implement procedures for employees to report heat stress symptoms to management.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. Ensure trained managers or supervisors go into the field to check on employees when National Weather Service heat advisories are in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>effect.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. Training managers, supervisors, and employees in the measures to take to prevent heat-related illnesses, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and the procedures to follow when they or others are experiencing heat-r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elated illnesses. Such training could be conducted annually in advance of the hot weather season and throughout the season when excessive heat is predicted. All managers, supervisors, and employees could be required to confirm their receipt and understandi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng of the training and records of said training could be maintained.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. Ensure managers and supervisors are communicating to employees USPS-disseminated heat stress information, including safety talks, fully and in a timely manner.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. Reduce the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">metabolic demands of the job. Provide other means of carrying and transporting heavy mail loads aside from satchels for letter carriers to relieve physiological burden during the hot summer months.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. During the summer months where excessive heat condition</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s may contribute to employee safety and health issue, begin mail delivery routes earlier in the workday to aid in the completion of outdoor work prior to the hottest hours of the day.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">used the same formulation he uses in thi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s case to introduce the list of proposed abatement methods (“Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include but are not limited to”). The Commission found</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> portion of the citation . . . begins with a sentence that uses and refer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ences the plural word “methods”: “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Feasible</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and acceptable </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">methods</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> to abate this hazard include, but </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> not limited to: ...,” suggesting that each measure is an </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alternative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> means of </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (emphasis added).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9, n. 17.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In his post-hearing brief, the Secretary acknowledges the proposed abatement methods are distinct alternatives, and not components of a single abatement method. “[T]he evidence shows that USPS could have taken<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">several steps</span><span><span></span>
					</span>to abate or materially reduce the heat stress hazard its employees faced.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">These steps include</span><span><span></span>
					</span>an adequate work/rest cycle, an adequate emergency response program, analyzing existing data on employees’ heat-related illnesses, employee monitoring, and reducing outdoor exposure time. By failing to implement<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">these or equally effective abatement measur</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">es</span>, USPS needlessly exposed its workers to dangerous heat stress hazards.” (Secretary’s brief, pp. 36-37) (emphasis added)<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
				</p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having found the Secretary proposed alternate methods of abatement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission concludes, “[I]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the record sho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ws that Sturgill implemented any one of the Secretary's proposed measures, or is equivocal in that regard, the abatement element of the Secretary's burden of proof has not been established.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9. So it is here. If the Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ice implemented any one of the Citation’s seven proposed abatement methods, the Secretary cannot meet his burden on this element. The Court finds the Postal Service implemented communication of heat stress information as a method of abatement.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Communica</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">tion of Heat Stress Information</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In his post-hearing brief, the Secretary addresses five methods of abatement: 1. Work/Rest Cycles; 2. Air-Conditioned Vehicles; 3. Emergency Response and Employee Monitoring; 4. Analyzing Existing Data on Heat-Related Illne</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sses; and 5. Reducing Time Outdoors (Secretary’s brief, pp. 37-44).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref116" href="#ftn116">116</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>What the Secretary does not address is the Citation’s fifth proposed method of abatement: “Ensure managers and supervisors are communicating to employees USPS-disseminated heat stres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s information, including safety talks, fully and in a timely manner.” </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is undisputed Benton supervisors regularly communicated heat stress information to carriers (using material from the Postal Service’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign 2016</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) prior</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to LC-1’s June 10 incident, usually during the Friday morning standup talks.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref117" href="#ftn117">117</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Benton post office also provided heat stress training, including video training. Benton supervisors and carriers testified extensively on this issue (Exh. C-10; Tr. 105, 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">27, 152, 195-96, 207-08, 254-66, 393-94, 547-50, 648, 652, 765-66, 768, 791-92, 796-802).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court finds the Postal Service ensured Benton Post Office managers and supervisors communicated heat stress information to its carriers, fully and in a timely m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">anner, in accordance with the Secretary’s proposed method of abatement. Under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">this is sufficient to establish the Postal Service abated the alleged violation.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. Economic Infeasibility</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, the Secretary failed to establish its proposed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement methods regarding work/rest cycles, acclimatization programs, earlier start times, and additional paid breaks are economically feasible. It is the Secretary’s burden to show his “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed abatement measures are economically feasible. . . . In cas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es involving the general duty clause, the Commission has generally held that an abatement method is not economically feasible if it ‘would clearly threaten the economic viability of the employer.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">National Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 n.37.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Enterprises, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 91-3144, 92-238, 92-1257, 93-724, 2000 WL 34012177, at *34-35 (OSHRC Oct. 27, 2000).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref118" href="#ftn118">118</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Two of the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods listed in the Benton Citation are:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. Develop a work/rest cycle based on validated measures<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of heat stress, such as a heat index or wet-bulb globe temperature index [, and]</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. During the summer months where excessive heat conditions may contribute to employee safety and health issues, begin mail delivery routes earlier in the day to aid in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the completion of outdoor work prior to the hottest hours of the day.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At the national hearing, the issues of additional paid breaks and acclimatization schedules were also addressed. All of these proposals would require the Postal Service to pay carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for time during which they are not working or pay additional carriers at regular or overtime rates.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified regarding abatement measures that he recommends the Postal Service implement to reduce its employees’ exposure to excessive heat. Saf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ety organizations use the concept of hierarchy of controls to prioritize measures to reduce hazardous exposure. The first and most effective measure is elimination of the hazard, followed by substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">personal protective equipment (PPE) (NH Tr. 498-500). Dr. Tustin stated elimination of the hazard (hot weather) is not an option for the Postal Service, nor is substitution.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Work/Rest Cycles</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed, as an administrative control,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work/rest cycles to lower the carriers’ metabolic heat. “[T]he employer would give workers rest breaks . . . and they would increase in either frequency or duration as the temperature increases.” (NH Tr. 508) He advocated for a “protocol for giving more fr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">equent breaks” such as “when the temperature reaches a certain level, workers might break for 15 minutes out of every hour and rest in a cooler location. As the temperature increases even more, there might be another threshold where they have to rest even<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">more than 15 minutes per hour—maybe 30 minutes per hour.” (NH Tr. 509)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin believes the most effective use of the work/rest cycle is to require mandatory breaks. “[F]or heat-related illnesses in particular, . . . if it’s progressing to heat stroke<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that can cause disorientation and confusion, mental status changes. So somebody who is progressing to heat stroke might not realize that they need a rest break. So relying on the worker to take a rest break could be dangerous in that situation.” (NH Tr. 51</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3) He does not think the Postal Service’s policy of allowing comfort breaks is an effective administrative control. “To be honest it didn’t<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">even really appear sincere to me. The testimony that I reviewed indicated that sometimes supervisors said that worke</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs were allowed to take extra rest breaks but then when workers either reported symptoms or said they wanted extra rest breaks; they were . . . either disciplined or supervisors became angry.” (NH Tr. 514) It is Dr. Tustin’s opinion, to a reasonable degree</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of medical certainty, that exposure to excessive heat “would have been significantly reduced in all seven incidents [cited in the five Postal Service cases before the Court] if a work/rest cycle program had been implemented.” (NH Tr. 514)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Acclimatization</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed three types of acclimatization in the context of abatement measures. First, a worker may not be acclimatized if he or she is newly hired and has not been exposed to the work environment. “In that case allowing the person to become ac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">climatized to heat stress is thought to be helpful.” (NH Tr. 515) Second, a worker who has taken time off work, either due to vacation or illness, “might lose acclimatization or when the worker comes back the heat stress might be higher when the worker lef</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t. So allowing that worker to gradually acclimatize, . . . if the absence has been more than about two weeks, is helpful.” (NH Tr. 515-16) The third case involves “situations where essentially the entire workforce is unacclimatized if it’s, . . . for examp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">le, a heat wave. Protecting the entire workforce somehow during a heat wave can materially reduce the hazard.” (NH Tr. 516)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recommended newly hired carriers and carriers returning after a work break follow an acclimatization schedule that buil</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ds up daily to increased heat exposure (NH Exh. C-312). He believes his recommended acclimatization is technically feasible for the Postal Service. “[I]t's with the preplanning that goes into things. And they do plan their routes. They do have unexcused ab</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sences and others. So there's a capability of managing how you can assign routes and a workload, so I think this fits into that possibility.” (NH Tr. 837)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard acknowledged on cross-examination he did not know realistically how the Postal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Service could implement his recommended acclimatization plan.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In those scenarios where, you know, you're going to have in your opinion workers who cannot be on the street working outside because they returned from that 3-week vacation, you said they c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">an be productive in other ways. Given what you know about the Postal Service operation, what are they going to do during that time?</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, I don't know.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So you don't know if they can be productive or not?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yeah, I mean, I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>can create scenarios and the Post Office will laugh at me. You know, so this isn't my business, but the Post Office knows their business. . . . But the goal is, you know, is some sort of progressive increase. The classic one is 50 percent on day one. 60,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">80, 100. . . . And that is the outdoor portion, the casing doesn't count.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1080-81)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Reducing Time Outdoors</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin also advocated for earlier start times. Noting temperatures typically are highest between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Dr. Tustin reco</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mmended the Postal Service could adjust its delivery schedule, so carriers are not working during the hottest hours in the afternoon. “[I]f you shifted the work hours that they finish by 1:00 p.m. then [the carriers] would be exposed to both lower levels o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f environmental heat overall. So the level of heat would be lower and the amount of time that they were exposed to a hazardous level of environmental heat would be shorter.” (NH Tr. 518)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Funding the Proposed Abatement Methods</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary presented no wi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tnesses, expert or otherwise, to show funding the proposed additional rest/recovery/acclimatization/break time is economically feasible. Instead, the Secretary argues the Postal Service could simply raise prices for competitive products, such as packages,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or borrow $4 billion from the U.S. Treasury (Secretary’s brief, p. 46). These suggestions are speculative and presented without evidence of their efficacy. The Secretary also claims the Postal Service is not actually operating at a deficit because it has d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">efaulted on its financial obligations for several years.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The 2018 Presidential task force report provides a clear snapshot demonstrating six consecutive years of postal profits totaling $3.8 billion in revenue. (DC Ex. C-135 at p.19) All of USPS’s claimed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">losses are merely paper losses. After nine years of not paying into the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF), it is clear the prefunding mandate of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act is not a true expense because the act has no mechanism to enfor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce payment, USPS suffers no penalty from default, and it intentionally chooses to spend its revenue elsewhere.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 47)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service, in contrast, presented a detailed analysis explaining why the Secretary’s proposed time-related<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatements are unworkable.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">David Williams Jr., chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, testified at length regarding its precarious financial condition resulting from increased competition and the obligation to prefund<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the RHBF (NH Tr. 1751-52). He described how the complex network of employees, contractors, facilities, airplanes, trucks, and other vehicles coordinate nationwide to meet the timetable imposed by 24-hour clock, and how one snag could create a bullwhip effe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ct (NH Tr. 1760, 1780-81, 1783-84, 1791-92, 1795-97). Williams stated, “Every step depends on the previous step. And if we change one thing, we change another.” (NH Tr. 1814)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams testified the Secretary’s recommendations for work/rest cycles and unli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mited paid breaks were economically (as well as technically) infeasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If you think about the 24 hour clock that I talked about the need for our carriers to get back by 6:00 p.m. so that we could meet the dispatch schedules and start that whole process a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">round our operating plan to insure that we achieve the service expectations of our customers, when an employee can take an unlimited break for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work 75 percent of the time that means that for -- at least for the one where the heat said 45 minutes work 15 mi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nutes break for every hour, that’s significant.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>That impacts our ability to deliver mail on time to make the 24 hour clock. If you think about 50 percent of the time where a carrier is working 30 minutes out of every hour, totally infeasible in terms of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">our ability to provide prompt, reliable and efficient service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And then if you think of 15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of break, totally infeasible. Then the unlimited breaks, I don’t know of any business, any business that provides unlimited breaks w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">henever anybody would want to take a break.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . . [W]e’re hemorrhaging money every day. And the costing that was performed on this analysis is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We can’t afford it.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 1911-13)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulated that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service’s net losses were in the billions for 2016, 2017, and 2018:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Yea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Do Yeun Sammi Park, financial economist for the Postal Service, testified regarding the financial impact of implementing the abatement methods proposed by the Secretary related to paid worktime.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref119" href="#ftn119">119</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court determined Dr. Park<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was qualified “in terms of her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education” as an expert in economics with a “specialized expertise in cost modeling.” (Tr. 1559-60)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>She explained her process for developing a costing model to determine how much<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed changes in CBAs would cost the Postal Service. CBAs usually expire after 3 or 5 years, and then the terms have to be renegotiated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]henever we do the negotiation, the major portion is an economic proposal, which is determining the wage increase</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the general wage increase or COLA increase or step increase. Those are the three main parts of the wage increase.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So whenever we do the negotiation, there's a lot of proposals going on, and we – my task was to cost each economic proposal, how much it's</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>going to cost to the USPS. . . . So I developed a fairly complicated model, the costing model. And so I polish up the model, develop it and prove it and update it before the negotiations start. And whenever the negotiation is actually going on, the main s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pokesperson talks to the union's head, and then they discuss – they bounce each other the proposals, and they let me -- tell me I need to cost what it's going to cost USPS 1.3 percent of general increase next year or throughout the 3-year contract. And I h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ave to cost -- for example, it's going to cost $800 million to the USPS. . . . So a costing model consists of basically wages and benefit part. . . . So the general increases on . . . the salaries, so that comes into it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The benefit part, we also have to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>-- so whenever we increase a salary, that also affects the benefit, and we have to cost that part out. Mainly, the cost part of the benefit is -- we look at the proportion of how much, if we increase salary -- the basic salary goes up, then what's the pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">portion of benefit goes up with it. So those are the main big components of the costing model.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1556-58)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In August of 2018, the Postal Service asked Dr. Park to determine the cost of two proposed changes designed to reduce the exposure of carriers to excessive heat: an acclimatization program and an additional paid 5-minute break. For the acclimatization prog</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ram, Dr. Park assumed the targeted carriers are returning to work after a 3-day layoff and after a 7-day layoff. For both layoff periods, Dr. Park assumed the carriers’ return schedule would start the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">first day with restricting them to working only 2 hours</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>outdoors, then 4 hours the second day, and then 6 hours the third day. On the fourth day, the carriers can return to their regular schedules. Dr. Park relied on the acclimatization analyses developed by Robert Mullin, a data analyst in field staffing and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">support for the Postal Service, to perform her cost modeling the proposed changes (NH Tr. 1473, 1560-63).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Park used a “consolidated rate” to calculate the cost. The consolidated rate is determined by combining the various wage rates for full-time, pa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rt-time, and non-career postal employees into one wage rate. She also reviewed the CBAs for city and rural carriers for details relating to guaranteed hours the Postal Service is contractually obligated to pay (NH Tr. 1564-68). Based on her analyses of six</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>hypothetical situations, Dr. Park determined the total costs of the acclimatization program and the paid 5-minute break:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(1) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$333,877,519</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$487,8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">64,332</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(2) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$209,293,069</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$312,124,391</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(3) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$179,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">628,724</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$263,267,664</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(4) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$126,620,282</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$188,428,747</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(5) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$87,849,671</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$130,815,782</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(6) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$67,536,663</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$100,540,277</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. R-202, pp. 6-8; NH Tr. 1599-1602)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rgues these figures are inflated.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref120" href="#ftn120">120</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:67.2px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The calculation is a gross over-estimation of costs as acclimatization is not needed after a mere three or seven days off; rather, it is necessary for new workers and workers returning from a two to three week absence. T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">herefore the group selected for costing was over-inclusive. Further, acclimatization is generally only needed when the heat index is at least 91°F, so calculating for every single day inside a three month time period is also grossly over inclusive.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tary’s brief, p. 48, n. 33)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Postal Service’s burden to establish the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods are economically feasible. The Postal Service has presented the analysis of a cost modeling specialist who projected the cost of impl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ementing specified extra break and acclimatization schedules. The Secretary had the opportunity to rebut the projected costs with his own expert or to cross-examine Dr. Park more extensively on the accuracy of her projections.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“OSHA is not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">required to prove economic feasibility with certainty but is required to use the best available evidence and to support its conclusions with substantial evidence.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">American Iron & Steel Institute v. OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">939 F.2d 975, 980–81 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead II)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. O</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SHA must also provide “a reasonable estimate of compliance costs and demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that these costs will not threaten the existence or competitive structure of an industry, even if it does portend disaster for some marginal firms.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">U</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">nited Steelworkers of America, AFC-CIO-CLC,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>647 F.2d 1189, 1272 (D.C. Cir. 1960), (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">N. Am.'s Bldg. Trades Unions v. Occupational Safety & Health Admin.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>878 F.3d 271, 296 (D.C. Cir. 2017).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary’s burden to prove the economic feasibility of his proposed abatements.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or demonstrate a reasonable likelihood compliance costs would not threaten the existence or competitive</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>structure of the Postal Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, was asked about financing the proposed acclimatization and paid break programs. He stated, “We don’t have sufficient funds to e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ven pay our existing obligations. So, no, we do not have funds to pay additional obligations. . . . We just don’t have sufficient cash. We—we can’t.” (NH Tr. 2383-84)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Restrictions Imposed by the CBA</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Alan Moore has been the Postal Service’s manager of lab</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or relations since 2007(NH Tr. 2211). He is responsible for contract administration for the NALC and for managing the labor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">relations process when rules are created or changed (NH Tr. 2214-15). His testimony illustrates how the CBA creates further obstacle</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s to feasibly implementing the Secretary’s proposed time-based methods of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Reorganization Act requires the Postal Service to bargain with its employees’ labor unions. The parties bargain over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions (NH Tr. 2216). Generally, when a contract is set to expire, the parties have an a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pproximately 90-day window to bargain. They jointly establish the ground rules, including what discussions will be off the record. They set up bargaining teams who work on proposals (NH Tr. 2218). The Postal Service looks at the total cost of any proposed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">contract. “[G]enerally there’s a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quid pro quo<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">process. So if the union . . . wants something, then we get something in return.” (NH Tr. 2219) During the term of the CBA, the Postal Service cannot unilaterally change wages, hours, benefits, or working condi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tions of the contract (MH Tr. 2225-26).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>NALC is the exclusive bargaining representative of city carriers. Not all city carriers are members of NALC but the CBA for NALC applies to all of them. City carriers include career employees, who are either full-ti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me (with 40-hour assignments) or part-time. Part time employees are divided into part-time regulars and part-time flexibles. The CBA limits the number of part-time regular employees to 682. The part-time flexible position is being sunsetted and replaced by</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>city carrier assistants (CCAs). CCAs are non-career employees who are on a path to become career employees when a regular position opens up. The CBA limits the number of CCAs to 15 percent of the full-time employees per district, and no more than 8,000 CC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As nationwide. The Postal Service is prohibited from unilaterally exceeding any position caps set out in the CBA (NH Exh. R-117; NH Tr. 2228-34).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA does not permit the Postal Service to divide a city carrier’s assignment so part of it is worked in t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he morning and part in the late afternoon. “[T]here’s a requirement that full-time assignments are either 8 or 9 hours within 10 hours.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref121" href="#ftn121">121</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>[T]he 8 hours within 9 hours . . . is in offices with a hundred employees or something. There’s a baseline there. . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. So the biggest gap you can have in a regular assignment is 2 hours.” (NH Tr. 2234-35)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA guarantees full-time city carriers 8 hours of work or 8 hours’ worth of pay daily. If a full-time city carrier works only 2 hours during a day’s assignment, th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e Postal Service still owes the city carrier for 8 hours’ pay (NH Tr. 2235-36). The Postal Service must assign overtime work first to full-time employees who have signed up for the overtime-desired list. If the Postal Service assigns an employee who is not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on the list to work overtime, it must also pay the employee on the overtime-desired list for the same work (NH Tr. 2237-38).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service has demonstrated the Secretary’s proposed time-based abatement methods<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">threaten its economic viability. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">urt concludes the Secretary has failed to establish his proposed abatements relating to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times are economically feasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VIII. CONCLUSION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary has n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot met his burden of proving the cited conditions presented a hazard of excessive heat exposure to Benton city carriers on June 10, 2016. He has not shown the Postal Service failed to implement any of the alternative methods of abatement he proposed. And h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e has failed to establish the economic feasibility of his proposed abatement methods related to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Because the Court finds the Secretary did not prove a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>violation of the general duty clause, it is not necessary to address the Secretary’s request for enterprise-wide abatement of excessive heat exposure for carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IX. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The foregoing deci</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sion constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">X. ORDER</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the foregoing decision, it is hereby<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDERED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Item 1 of the Citation, alleging a repeat violation of § 5(a)(1), is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and no<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">penalty is assessed.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">SO ORDERED.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:-48px; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">___________________________<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; ">Dated: July 29, 2020</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Administrative Law Judge, OSHRC</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Washington, DC</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Un</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ited States of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">America</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "> OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">th</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<table style="border-collapse:collapse; width:16.51cm; align:left; margin-left:0cm; margin-bottom:0cm">
				<tr style="margin:0;border:0;padding:0;visibility:hidden;">
					<th style="width:324px;"/>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-top:solid .026cm #000000; width:8.571cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary of Labor,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Complainant</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> v.</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
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							<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">United States Postal Service,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent,</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket No.:<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">17-0023</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC),</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:middle; padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> And</span></p>
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						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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				<tr style="height:1.111cm; ">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA)</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-bottom:solid .026cm #000000; width:8.571cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Representative.</span></p>
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					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:.194cm; padding-right:.194cm; border-left:solid .026cm #000000; width:7.938cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
						</div>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dolores Wolfe, Esq. and Mia Terrell, Esq.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, Dallas, Texas<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Complainant</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Theresa Gegen, Esq., USPS, Dallas, Texas and Heather L. McDermott, Esq., USPS, Chicago,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Illinois</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Shawn Boyd<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For NALC</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:10.667px; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">BEFORE: Administrative Law Judge Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">I. INTRODUCTION</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>On the afternoon of June 17, 2016, a city letter carrier for the United States Postal Service began to experience muscle<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cramps as he delivered mail on foot on his route for the Astrodome Post Office in Houston, Texas. The muscle cramps worsened as he neared the end of his route, but he managed to complete it. The carrier was unable to drive his van back to the post office s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o a Postal Service route examiner, who happened to be accompanying him that day to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">observe his route delivery, drove him there. When they arrived at the post office, a supervisor called 911. Emergency medical technicians responded to the call, administered</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>IV fluids to the letter carrier, and transported him to the hospital, where he stayed for two nights. The carrier returned to work 9 days later.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Astrodome Post Office notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the hospitalization.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>OSHA opened an inspection of the post office on June 30, 2016. As a result of the inspection, the Secretary issued a one-item Citation and Notification of Penalty to the United States Postal Service (referred to in this proceeding as the Postal Service or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>USPS) on December 16, 2016. The Citation alleges a repeat violation of § 5(a)(1), the general duty clause (§ 654(a)(1)), of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678 (Act).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation alleges the Postal Service exposed its em</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ployees “to excessive heat when delivering mail to residential and commercial facilities.” The Secretary proposes a penalty of $124,709 for the alleged violation and seeks enterprise-wide implementation of specified abatement measures.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This case is one of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>five pending before the Court in which the Secretary alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees to excessive heat or high heat levels as they delivered the mail. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carrie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs’ Association (NRLCA), authorized employee representatives, elected party status in the proceedings. They did not present evidence, examine witnesses, or submit post-hearing briefs in this proceeding (Tr. 14-15). The five cases were consolidated early in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the proceedings for settlement purposes, but the parties were unable to resolve the issues. On January 26, 2018, Judge Heather Joys, the settlement judge, severed the cases for hearing, and they were reassigned to the Court, who heard the five cases seque</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ntially in October and November of 2018.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref122" href="#ftn122">122</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties agreed the Court would hold a separate hearing (referred to as the national hearing) to present expert witnesses and witnesses addressing issues common to the five cases. The Court held the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12-day national hearing in Washington, D.C., from February 25 to March 12, 2019. The testimony and exhibits in the national hearing are part of the records in the five cases, unless otherwise noted. The records of the individual cases were not admitted in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the other actions, unless noted.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref123" href="#ftn123">123</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This is the third of the five Postal Service cases heard by the Court. It was held from October 30 to November 2, 2018, in Houston, Texas. The parties submitted briefs for all five cases on September 17, 2019. For the re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">asons that follow, the Court finds the Secretary did not establish a condition or activity in the workplace presented an excessive heat hazard to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Houston’s carriers on June 17, 2016. The Court also finds the Secretary failed to show an economically feasibl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e means existed to materially reduce the alleged hazard of excessive heat. The Citation is vacated.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">II. JURISDICTION AND COVERAGE</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service timely contested the Citation on December 19, 2016. The parties stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">over this action, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under the Act (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 1-3).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref124" href="#ftn124">124</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Based on the stipulations and the record evidence, the Court finds the Commission has jurisdiction over this proceeding under § 10(c) of the Act, and the Pos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tal Service is a covered employer under § 3(5) of the Act.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">III. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13892</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties filed post-hearing briefs on September 17, 2019, in the five Postal Service cases. On October 15, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order No.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13892</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 84 Fed. Reg. 55239 (October 15, 2019) (E.O. 13892)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Section 4 of E.O. 13892 provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Sec. 4.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fairness and Notice in Administrative Enf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">orcement Actions and Adjudications.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When an agency takes an administrative enforcement action, engages in adjudication, or otherwise makes a determination that has legal consequence for a person, it may apply only standards of conduct that have been public</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise. An agency must avoid unfair surprise not only when it imposes penalties but also whenever it adjudges past conduct to have violated the law.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On November 6, 2019, the Postal Service submitted a l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">etter to the Court with a copy of E.O. 13892 attached “as supplemental authority.” The Postal Service states:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[E.O. 13892] is relevant to two primary arguments in the Postal Service’s Post-Trial Briefs:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1. The Commission has already recognized that def</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ining a hazard as “excessive heat,” which the Secretary has done in this case, falls far short of due process. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA is required to afford regulated parties safeguards “above and beyond” those required for due process. Vague</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly defining a hazard as “excessive heat” does not meet [E.O. 13892’s] requirements.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA’s reliance on its heat chart and other guidance documents as the basis for establishing a heat hazard is impermissible. While age</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ncy guidance documents can be useful in enhancing the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">regulated community’s understanding of a regulation, they are not intended to form the basis of a violation. Guidance documents do not have the benefit of undergoing notice and comment rulemaking, and t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hus do not provide the regulated community with fair notice.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Letter, p. 2) (footnotes omitted)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary filed a response on December 4, 2019, stating the terms of E.O. 13892 do not create rights enforceable against the Secretary, and due process con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cerns are not implicated where the Postal Service has recognized or should have recognized the excessive heat hazard at issue. The Secretary notes the Postal Service has suffered no unfair surprise as that term is used in the Order.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By order dated January</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>30, 2020, the Court accepted the Letter and attached copy of E.O. 13892 as supplemental authority in this proceeding in accordance with FRCP 15(d), which provides:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(d) SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS. On motion and reasonable notice, the court may, on just terms,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>permit a party to serve a supplemental pleading setting out any transaction, occurrence, or event that happened after the date of the pleading to be supplemented. The court may permit supplementation even though the original pleading is defective in stati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng a claim or defense. The court may order that the opposing party plead to the supplemental pleading within a specified time.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having considered the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that in citing the Postal Service for a violation of § 5(a)(1) for ex</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cessive heat exposure, the Secretary did not overstep the terms of E.O. 13892. Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 states, “This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.” Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 bars review in adjudicative proceedings of an agency’s compliance with E.O. 13892.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Furthermore,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>§ 9(c) of the Act grants the Secretary the authority to cite employers for violations of § 5(a)(1). 29 U.S.C. § 658(a). Section 11(a)(i) of E.O. 13892 provides, “Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority gra</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof.” E.O. 13892 cannot be used to restrict the Secretary’s congressional authority to implement § 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, E.O. 13892 states agencies “may apply only standards of conduct that ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ve been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise.” Section 5(a)(1) requires employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">o cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). Hazards are recognized within the meaning of § 5(a)(1) if they are known to the cited employer or would be known to a reasonably prudent employer in the industry.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SeaWorld of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fla., LLC v. Perez,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">748 F.3d 1216 (D.C. Cir. 2014). The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary previously cited the Postal Service for the willful exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards, and a Commission judge affirmed the violation. The decision and order became a final order</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the Commission.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service cannot claim plausibly it was unfairly surprised by subsequent citations for repeat violations alleging exposure of carriers to excessi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ve heat hazards.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IV. THE HOUSTON HEARING</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stipulations<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulate the following:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref125" href="#ftn125">125</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. [The Postal Service] is divided into seven Areas which are in turn divided into Districts.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. The seven areas are: Northeast Area; Eastern Area;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Western Area; Pacific Area; Southern Area; Great Lakes and Capitol Metro.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. This case involves operations at a postal facility at 8205 Braesmain Dr., Houston, Texas (also known as Houston Astrodome Station) which is in the Southern Area.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. On the following dates, the following were employees of Respondent at 8205 Braesmain Dr., Houston, Texas:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>June 17, 2016</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Letter Carrier 1 (LC1)</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref126" href="#ftn126">126</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>June 17, 2016</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>[CCA1], City Carrier Assistant</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>July 14, 2016</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>[LC2], City Letter Carrier</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. On June 17</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2016, the Astrodome Station employed 43 City letter carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. On June 17, 2016, the total number of City Routes at the Astrodome Station was 29.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. On June 17, 2016, letter carrier (LC1) was assigned to Route 25036, which is also known as Route 2536</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and Route 36.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">11. On June 17, 2016, the total weight of the mail that LC1 was supposed to deliver was 142.80 pounds.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12. On June 17, 2016, the total number of pieces of mail that LC1 was supposed to deliver was 1,296.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13. On June 17, 2016, Route Examine</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r GJ accompanied LC1 on his route.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exh. J-1)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Background</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and has been a city letter carrier there since 2004. He delivers mail on his assigned route, Route 2536, for the Astrodome Post Office. The route is prima</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rily in a residential neighborhood of houses, apartment complexes, and townhouses, along with a few businesses (Tr. 45-47).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Route 2536 is a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park and loop<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">route, meaning a carrier will park at a designated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park point</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, exit the vehicle with the mail for on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e side of the street (one street is a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">loop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and each side of the street is a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">split</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) and deliver mail on that side, then loop back to grab mail for the other side of the street. A carrier for a park and loop route carries mail for one split at a time. There<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">were approximately 360 addresses, or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">delivery points</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, to which the Route 2536 letter carrier delivered mail every workday.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>After completing a loop, the carrier will then drive to the next park point and deliver mail for that loop. Route 2536 comprised ei</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ght park points and loops in June of 2016, requiring LC1 to walk approximately 11 to 13 miles each workday. For Route 2536, the letter carrier’s pouch on a heavy mail day could weigh between 20 and 25 pounds at the start of a split but the mail load was ty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pically lighter in summer.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref127" href="#ftn127">127</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> On June 16, 2016, the total weight of the mail to be delivered on Route 2536 was 142.8 pounds. Dividing that weight among 16 splits results in an average weight of approximately 9 pounds to be carried on each split (Exh. J-1,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">¶ 11; Tr. 52-55, 58, 99, 115-17).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service vehicle assigned for Route 2536 in June of 2016 was a Dodge minivan. It was equipped with air conditioning. Because of the short distances between park points, LC1 would drive the van only 15 to 18 min</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">utes on a workday. City letter carriers are allowed two 10-minute breaks each day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and a 30-minute lunchbreak. LC1 usually took these breaks sitting in the van with the air conditioning running. Carriers could a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lso take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">comfort breaks</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, usually to use a restroom at a business along their routes (Tr. 59-60, 63-64, 108, 121, 123, 625).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC3 has been a letter carrier at the Astrodome Post Office since 2013. He has been a union steward within the Astrodome Post<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Office for 6 years (Tr. 607, 613, 620). He testified regarding the contractually guaranteed 10-minute breaks and additional comfort breaks.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">That’s on record, [carriers are allowed] two 10-minute breaks, but on that note, if it's hot, additional breaks. If<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I need additional breaks, I would take additional breaks, because my body was tired. . . . I've talked to management on several occasions during the summertime when it gets real hot and carriers can get overheated. Temperature are a hundred-and-something d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">egrees during that time practically every day for roughly two to three months it was. So we pretty much agreed, hey, they needed extra breaks, but they just don't want them to take, just overdo it so to speak, not to take advantage of it. And so if you nee</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ded extra breaks, you needed extra break and to document it. If it's something that would cause you to run over for some particular reason after the 8-hour time frame, to document it on the Form 3996.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 624-626)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>A carrier submits a Form 3996 if he or s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he believes that day’s mail requires more than 8 hours to complete. The carrier can request more time (overtime) or help (auxiliary assistance). Before leaving the post office for delivery, the carrier completes the form, requesting a specific amount of ti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me for overtime, and places it on the supervisor’s standup desk in the middle of the workroom. The P.M. supervisor can approve overtime if a carrier calls and requests it later in the day (Exh. C-23; Tr. 47-50, 105, 451, 665).</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Safety Training</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Astrodome Post Office has established the position of safety captain, who is responsible for presenting standup safety talks. The safety captain who held the position in June of 2016 is a carrier who has worked at the Astrodome Post Office since 2004. He b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecame the safety captain around 2013 (Tr. 672, 687). His duties are to “[g]ive safety talks concerning anything to deal with your safety, inside the station as well as outside the station.” (Tr. 667-68). He received safety talk information from management<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">via email. “[U]sually we have a list in our safety toolkit of mandatory safety talks that [have] to be given on a . . . certain day.” (Tr. 688) Some of the safety talks are accompanied by videos that are played for the postal employees (Tr. 693-94). The As</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">trodome Post Office keeps a safety talk log employees sign on days they attend safety talks (Exh. C-30; Tr. 689).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In May of 2016, the Astrodome Post Office received a copy of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, which emphasized heat stress safety in t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he summer months (Exh. C-2; Tr. 695-96 ). The safety captain estimated he gives 20 to 30 talks on heat safety during the summer (Tr. 709). He tells letter carriers to take precautions in hot weather, including “drink plenty of water. Make sure their clothe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s are loose-fitting, . . . and get plenty of shade and rest when you can.” (Tr. 700) “We give them the symptoms of heat stress and heat strokes. And . . to let them know if they start feeling sick or ill in any kind of way, to call 911 to let somebody know</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.” (Tr. 709) A bulletin board in the post office workroom is used to display safety information. “Like some of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the talks that we have. It’ll have it up there. You know, things dealing with heat stress and heat stroke. It’ll have the symptoms up there for c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arriers to see.” (Tr. 705)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LC1 and the June 17, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Carriers are supposed to complete their routes in 8 hours. In June of 2016, LC1 started his workday at 8:30 a.m., at which time he would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">case</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>his route’s mail for that day by using a shelving<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">system to place the mail in delivery sequence. Casing mail for Route 2536 typically took about an hour and a half to complete. LC1 would then load his van and clock out to the street (Tr. 47-50, 105).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On the morning of June 17, 2016, LC1 arrived at the A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">strodome Post Office, cased his mail, and submitted a Form 3996 requesting 30 minutes of overtime. The request was disapproved (Tr. 49-50). LC1 was wearing his customary summer uniform of pants, long-sleeved UV shirt, and a mesh baseball cap. The Postal Se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvice provides a yearly uniform allowance of approximately $400 for postal employees to buy their preferred style of shirts, pants/shorts, headwear, and shoes from an authorized selection (Exh. R-2; Tr. 61-63, 91-94, 100).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 kept a personal cooler in t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he van containing ice, bottled water, Gatorade, orange juice, pickle juice, and other beverages, as well as his lunch and a snack (Tr. 66-67, 125-26, 130-31). He included orange juice specifically because it contains potassium, which he believed helped pre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vent muscle cramps (Tr. 146). He made a point to drink more fluids when it was hot outside because he had been delivering mail for 12 years and knew “it was needed.” (Tr. 126). LC1 paced himself using the heart rate monitor on his watch. He tried to keep h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is heart rate under 120 beats per minute (Tr. 127). LC1 characterized himself as a “heavy sweater” when delivering the mail. “Like I’ve been in the rain. . . . I think I’ve always been like that.” (Tr. 130)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Postal employee GJ is a city letter carrier and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>certified detailed assignment route examiner. Route examiners must complete a 40-hour course and pass an exam to become certified. In Houston, route examiners are assigned to accompany letter carriers once a year on routes for different post offices throu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ghout the city of Houston. They ask the letter carriers to deliver mail on the routes “in a timely manner,” meaning within 8 hours, and they keep time for the various stages of delivery on the routes. The route examiners observe the delivery and record dat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a regarding the routes. They do not have supervisory authority over the letter carriers. Route examiners are not permitted to give instructions to letter carriers (Tr. 51, 189-91, 225, 230). </span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Route examiner GJ introduced herself to LC1 the morning of Jun</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e 17, 2016, and informed him she would be accompanying him on his route that day. GJ walked with LC1 as he delivered his route but she stayed on the sidewalk when he walked up to houses, townhouses, and apartment complexes to deliver the mail (Tr. 50-52, 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">32). She was equipped with a DCD (data collection device) and a copy of Form 3999. Route examiner GJ explained the DCD is “a machine that we use, . . . and it gives me each address that we're supposed to be at. And then it lets me put in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here has been mail delivered to that particular address. And when we take breaks, when we take lunch, or if there's a personal need.” (Tr. 193) Form 3999 “is a copy of all the addresses that we would be going to throughout the day from start to finish.” (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 194)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 loaded his van, and he and GJ left the Astrodome Post Office at 9:52 a.m. LC1 drove to his first park point and grabbed the mail for the first split of the loop . He made his first delivery at 10:21 a.m. LC1 and GJ took their morning break in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the van at 12:30 p.m. and their lunch break at 2:11 p.m. (Exh. C-20; Tr. 196). At 2:35 p.m., when LC1 and GJ were taking their lunch break, the temperature in Houston was 98.6°F and the relative humidity was 42%, resulting in a heat index of 107.7°F (Exhs.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>C-41 & C-42; Tr. 855). No heat advisory was issued for the Houston area (Tr. 884-85).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Route examiner GJ noticed LC1 was sweating a lot (Tr. 198-200). At some point she asked him if he wanted to stop and reschedule the route examination because he was sw</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eating so much, and she knew that was a symptom of heat exhaustion. He responded he did not want to stop. LC1 did not appear confused or cognitively impaired, and he had no problem delivering the mail correctly (Tr. 203-04, 226-27).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 drank water or so</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me other beverage at the van every time he finished a split (Tr. 134, 199). LCI reported he felt “pretty good” that day until he started delivering mail after lunch. “That’s when I started cramping, bad. . . . Fingers, forearms, thigh muscles, calves. Ever</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ything. Side.” (Tr. 68-69) The cramping subsided after he finished delivering on a street, and LC1 decided he would persevere.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref128" href="#ftn128">128</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The remaining portion of his route normally would take approximately an hour and 10 to 15 minutes to complete (Tr. 70-73). He d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">id not ask route examiner GJ to stop the route inspection or to call the Astrodome Post Office or 911. (Tr. 96, 147-49, 156-58, 233).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 had experienced muscle cramps in the past when delivering mail and had never contacted his supervisor to report it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. He had also experienced muscle cramps when running half-marathons, and he had indicated during a medical exam in 2004 that he had experienced leg cramps while serving in the Army in 1987 and 1988 (Exh. R-14; Tr. 160-61).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., GJ asked</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>LC1 if he was okay, and both times he told her he was fine (Tr. 200). She noticed he was “moving slowly and still sweating a lot.” (Tr. 201) He did not appear to her to be in pain (Tr. 201). They took their afternoon break at 3:30 p.m. (Exh. C-20). At app</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">roximately 4:00 p.m., LC1 took a “personal needs” break for about 10 minutes at GJ’s suggestion (Exh. C-20; Tr. 150-51, 201). At this point, according to LCI, route inspector GJ “was concerned. She was wondering if I was going to make it or not, and I told</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>her that, ’Yes, I think I can make. . . . [L]et me finish this street because this is my last street and drop off these last parcels. Then I should be all right.’ . . . What I was thinking, I was going to be all right.” (Tr. 153-54) LC1 stated GJ did not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>pressure him to finish his route or to go faster (Tr. 154).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By the time he completed his route, LC1 was, in his words, “out of it, delirious, cramped up. . . . [M]y vision was blurry, and I was seeing spots and stuff. And my ears felt like they had wate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r in them.” (Tr. 71) He finished his last delivery at 4:19 p.m. and told route examiner GJ he was experiencing muscle cramps and wanted her to drive back to the Astrodome Post Office (Exh. R-22; Tr. 154-55).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref129" href="#ftn129">129</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When they arrived at the Astrodome Post Offic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e, GJ parked the van but left the air conditioning running. She told LC1 to stay in the van while she went in the building to get a supervisor. She returned with GW, the afternoon (P.M.) supervisor, who is in charge of the post office’s operations after th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e morning (A.M.) supervisor leaves. Supervisor GW noted LC1’s eyes looked “very different” and he was slurring his words. As GW attempted to help LC1 out of the car, LC1 vomited (Tr. 249). GW and GJ managed to help LC1 into the air-conditioned post office.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Supervisor GW called 911 and emergency medical technicians arrived at the post office. They evaluated LC1 and transported him to Houston Methodist Hospital (NH Exh. C-180; Tr. 72-73, 201-02). He was admitted and diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension, acu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">te renal failure, metabolic acidosis, and rhabdomyolysis. The hospital discharged him on June 19, 2016 (NH Exh. C-180). LC1 returned to work on June 27, 2016, with no medical restrictions (Exh. R-24).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref130" href="#ftn130">130</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> As the P.M. supervisor, GW was responsible for inves</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tigating and reporting accidents that occurred on his shift. With respect to LC1, GW questioned him and route examiner GJ, as well as the emergency medical technicians who arrived and treated LC1 (Tr. 246).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref131" href="#ftn131">131</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">June 17, 2016, Incident Involving CCA1</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Also<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on June 17, 2016, CCA1, a city carrier assistant, began to feel dizzy and nauseated as she delivered mail on Route 2553, a park and loop route.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref132" href="#ftn132">132</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> CCA1 was driving a long life vehicle (LLV), the familiar boxy mail truck, which is not equipped with air cond</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itioning (Tr. 830, 832, 838). CCA1 described the events of June 17:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I called the postal station. . . . There was no answer at first, so I texted my supervisor and I let them know -- well, I let her know through the text message how I was feeling, and I didn't receive a response from her. . . . I sat there a while. I drank<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">water and I continued to -- I tried to deliver my mail on the street that I was on. But as I delivered, I began to throw up. So I called one of my coworkers and asked if she would continue to try to call the station for me. And finally, the postal supervis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or that was there that day, . . . [and] she texted me back first and she asked me how I was feeling, and I told her. So she called me and she said, "Well, just sit there for a while and when you begin feeling a little better, continue to deliver your mail.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And if I have somebody to help you, then I’ll send them."<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 839)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>No help arrived so CCA1 continued delivering the mail. “It took much longer but I eventually got to the end. . . . [T]he last thing I remember was being at the Post Office.” (Tr. 840)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At the Astrodome Post Office, P.M. supervisor GW asked CCA1 if she could drive and whether she wanted him to call 911. She asked him to call her adult children who lived nearby and they would take her to the emergency room (Tr. 848). CCA1 testified GW did<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">so and her children took her to an emergency room where she received a diagnosis of heat exhaustion and dehydration (Tr. 840-41).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref133" href="#ftn133">133</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">OSHA’s Inspection</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) Brandi Weatherall was assigned to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inspect the June 17 inciden</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ts. She went to the Astrodome Post Office and met with P.M. supervisor GW. She did not interview LC1 or CCA1 (Tr. 901). She obtained weather information for the Houston area for June 17, 2016. (Tr. 854-55). Exhibit C-42 is a document copied from Weather<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Underground’s website.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Weather Underground is a commercial weather service that maintains a network of private weather stations, including one at Dunn Helistop in Houston, near the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Astrodome Post Office. On June 17, at 2:15 p.m., the temperature is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">recorded as 98.6°F (Exh. C-42; Tr. 854-56, NH Tr. 394, 398-99). Exhibit C-41 is a certified copy from the National Weather Service (NWS) showing weather data for June 17, 2016, in Houston. It showed a temperature of 99°F for that day at 2:15 p.m. (Exh. C-4</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1; Tr. 857-58).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>CSHO Weatherall testified, “Excessive heat is the level at which a hazard can exist, and it caused harm, injury or illness to an employee in the workplace. . . . It’s not at a specific temperature. . . . The employer is supposed to assess<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the workplace to ensure that employees are not exposed to a hazard in the workplace.” (Tr. 865-66</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">V. TESTIMONY ADMITTED IN SOUTHERN AREA CASES</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area is one of the seven areas into which the Postal Service divides the United States for region</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">al delivery (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 4-5). Three of the five post offices in the cases before the Court are located in the Southern Area. The parties agreed the testimony of Daniel Penland, the Postal Service’s manager for the Southern Area safety department, is rele</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vant to the three Southern Area cases. The Court ruled Penland’s testimony in the hearing in this case is also admitted as part of the record in the Benton, Arkansas, case (No. 16-1872) and the San Antonio, Texas, case (No. 16-1713).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Southern Area co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mprises Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and a portion of Georgia. Approximately 33,000 postal employees work in the Southern Area. Daniel Penland has worked for the Postal Service since 1986 and has been the manager for the Sout</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hern Area safety department since November of 2011 (Tr. 303-04, 313-14). Penland summarized his duties. “I work with all the districts in the Area Office and Headquarters to ensure all the safety programs and assist the districts in implementing those safe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ty programs. We also help develop and help the districts analyze accident data to help reduce employee injury. We also work with OSHA compliance, inspections and monitoring, as well as working with the unions to ensure all the safety of the employees is me</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t.” (Tr. 310-11). Penland was aware that in 2015 at least 119 postal employees in the Southern Area reported sustaining heat-related illnesses while working. In 2018, there were at least 77 such incidents (Tr. 329, 334).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In April of 2016, Penland issued a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>letter to postal operations in the Southern Area with attached materials for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Exh. C-2; Tr. 329). He developed the campaign to “help improve the awareness of our employees about a climate condition that happens every</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>year. . . . To heighten the employees’ awareness and make them aware of things that they may be able to do and perform to improve their ability to work in that climate condition.” (Tr. 330) Employee training in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Campaign</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was not mandatory (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 331). Penland explained the difference between a Postal Service safety program and a safety campaign: “[W]hen I put out a program, it’s usually related to a required element. A campaign is an awareness level. . . . The heat element was a campaign info</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rmational awareness.” (Tr. 333)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">What the intent of the campaign was to provide a wealth of information in different media forms. As you can see when you look through the campaign, there were videos in there, there were PowerPoint presentations. There were<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">links to other outside data sources. There were postings. There were just informational<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">standup talks on a number of different elements that all can relate to a possible employee experiencing heat stroke or heat stress. All of these things could help that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employee prepare themselves. . . . But none of it was mandatory.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 374-75)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland stressed the importance of acclimatization for letter carriers, which he defines as preparation “for the heat level that you’re going to be working in, whether it’s prop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er hydration, proper clothing, being aware of the surroundings.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 341) Penland places the primary responsibility for protecting against heat-related illnesses or injuries on the letter carrier. He stated it is the policy of the Postal Servi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce “to accommodate medical restrictions as best as possible.” (No. 17-0023 Tr. 345)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland does not believe the temperature the day of any given reported incident is a relevant factor. “It’s how each individual person identifies with that heat and the h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eat level itself is not necessarily the concern. It’s how that person can deal with that heat and how that heat level affects them. I can be affected by a heat level of 80° or somebody could be out there working in 100 and have no effect. So the temperatur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e itself is not the issue, in my opinion.” (Tr. 352-53) He listed factors he did believe are relevant to heat-related incidents: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Had [the letter carriers] eaten properly that day? Had they provided hydration the night before? Had they had a high alcohol<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">intake the night before? Were they on medication? Were they properly dressed? Were they wearing a hat or was the sun beating down on their head? There's lots of different elements that are part of an investigation where the heat temperature or the tempera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ture outside itself to me is irrelevant because that's a climate condition.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 353-54)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland was dismissive of the relevance of the heat index for the Postal Service. “I believe it would be valuable as information to the employee. As far as eliminati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng future injuries, I do not see it has a high value, no. Again, it's more of a condition of what's going on with that employee versus the temperature outside because temperatures are so much different. . . . Heat itself I do not believe is a hazard, no. I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>believe it is a climate condition.” (Tr. 354-55)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland discounted the importance of heat in the reported heat-related incidents, estimating (without investigating the details of the incidents) that as many as 40 percent of the reported incidents were n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot, in fact, due to high temperatures on the day they occurred.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Mr. Penland, I think you were testifying about the fact that some of the reported illnesses due to heat may have not been due to heat, correct?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: Possibly, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ave you investigated what percentage that is?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The exact percentage, no. I just know that there are--when we look at cases, we want to look and see if the factors are present. And we always want to look at the root cause of the case. So sometimes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>during that root cause analysis,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">we will make determinations that the heat maybe is not--wasn't the root cause. . . . And maybe it's a diabetic reaction. We don't know.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And have you gone back and done that analysis?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: The specific ana</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lysis, no, but we've done-- we've done the root cause. When you talk about analysis, I refer to that as the general -- all of the cases that we're dealing with versus just those specifics. We do go into the specifics on each individual case, especially the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>more severe ones.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So have you gone back and made some determination that -- I mean, have you gone back and looked at the number that you set out in April of 2016 and determined what amount were reported as heat, extreme heat, when the root<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cause was something predominantly else?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I've looked at it, and I could estimate the percentage of about 40 percent.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And you have looked at all 119 injuries from 2016 and –<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: No, I haven't. That's why I estimated. No, ma'am, I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>have not delved into each one of these 119. But a cursory review gives -- leads to an estimate of about 20 percent [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">sic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">].<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. And what did you do in this cursory review?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Penland: I would review whether or not this case was reported with the empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyee was working indoors or outdoors, first. Then I would look at the occupation that the employee was working in. How much control did they have over their climate?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 380-83)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Penland noted OSHA has not promulgated a specific standard addressing excess</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ive heat and testified he did not consider hot weather an appropriate condition for safety regulation. “When you're dealing with the climate, . . . it literally changes from block to block, from city to city, and it's -- it's the natural climate. Also, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>other thing that when you look at a hazard, I've been taught through my safety aspect is we work the processes to eliminate that hazard. Again, we can't control the climate. So we will make people aware because the – the climate affects each individual pe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rson differently.” (Tr. 392)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VI. THE NATIONAL HEARING</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Joint Stipulations</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The national hearing was held from February 25 to March 12, 2019, Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the hearing, the Court admitted the parties’ statement of joint<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stipulations into the record:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ere:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. As of September 30, 2018, the Postal Service emplo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yed approximately 497,000 career employees and approximately 137,000 non-career employees.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. In FY 2016, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>170,885 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>40,436 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>68,261 career rural delivery<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>53,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. In FY 2018, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>168,199 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>42,115 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70,852 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>59,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. In FY 2016, the P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service had approximately 144,571 city delivery routes and 74,724 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. In FY 2018, the Postal Service had approximately 143,358 city delivery routes and 78,737 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. In FY 2016, the Postal Service managed a co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mbined total of approximately 31,585 post offices, stations, and branches.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. In FY 2018, the Postal Service managed a combined total of approximately 31,324 post offices, stations, and branches.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100; NH Tr. 11)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Postal Service’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">s Operations<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>David Williams Jr. has been the chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service since February of 2015. He is responsible for all operations required to process, transport, and deliver mail (NH Tr. 1728, 1746). He</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>explained the Postal Service’s operations are divided into three primary sectors: network operations, delivery operations, and retail and customer service operations (NH Tr. 1774-75).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Network operations cover mail processing plants where mail is sorted</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, processed, and distributed to some level of ZIP Code order (NH Tr. 1775-76). Network operations include the surface and air transportation that is coordinated with the distribution centers and post offices throughout the nation. The Postal Service coordi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nates surface transportation with the assistance of over 1,900 contractors and covers approximately 1.9 billion miles a year (NH Tr. 1774-76). It relies on “a vast air network,” which includes 90 airplanes during the day and 140 at night provided by FedEx,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as well as planes provided by UPS (NH Tr. 1760). The Postal Service also uses commercial airlines (mainly Delta, United, and American) to transport mail (NH Tr. 1779). The extensive transportation network is necessary due to the Postal Service’s unique ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ndate to deliver to every address in the United States.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[A] lot of transportation is involved in moving product because of the complexity of our network, the fact that we go everywhere. We go everywhere because our mandate is to serve every American, no ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tter where they live, no matter what community they're in. And the connectivity that's required to make that happen involves a very complex, very sophisticated transportation network. We spent about $7.9 billion a year on transportation, so a significant s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pend. It's the second-largest spend, and 11 percent of our expenses are involved in transportation.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1780-81)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Nationwide, delivery operations require city and rural letter carriers to complete approximately 226,000 routes 6 days a week (NH Tr. 1783-84). The Postal Service uses the concept of “FirstMile” to identify the initial contact the customer has with the Pos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tal Service during delivery operations. A customer wanting to send a letter puts a stamp on it, places it in the household mailbox, and raises the red flag. The raised red flag “is a signal to our carrier workforce that there is mail to be collected. . . W</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e also have a FirstMile component at our post offices. . . [T]here’s a slot where they can drop mail into any one of approximately 31,000 post offices.” (NH Tr. 1785-86)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Retail and customer service operations also involve a FirstMile component when custo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mers buy stamps or mail packages at a post office. Williams stated the Postal Service has the largest retail footprint in the United States, with more retail units than Starbucks, Walmart, and McDonald’s combined. Service and sale associates (SSAs) work in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the fronts of the post offices and interact with customers while postal clerks work in the backs sorting mail (NH Tr. 1787-89).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams expounded on the scope and complexity of its operations.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I can't think of any network that is as complex as ours. You</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>think about all the touch points that we have in our network, every 226,000 carriers, 31,000 post<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">offices, 285 processing and distribution centers. Back through our network of transportation, whether it's air or surface, 2 billion miles. Airplanes that ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e flying all over the country, connecting that promise and that thing, that message of sympathy and love, transactions, educational material to anybody else in the United States or our territories, even the world. We deliver 47 percent of the world's mail.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So significant, significant operational footprint that we have, supported by a tremendous amount of complexity to make sure that we're delivering the promise of when you put that stamp on that birthday card for one of your loved ones, they're going to ge</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1791-92)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In order to ensure its operations run smoothly and punctually, the Postal Service implements “the 24-hour clock” as an organizing principle. “[W]e have critical points on the clock, developed to make sure that we're hitting the mark, all to achieve on-time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>service to points. Our mission to provide prompt, reliable, efficient service is based on this 24-hour clock. And it's critical.” (NH Tr. 1795)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The clock starts with letter carriers retrieving mail at the FirstMile. At the end of the day, the letter ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers return to their post offices and place the collected mail in containers that are loaded onto trucks to transport the mail to processing and distribution centers. The operational process starts with cancellations, during which the stamps on mail are<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">marked to show they have been used. The Postal Service expects 80 percent of all collected mail to be canceled by 8:00 p.m. Aligning the cancellation process with the 24-hour clock is crucial for the Postal Service’s overall operations (NH Tr. 1795-97). “[</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">T]hat very first step is highly important because any variation in the very first processing step, it could be a slight variation, but that slight variation creates greater variation at the next step. It creates even larger variation on the third step. Fou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rth step, even larger. By the time you get to the last step, which is the delivery, we call it the bullwhip effect. A small variation at the front end creates this huge swing of variation at the back end.” (NH Tr. 1797)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The next step is the outgoing prim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ary processing, where mail is sorted to a destinating plant based on the first three digits of the ZIP Code.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref134" href="#ftn134">134</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> This step needs to be completed by 11:00 p.m. to align with the 24-hour clock. A second sorting is completed by midnight (NH Tr. 1798-1800). “[A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]t midnight, across the country, all this mail that's been collected, the mail that's received over a retail operation, mail that you have put in your mailbox to be collected by the carriers, mail that was inducted into our plant operations by any one of o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ur mailers that have discounts, that so some level of sort, all of that has to take place by midnight.” (NH Tr. 1800-01)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>After the mail is sorted, it must be assigned to transportation by 2:00 a.m. “No wiggle-room on in that. Trucks have to leave. Our en</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tire surface network has been designed by the transport time that it takes to go from point A to point B. Can’t bend time; can’t bend distance. . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]his number is fixed in our operating window. By 2 o’clock we have to have that mail assigned. . . [P]lane</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s and trucks have to leave on time. That is the mark that has to be made.” (NH Tr. 1801-02)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Once mail reaches its destinating plant, the incoming processing begins. Mail arrives throughout the day and night, but it must be processed by 3:00 a.m. because<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that is the time postal employees start delivery point sequencing (DPS). DPS must be completed by 6:00 a.m. Priority mail takes longer and is not sorted to DPS but is sorted to a specific post office. It must be finished by 4:00 a.m., when trucks leave the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>destinating plant to transport mail to the post offices. Once the day’s mail has arrived at the local post office, it must be delivered to the intended address by 6:00 p.m. that day (NH Tr. 1803-06). “[W]e want to get our carriers off the street by 6:00 p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.m. And that’s important because the trucks have to come back from the post office, back to the originating processing plant so we can get cancellations done by 8:00 p.m., 80 percent of them.” (NH Tr. 1806)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Finances of the Postal Service</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Servic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e originated in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin its first postmaster general. President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act in 1792, creating the Post Office Department. It became a cabinet-level department</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and transitioned to an independent agency in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (NH Tr. 1747-1750).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2006 Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) which, Williams stated, “created some business model changes fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r the Postal Service, split our products into two product types, competitive products and market dominant products, [and] placed some restrictions on pricing for market dominant products so that we could no longer rise our rates beyond [the Consumer Price<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Index,] CPI.” (NH Tr. 1751)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The PAEA requires the Postal Service to prefund the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF) annually. Williams stated this requirement “really is a millstone around the Postal Service’s neck in terms of finances. The manner in whi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ch we’re required to prefund that obligation is one that I don’t think the vast majority of companies or any other government agency is required to do.” (NH Tr. 1751-52)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jim Sauber of NALC</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref135" href="#ftn135">135</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>agreed the prefunding obligation is “really the central driving</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>force of Postal Service’s finances. . . . Most companies just pay their retiree health premiums on a pay-as-you-go basis for their current retires. This law added an additional obligation to the Postal Service, not only to pay their existing retirees’ hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lth and premiums, but to pay in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">advance, decades in advance the cost of future retiree health benefits.” (NH Tr. 894-95) The Postal Service operated at a loss in 2016, 2017, and 2018 (NH Tr. 890-93).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref136" href="#ftn136">136</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This prefunding mandate cost the Postal Service $9.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1 billion in 2016, $4.3 billion in 2017, and $4.5 billion in 2018. The year 2016 “was the last year in which the Postal Service was required to prefund their retirees’ health, but also out of their own operating budget pay for current retirees’ health bene</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fits. Starting in 2017 and going forward, they can now use the fund that they’ve set aside for these prefunding payments, which . . . has nearly $50 billion in it.” (NH Tr. 896-97)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Since 2010 the Postal Service has been unable to meet the RHBF payments. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">They have to report it as an expense, but then it gets reported as an additional liability on their balance sheet.” (NH Tr. 897) Because the Postal Service is a federal agency and not a private company, it cannot file for bankruptcy. “So this has become th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e center of all the discussions about postal reform legislation, is what to do, how to reduce or repeal this prefunding burden.” (NH Tr. 898) If the unpaid amounts for the retiree health benefits were removed from the budget statements for 2013 to 2018, th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e combined operating income for those years would be $3.8 billion (NH Exh. C-135; NH Tr. 899-903).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Sauber explained the retiree health benefit is not a debt owed to a third party.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]his is not like defaulting on your mortgage if you don't make these paym</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ents. It's like if you're in tough times and you stop putting money into your kid's college fund. It's a future obligation and a future liability that you're going to have, but nonetheless it's out there and just by law Congress has decided that the Postal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Service and only the Postal Service -- no other private company has to do this, has to prefund retiree health.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 903-04)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is an agency of the federal government and, as such, does not file taxes. It is required by the Securities<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and Exchange Commission to file annual 10-K reports (NH Exh. C-131; NH Tr. 874-75). The Postal Service is funded entirely by the sales of postage and stamps—it receives no revenue from federal taxes “with one small exception.” (NH Tr. 876) Market dominant<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">services (MDS), which include “letters, invoices, statements, [and] marketing mail,” are items for which the Postal Service is the main provider (NH Tr. 877). The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) permits the Postal Service to raise rates once a year fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r MDS, indexed to the CPI (NH Tr. 878) The Postal Service increased rates in January of 2019 by 2.5 percent and estimated it would “generate approximately $891 million in annualized income.” (NH. Tr. 881)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Congress also provides a “sort of safety valve” fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r circumstances where higher rate increases are deemed necessary, called “exigent rate increases” that are “above and beyond the CPI.” (NH Tr. 881-82). In 2011 or 2012, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, the Postal Service experienced a severe drop i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n mail volume. It petitioned the PRC for a 4.3 percent exigent rate increase above the CPI, which the PRC granted in December of 2013. The exigent increase was temporary, staying in effect until the Postal Service recovered $4.6 billion. It expired in Apri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l of 2016 after meeting that goal (NH Tr. 882-83).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service also raises revenue by offering competitive services in the categories of priority mail, priority mail express, first-class package service, and parcel select. It has more flexibility i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n setting the rates according to market conditions for competitive services (NH Tr. 883-85). Sauber stated competitive services have given an economic boost to the Postal Service. “There was a booming, booming growth in e-commerce, and so the demand was pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oviding the ability for the Postal Service to raise their rates. The demand was also raising their costs too, so that's in part why they did these rate increases.” (NH Tr. 890) The Postal Service raises about $21.5 billion of its annual $71 billion revenue</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>from competitive services. In 2018, approximately 4 percent of the total number of pieces letter carriers delivered were categorized as competitive services (NH Tr. 886-67). In January 2019, the Postal Service implemented a 7.4 percent increase in its com</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">petitive rates (NH Exh. C-131; Tr. 887).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Another anomaly of the Postal Service’s business model is its partnership with its direct competitors. Williams stated, “[W]e rely on FedEx and we rely on UPS, but we also compete with them. So in the package marke</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t there is a lot of competition, as you might imagine, with two big package delivery companies like UPS and FedEx. So within the competitive product line, most of the products and services are around packages.” (NH Tr. 1753) The Postal Service is committe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d to meeting service standards for mail delivery, meaning the transit time for different types of mail is predictable. First class mail has overnight, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and 5-day service standards (NH Tr. 1756). The Postal Service recognizes its customer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s rely on its promise to meet its service standards for both business and personal reasons.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]e have a 2-day service commitment for first class mail if you're mailing within a 6-hour drive time within the United States, 2-day service standard. You're expe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cting to have that mail delivered in 2 days. If you're mailing a bill or if you're synchronizing when you're mailing a birthday card to your mother, and you know she lives within six hours of you, you know you've got 2 days to get that mail piece delivered</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the promise that we're making our customers through our service standards.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And cataloguers plan their promotions around expected delivery times in the home. They staff up their call centers expecting when we're going to deliver a catalogue in somebody's</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>home so that when you receive a catalogue, you're calling up the call center and making an order.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So our customers are counting on us. Amazon is counting on us to make their 2-day promise. Cataloguers are staffing up and counting on us to deliver catalog</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ues so that whatever product is being sold can be bought. And if you've got<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">personal correspondence, business correspondence or paying your bills, we've got a promise that we're going to deliver on that promise. When those expectations aren't met, our cust</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">omers can get quite agitated, right. If you make a payment to your mortgage and it's not received on time and you get hit with a late fee, that's a major issue for our customers. If you staff up your call center and expecting a lot of calls because you've<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">entered product into one of our plants and we don't deliver</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that timely, number one, you're not getting the sales that you're expecting. You've paid for a lot of people to be in call centers that aren't taking calls.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1762-64)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">For certain guaranteed types of mail, the Postal Service must refund the customer’s postage if the mail is not delivered in the promised time, which, Williams stated, is a financial penalty. However,<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the bigger penalty for us is when customers use us and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">we don't deliver on the promise that we're making, they go to alternative places, right? We're competing in every single product line. It's not just the competitive products where people traditionally see us as competing with United States Parcel Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or FedEx.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We're competing now with our own customers. We're competing with Amazon. Amazon is creating their own delivery network. We're competing with electronics. . . . If you go on any social media app, whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, whe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ther it's email, you're getting hit multiple, multiple times by an unlimited number of companies that are using electronic media to deliver their message, whether it's a business message, whether it's a transaction, whether it's a bill payment, bill presen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tment, advertising piece, if it's periodicals, online periodicals.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So even within our market dominant products, we're competing in every product, and service -- it's very hard to compete when somebody can deliver an email to your account free and when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they want. . . . But if we're not delivering on our standards and we're losing customers, we call that churn, so churn is a term that we use. Last year we lost $5.5 billion for customers that left us. About 1.8 billion of that was because of service-relate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d issues.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So when we're not delivering on service, promises that we're making when we ink deals with some of the major e-commerce companies, they leave us. Some of them left us this past Christmas season when we were having difficulties in certain pockets</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the country. We lost business because some of these e-commerce companies diverted packages that we would normally have received and were expecting to receive, they diverted them to some of our competitors.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1765-67)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">NALC and Heat Stress Awarenes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">s</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Manuel Peralta works in Washington, D.C., as the national director of safety and health for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">NALC. NALC, with approximately 295,000 active and retired members, is “the union<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that has exclusive jurisdiction to represent city letter carriers throughout</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the country.” (NH Tr. 43)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In July of 2012, Peralta learned a letter carrier in Independence, Missouri, “had died, and it was believed to have been related to the heat.” (NH Tr. 52) In December of 2012, the Secretary issued a willful citation to the Post</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">al Service for a § 5(a)(1) violation for exposing employees to excessive heat. The Postal Service contested the citation and the case went to hearing in February of 2014.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attended the hearing presided over by Judge Peggy S. Ball. He observed the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testimony of the Secretary’s expert witness, Dr. Thomas Bernard (NH Tr. 52-54).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref137" href="#ftn137">137</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Dr. Bernard’s testimony inspired Peralta to address the issue of excessive heat exposure for letter carriers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As a direct result of the testimony of the doctor and the Occup</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ational Safety and Health expert . . . I was stunned over what they explained, how it -- the heat affects the body. . . . The steps that I personally took is, I started to speak with the Business Agent, speak with the other officers, and determined that we</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had to learn more about the heat, learn more about its effects, learn more about what do we have to do as a craft to prevent our brothers and sisters from getting hurt. A few months later, the judge issued her decision.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref138" href="#ftn138">138</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And in reading her decision, I de</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cided to start writing articles where I specifically made reference to her findings and her opinion. And I started to read more and more and more, including documents that came out from NIOSH and recommendations, and started to put together information and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>sending it more and more to the field.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 55-56)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response to increased awareness of heat stress, the Postal Service and NALC negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2015 (NH Tr. 56, 59). Section 1 of the MOU addresses training and provi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">des:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">New letter carrier employee orientation will include the heat stress training identified below. Training will also be provided annually (no later than April 15) to all employees, with regular reminders throughout the summer season by local management.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LMS Course 10019802—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors and Carriers)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PowerPoint Presentation—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors to present to carriers). This program is designed as alternative training for those employees</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>without access to the online Learning Management System.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Heat Stress SDOM Video: http://blue.usps.gov/hr/safety/video/heat-stress.htm</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stand Up Talks and Info Pak Information (attached as an appendix).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106, p. 3) Peralta testified the Postal Se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvice did not make the heat stress training mandatory for supervisors until May of 2018 (NH. Tr. 61).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU was signed on May 5, 2015, and applies to the post office in Independence, Missouri, but states, “While this Agreement applies solely to the Inde</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pendence, Missouri, Post Office, including its stations and branches, the parties recognize that heat abatement is an essential element of on-the-job safety for city letter carriers in all locations where city letter carriers are exposed to excessive heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.” (NH Exh. C-106)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second section of the MOU addresses increased supervisory monitoring of letter carriers when the heat index rises to 103 °F:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2) Monitoring Employees</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]o the extent practicable, management will increase contact with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employees performing street duties for the purpose of monitoring employees’ well-being on days when the National Weather Service predicts a heat index (air temperature and relative humidity combined into a single value) at or above 103°F. For purposes of t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his agreement, the combination of air temperature and relative humidity at or above 103°F is deemed an “excessive heat day.” The chart below indicates the heat index system used by the National Weather Service. [The NWS’s heat index chart is depicted.]</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 147-51)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU includes a section on work/rest cycles, again finding the heat index of 103°F to be a triggering event for additional measures:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5) Work/Rest Regimen</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On days where the National Weather Service predicts a heat index at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or above 103°F, in addition to their regular scheduled break(s) and lunch break, city letter carriers are encouraged to take additional breaks in designated climate-controlled or shaded areas . . . when necessary to mitigate the impact of excessive heat. A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dditionally, the parties understand and agree that it may be necessary for individual city letter carriers to take additional breaks when the heat index is under the threshold set above. Individual city letter carriers retuning from absence or illness may<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">be especially vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat, and therefore, are especially encouraged to take necessary breaks pursuant to this paragraph. City letter carriers taking an extra break under this provision, using their assigned MDD, send a text<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">message to their assigned facility at the MDD,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">send a text message to their assigned facility at the beginning of the break (indicating the break location) and another text message at the conclusion of the break. The parties understand and agree that ther</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e may be circumstances where a city letter carrier taking a break under this provision may not immediately report the breakthrough the MDD.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 151-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2015, without input from NALC, the Postal Service implemented a heat stress awar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eness program that supervisors communicated to letter carriers during standup safety talks (NH Tr. 62-63). Peralta found the program to be “very shallow in the depth of information provided. . . . [I]t’s the limitation of hydrate yourself, avoid certain th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ings, but very little, and none that I remember on acclimatization.” (NH Tr. 63) He also objected to the format of standup talks being used to communicate the information, based on the 5 years he had worked as a letter carrier in California.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When I was a carrier in Anaheim, I remember being called together for standup talks where the supervisor would read in the most monotonous, boring, uninspiring tone what he was required to read. And it felt like they were making a little checkmark on a pie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce of paper, telling you to finish up, go back to your case. It was absolutely worthless. So I spoke up because I was very disappointed with the quality of training. And that's one of the reasons that my president later volunteered me for the safety commit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tee.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 63-64)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta created a form entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Initial Heat Injury Report</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and distributed copies to the local union branches and posted it on NALC’s website (NH Exh. C-105; NH Tr. 65-67). The purposes of the form are to track heat injuries and to as</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sist injured letter carriers with claims under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (NH Tr. 67). NALC developed yearly spread sheets to track the heat injury reports (NH Exhs. C-107 (2015), C-108 (2016), C-109 (2017), C-110 (2018); NH Tr. 79-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralt</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a investigated many of the injury reports and found a pattern emerged.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[I]t surprised me how much pressure the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>We have a heat wave. We know we're affected by the heat wave. . . . It was my understanding that the employees were suffering from pressure to keep pushing forward. When I read the statements, in some of them it was, "I called my supervisor. My supervisor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>told me to keep going in spite of a standup talk that told us to recognize the symptoms. When we did call, we were forced to keep going." And that happened a lot.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 70-71) Eventually, Peralta became aware that letter carriers who suffered heat injur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ies were subject to disciplinary procedures (Tr. 89, 96).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attributed the death of a letter carrier in Medford, Massachusetts, in July of 2015 to excessive heat exposure (NH Tr. 102). He testified regarding the death of another letter carrier<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in W</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oodland Hills, California, in July 2018 on a day when the temperature was 117 °F. The letter carrier “had been off duty for approximately three months. She had suffered an on-the-job injury. I believe it was either a severely sprained or a broken ankle. Sh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e was on medication, off work for three months. That Friday was her first day back.” (NH Tr. 104) Peralta discovered the Postal Service had certified the deceased letter carrier had undergone heat safety training during a period of time when she was not wo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rking.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[D]uring my meeting on May the 15th of 2018 with management, they also told me every single letter carrier in the country will also undergo the LMS training for the heat safety program that we audited in 2015. They specifically put, to me, confirma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion that 640,000 employees will undergo that training. Because I was very doubtful that they were going to have everybody go. I said, are you talking every single letter carrier? Well, we're not talking about individually, but in groups. Every single lett</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er carrier and every single supervisor. So as the facts revealed themselves, I am provided with documents that indicated [the deceased letter carrier] was certified as having gone through that training when she wasn't ever at work yet. Her first day at wor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">k, she returns and dies, but they certified that she had gone through that training weeks earlier, which was absolutely untrue. They were embarrassed, and then they later, after the fact, corrected their records.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 106)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Form 3996 and Time Pressure</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jennifer Thi Vo works as the Postal Service’s director of city delivery (NH Tr. 2583). She has worked for the Postal Service for 25 years and has held a variety of positions, including post office supervisor (NH Tr. 2584). She oversees all work aspects of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">city letter carriers and the approximately 143,000 routes on which they deliver. The Postal Service employs approximately 161,000 full-time city letter carriers and 2,800 part-time employees, plus approximately 44,000 CCAs (NH Tr. 2587-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo has experi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ence as a post office supervisor receiving Form 3996 requests from letter carriers due to predicted hot weather. She explained the process she used with the requesting letter carriers to determine whether she approved or disapproved the requests.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I superv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ised in Memphis during the summer of 2014. . . . [I]t's hot, so on the 3996 they asked for overtime based on the heat. . . . What I looked at and what I try to teach is that each one of the 3996s are different because the employees are different and the ro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">utes are different. So the first one that I disapproved was for 30 minutes and it had heat. The conversation with the employee is that they leave their route at 10:00 o'clock and then usually are back by 4:00. But that day they were leaving at 9:30, so the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y're leaving an extra half an hour early. So the conversation that I would have is, "I'm disapproving your 3996. You asked for 30 minutes "O[vertime]" due to the heat. I do think that you might take the 30 minutes but you're leaving a half an hour earlier.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>I'm not going to give you any extra work." So I would disapprove that.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second one might be different. 30 minutes, and I remember this one. He asked for 30 minutes. He was leaving on time, so he's leaving at 10:00. He's supposed to leave at 10:00. He<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">put heat, but his building, his route is 95 percent in</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the building. It's in the Civic Center, which is air conditioned, which the heat should not affect it. But usually what I did on that was I disapproved the 30 minutes. I gave him 15 minutes and told hi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m that I would approve it. Use it if he needs it. If he needs more, let us know. But that's the conversation.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The last two we approved because they were out on the street. They were leaving at the same time, so we went ahead and approved it.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On those three cases, none of those employees worked overtime. It's really about the communication and talking to them. If they need it, they need it. If they don't -- 3996 is just a form to kind of determine if you need something.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It's going to change o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nce you get on the street. It might be that they used 35 minutes. It might be they used 15 minutes, but every single form is not the same, every route is not the same and every carrier is not the same.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So that supervisor is really the key because they're<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the ones that are talking to employees every day. . . . [Form 3996 requests are] made at the beginning of the day, but all of the stations and branches usually have a requirement to call by a certain time. So if you know -- so at my stations, they're requi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">red to call at 3:00 o'clock. So they know -- it doesn't mean wait until 3:00 o'clock to call. It means that as soon as they find out that there's an issue there, give us a call.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We have three options. The supervisors that pick up the phone have three opt</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ions when they call. The first option is go ahead and use the overtime. Second option is I'll send you some help. And the third option is bring back the mail.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Now, there's situations. Just like there's different carriers, there's different supervisors out</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>there that's going to need training and stuff that will just say, "Continue going." If it's going to continue going, they have approved that overtime.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2597-2600)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When asked if it is proper procedure if a supervisor “just had their employees put a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>3996 in a folder, doesn’t look at them, disapproves them,” Vo responded, “It would be. . . . A 3996 is—if it doesn’t get approved or disapproved, it’s automatically approved. So if you put in a request for overtime and the supervisor doesn’t address it or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>any point, then the overtime’s approved.” (NH Tr. 2672)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref139" href="#ftn139">139</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo testified a letter carrier’s medical condition could affect the time needed to complete a route (NH Tr. 2636). When a letter carrier notifies the post office in the morning he or she is not fee</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ling well, the supervisor can allow extra time for overtime or assign part of the route as a pivot. If a letter carrier is on the street and calls to say he or she is not feeling well and may require extra time to complete the route, Vo stated, “We usually</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>won’t have an issue with that.” (NH Tr.2637)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Vo was asked about testimony from letter carriers in the local cases indicating their supervisors consistently discouraged them from submitting Forms 3996 or taking lunch or breaks due to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>hot weather. She responded, “So what I heard from the testimony is that the employees felt they were pressured to be done on time. And I don't see that to be the case of my experience and what I see as in data. These looked like isolated incidents. But I<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">don't see -- I haven't seen any factual, just what I've heard on it. But I don't think that that is representative of the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 2728)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo presents an idealized description of conversations between supervisors and city carriers regarding<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Form 3996 requests. The pleasant, civilized discussions she envisions, based on mutual respect between carriers and supervisors are not, however, the norm. Rather than being “isolated incidents” when “employees felt they were pressured to be done on time,”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the records in the five Postal Service cases, across five cities, demonstrate rural and city carriers experience near-constant pressure to complete their routes faster and to discourage them from taking breaks, reporting injuries or illnesses, or calling<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in sick.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Here, CCA1 felt dizzy and nauseated while delivering mail on June 17, 2016, and eventually vomited. Her call to the Astrodome Post Office work line and her text to her supervisor went unanswered. When she finally contacted her supervisor and des</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cribed her condition, the supervisor instructed her to “just sit there for a while and when you begin feeling a little better, continue to deliver your mail.” (Tr. 839) The supervisor told CCA1 she would try to send another carrier to assist her but no one</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>arrived, and she finished her route alone (Tr. 840) The Court agrees with Peralta’s opinion regarding the attitude of the Post Office to its carriers. “[I]t surprised me how much pressure the employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing.” (NH Tr. 71)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard testified letter carriers are influenced by the corporate culture of the Postal Service to prioritize productivity. “[T]here seems to be a dance whe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re I ask for extra time with a form 3996 . . . and [the forms will] sit on a desk, and so it becomes an effective denial. . . . [T]here's pressure that comes down . . . to the senior supervisor in an office down to the first-line supervisors to the employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es about the need to meet these goals. And I mention it from the dance point of view is there was no evidence that people were punished on taking more time, but there was certainly this culture of discouraging, you know, that was there.” (NH Tr. 847-48) He</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>stated letter carriers who in 2016 did report heat stress symptoms “were nonetheless encouraged to continue their routes.” (NH Tr. 945) Even though supervisors received heat stress training, “they still had the emphasis on productivity versus trying to ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ke sure that there was an early identification of signs and symptoms and early first aid.” (NH Tr. 947)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VII. THE CITATION</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Secretary’s Burden of Proof</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of the general duty clause, the Secretary must prove: “(1) a condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard; (2) the employer or its industry recognized the hazard; (3) the hazard was causing or likely to cause death or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">serious physical harm; and (4) a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S. J. Louis Constr. of Tex.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>25 BNA OSHC 1892, 19 1894 (No. 12-1045, 2016).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas, LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 14-0844, 2019 WL 33717, at</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>*2 (OSHRC March 27, 2019). “The Secretary also must prove that the employer ‘knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tampa Shipyards Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 1533, 1535 (No. 86-360, 1992) (consolidated).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *2 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Alleged Repeat Violation of § 5(a)(1)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Citation alleges,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment whi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ch were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to heat. On or about June 17, 2016, in Houston, Texas, City Letter carriers were exposed to excessive heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when delivering mail to residential and commercial facilities.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">A. Existence of a Hazard</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. The Evidence Does Not Establish Exposure to Excessive Heat Caused the Illness of the LC1</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The first element the Secretary must prove to establish a § 5(a)(1) violation is: “A condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard.” The alleged violation description (AVD) of the Citation does not identify the workplace, other than Houston,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Texas. The Citation identifies the hazard presented as “excessive heat.” The AVD does not identify the “condition or activity” that presented the hazard. The implication is the condition presenting the hazard of excessive heat is hot weather, but the AVD d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oes not specify at what temperature weather is “hot,” and it does not include the high temperature or heat index for June 17, 2016.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Hazards</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary called Dr. Tustin to testify regarding excessive heat exposure.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref140" href="#ftn140">140</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court determ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ined Dr. Tustin was qualified to provide expert testimony “regarding occupational medicine in general, heat stress exposure assessments, and the epidemiology of occupational heat-related illnesses.” (NH Tr. 254)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin explained heat stress results f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rom a combination of a person’s metabolic heat and environmental heat. Metabolic heat is generated by the human body and environmental heat results from sources outside the body. Sources of environmental heat include air temperature, relative humidity, rad</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iant heat, and air movement. Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air. Radiant heat is generated by electromagnetic waves, such as direct sunlight (NH Tr. 255-57). Sunlight is “radiation that is striking the worker. So moving from the shade<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">into the sunlight, even if the air temperature doesn’t change, you’ll be struck by the radiant heat so it can feel hotter.” (NH Tr. 258) The National Weather Service uses the heat index to combine air temperature and relative humidity as a single metric.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“What it’s doing is accounting for two of the main environmental factors. . . . If the humidity rises, the heat index rises for a given temperature. So it’s assessing how it feels to a worker.” (NH Tr. 274)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The most serious illness caused by heat stress<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is heatstroke, which causes a dysfunction of the brain. Symptoms include slurred speech, disorientation, confusion, unconsciousness, or coma. Heatstroke causes an elevated body temperature, generally defined as 104 or 105°F (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 259). Heat exhaustion is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a less severe result of heat stress. Its symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and profuse sweating. Heat exhaustion does not result in an elevated body temperature or brain dysfunction (NH Tr. 260). Dr. Tustin stated symptoms of hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541). Less severe conditions caused by heat stress include heat cramps, heat rash, and heat syncope (fainting)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 261).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">LC1and the June 17, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin reviewed weather data from the National Weather Service (NWS) for Houston, Texas, on June 17, 2016. The NWS data showed the high temperature in Houston that day occurred at 2:35 p.m. It was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">99°F, and the relative humidity was 42 percent, resulting in a heat index of 109°F (NH Tr. 439-40). Dr. Tustin testified a heat index of 109°F is hazardous, based on epidemiological studies and cases he has reviewed. He stated his belief is “also consisten</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t with other recommendations, for example, from the National Weather Service and OSHA, heat index charts and thresholds that they’ve published.” (NH Tr. 418-19, 440)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin reviewed LC1’s hearing testimony and medical records. He stated LC1 had been d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iagnosed at the hospital with “acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis.” (NH Tr. 442). Dr. Tustin agreed with those diagnoses but testified he also would have diagnosed LC1 as having heat cramps and heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 442).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rhabdomyolysis is “the bre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">akdown of skeletal muscle. . . . [I]t can be caused by different things. But the research is pretty clear. There are review articles about rhabdomyolysis that state that exercise is a risk factor, so that's the metabolic heat and physical activity that's t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he component of heat stress. And also elevated environmental temperatures are a risk factor for rhabdomyolysis.” (NH Tr. 442-43) Dr. Tustin considered the muscle cramps LC1 experienced to be heat cramps. “It seemed like it was heat cramps, based on the fac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t that he said that it happened -- for example, there was one occasion I remember where he said that he cramped during a half-marathon, which is a 13-mile race. So I didn't have a lot of information about the cramps, but it seemed like it was probably heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>cramps.” (Tr. 444)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is Dr. Tustin’s opinion that heat stress “played a causal role” in LC1’s sustaining rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I don't recall that he had any symptoms at the beginning of his route. It seemed like he was fine at the be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ginning of his route. And then during his mail route, he proceeded to develop all the symptoms that you listed, plus he had objective evidence of kidney failure based on the creatinine level, which was elevated more than twice the upper limit of normal. He</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had low blood pressure. . . .[H]he didn't have any chronic medical problems as far as I could tell, and he wasn't taking any prescription medications that could predispose him to a heat-related illness. So for all those reasons, I – I concluded that heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stress was a causal factor.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 444-45)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin considered LC’s illness “serious” as the term is defined by OSHA (NH Tr. 445).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I was asked to opine on whether these illnesses were serious, and since we don’t really use that as a term of art, we un</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">derstand the word “serious” just like any layperson does. I decided to adopt the specific definition when analyzing these cases. . . . I adopted the definition used by OSHA or determining whether an illness has to be recorded on an OSHA 300 log. That inclu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">des any fatalities, hospitalizations, medical treatment beyond first-aid or illnesses that require days away from work.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 434)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin stated, “[LC1] was admitted to the hospital for the acute kidney failure, and that was his primary medical prob</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lem, in my opinion, was the kidney failure. And so he was hospitalized and he required medical treatment, such as IV fluids. . . .[T]hey tested his creatinine level again and it was in the normal range afterwards. . . .[T]hat follow-up test indicates that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">it was not likely a chronic problem. The fact that he recovered after IV fluids means that it was likely a -- just an acute kidney problem that resolved when he was treated.” (Tr. 445-46)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Shirly Conibear also reviewed LC1’a medical records and read hi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s deposition transcript (NH Exh. R-37 & R-38; NH Tr. 3070).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref141" href="#ftn141">141</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court determined Dr. Conibear was qualified, based on her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, to testify as an expert “in occupational medicine, with specialized expertis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e in heat stress and abatement measures that may materially reduce the hazard of excessive heat.” (NH Tr. 3013)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear concluded LC1 did not experience a heat-related illness on June 17, 2016 (NH Tr. 3067). LC1’s diagnoses at the hospital were “uns</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pecified acute renal failure” and rhabdomyolysis, and he was not diagnosed with heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 3073). In Dr. Conibear’s opinion, LC1 was admitted to the hospital because the attending physician thought he was at risk for a heart attack. When LC1 a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rrived at the emergency room, his temperature was 97.9°F and his heart rate was normal. His creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) was elevated. CPK is an enzyme that “spills into the bloodstream when muscles are damaged.” (NH Tr. 3071) CPK may be elevated when he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">art attacks occur, and LC1 had a family history of cardiac conditions. LC1 was given a troponin test and an EKG, which are not done for heat exhaustion but are done for suspected heart conditions (NH Tr. 3075-76).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1’s lab results indicated metabolic aci</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dosis, a condition where the pH of blood goes below its normal reading of 7.4. (NH Tr. 3072) It is caused by “things that disturb the electrolyte balance.” (NH Tr. 3073) Dr. Conibear stated LC1’s diagnosed condition of rhabdomyolysis “can be associated wit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h heat in certain circumstances. People who develop hyperthermia get rhabdomyolysis. It’s also associated with exercise. . . [A]bout 15 to 20 percent of runners have evidence of rhabdomyolysis in their blood at the end of a race, based on studies they have</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>done.” (NH Tr. 3072-73)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear testified the term<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">exercise-associated muscle cramps</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(EAMC) refers to “cramping that occurs in certain kinds of exercise, static postures, gripping or holding, and it’s sometimes associated with exercising in the heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, but it’s also associated with exercising in the cold.” (NH Tr. 3076).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>She reviewed a pre-placement exam for LC1 performed June 8, 1998, and a change-of-craft physical exam performed March 22, 2004. LC1 checked “No” to indicate he did not have a history</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of leg cramps in 1998 but checked “Yes” for that issue in 2004, “saying that he had a history of leg cramps from 1987 to 1988 when he was in the military.” (NH Tr. 3069-70). Dr. Conibear testified regarding LC1’s medical history.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]hen he was in the emergency room, they took a history from him that he had similar cramping when he ran a marathon, and he -- he had a -- he had a similar sensation of whole-body cramps, as well as dizziness, but did not fall. He also had mentioned in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his deposition he remembered cramping after a half marathon in 2014. It occurred in the last mile. And somewhere he talks about seeing colors when he had this happen.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3080-81)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear concluded LC1 had a pre-existing condition of “exercise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-associated heat cramps” based on “his long history of having cramps associated with when he was in the Army and when he ran marathons.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref142" href="#ftn142">142</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 3157) She noted it is significant the cramps are recurring. “[S]tudies have shown that in people who have rec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">urrent muscle cramps, there’s generally a myopathy of some sort which has become increasingly sorted out now that we can do a lot of genetic testing.”</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref143" href="#ftn143">143</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 3158) LC1’s medical records show he saw his physician in October of 2017 and April of 2018 for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">muscle cramps. Dr. Conibear testified this reinforced her<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">opinion “his symptoms were not related to heat” because he also experienced muscle cramps in the cooler months of October and April (NH Tr. 3224).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC1 complained of cramping in his hands on June 17</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2016. Dr. Conibear stated this is consistent with exercise-associated muscle cramps “because of what he does. He grips all the time, so it’s a static gripping posture, and the cramps tend to occur in muscle that’s . . . kept and held in a position like t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat.” (NH Tr. 3077) Dr. Conibear concluded LC1 experienced exercise-associated muscle cramps on June 17 based on “his long history of cramping, which is typical of EAMCs. And because it fits the description and the situation.” (NH Tr. 3077) She conceded L</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">C1 did not receive a diagnosis of EAMC at the hospital (NH Tr. 3077).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear reviewed the medical records for LC1’s visit to Nova Medical Center on June 21, 2016, 4 days after he experienced muscle cramps. “He was seen at Nova Medical Center, which</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is apparently a workers comp provider. And the doctor examined him and took a history, and ordered some laboratory results, laboratory tests.” (NH Tr. 3079) For the first time, a diagnosis of heat exhaustion appears on a medical record for LC1, and it is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">based on LC1’s self-diagnosis:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Description of Injury: Patient states works as a City Carrier and had heat exhaustion.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Exh. C-178, p.5; NH Tr. 3080).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref144" href="#ftn144">144</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Credibility Determination</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified unequivocally that heat stress was one of the causes of the illness that led to LC1’s hospitalization June 17, 2016. Dr. Conibear was just as adamant the heat index of 109°F that day had nothing to do with his illness, which was caused</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by a pre-existing condition of EAMC. These two highly-credentialed experts reviewed the same medical reports and testimony and reached opposite conclusions. They both appeared confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy as they testified. Their testimony, h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">owever, provided little clarity for the Court.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear reviewed the limited information presented in the medical records and appeared to conclusively diagnose the employees’ maladies. They each appeared to be beyond doubt as to cause<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of the illnesses in the two employees whom they had never met or examined. Dr. Tustin concluded LC2 experienced heat cramps and heat exhaustion on June 1, even though the attending physician diagnosed him with acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis (NH Tr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>442). Dr. Tustin had agreed earlier in his testimony that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin’s explanation f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or his conclusion that LC1 experienced heat cramps is circular and speculative. He concedes he is basing his opinion on little information, and he gives no rationale for his conclusion environmental heat caused LC1’s cramping.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“It seemed like it was heat c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ramps, based on the fact that he said that it happened -- for example, there was one occasion I remember where he said that he cramped during a half-marathon, which is a 13-mile race. So I didn't have a lot of information about the cramps, but it seemed li</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ke it was probably heat cramps.” (NH Tr. 444)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Likewise, Dr. Conibear was unwavering in her opinion the hot weather on June 17, 2016, in Houston had no causal link to the illness LC1. On cross-examination, counsel for the Secretary referred to a position s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tatement issued by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) on exertional heat illness (NH Tr. 3191).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [I]n that document, isn't EAMC included in a list of heat-related illnesses that also includes heat syncope, exertional heat exhaustion, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>exertional heat stroke?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: It is.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So according to that document, isn't EAMC an exertional heat illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: No, I don't think that that's correct.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: That article also states: "Heat illness is more likely in hot, humid weathe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r." Do you agree with that general statement?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In [LC1’s] case, did you take the actual environmental heat conditions that existed on that day into account in reaching your opinions?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: I was aware of them, but they were</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n't influential in my opinion.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So does that mean that no matter how hot it had been on the day [LC1] suffered this illness, you would conclude that the environmental heat did not play a role?</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: I don't think that the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">environment was causal. It did not cause his heat cramps.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Is it your opinion that no matter how hot it had been on that day, that the environmental heat did not play a role in his illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: I don't know what "play a role" means.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3201-02)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The unyielding stances of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear as to whether heat stress caused the illness of LC1 on June 17, 2016, are not persuasive. Dr. Tustin stated humans have a range of tolerability for heat stress, depending on factors su</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ch as predisposing conditions and acclimatization (NH Tr. 546-47). The certitude of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear, formed after reviewing the limited information available in the medical records, is at odds with their<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">testimony that the symptoms of heat illn</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ess often mimic the symptoms of other conditions, and vice versa (NH Tr. 538-41, 3156).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 451 F.3d 104, 127 (2d Cir. 2006),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 552 U.S. 312 (2008) (stating that “[a]n expert opinion requires some explanation as to how the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">expert came to his conclusion and what methodologies or evidence substantiate that conclusion[],” and dismissing negligent manufacturing claim where expert failed to explain the basis for his opinion that catheter burst radially, not longitudinally);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SkinM</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">edica, Inc. v. Histogen Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 727 F.3d 1187, 1210 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (evidentiary value of conclusory expert testimony is “unhelpful”; such opinions “lack any substantive explanation tied to the intrinsic record” and “without a more detailed explanation” as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to how the expert “formed his conclusions,” they “deserve[] no weight”). . . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mosser Constr., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 23 BNA OSHC 1044, 1046-47 (No. 08-0631, 2010) (finding expert’s opinion “unpersuasive” where the expert failed to explain factual details underlying it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Peterson Bros. Steel Erection Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 16 BNA OSHC 1196, 1203-04 (No. 90-2304, 1993) (discounting expert’s testimony because he did “not include the factual basis and reasoning behind [his] opinion”),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>26 F.3d 573 (5th Cir 1994).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *5-6 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On the issue of whether heat stress or some other physical condition caused the illness of LC1 on June 17, 2016, the Court accords no weight to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conib</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ear. They testified previously in the national hearing that symptoms of heat illness can also be symptoms of other conditions. Neither doctor provided a substantive explanation for insisting on one diagnosis over the other.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is the Secretary’s burden to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>establish a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard to employees. Here, he did not prove the illness of LC1 was caused by exposure to excessive heat (the Postal Service did not prove it was not caused by excessive heat exposure, but it is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>not the respondent’s burden). It is not essential to the Secretary’s case, however, to prove a causal connection between the cited condition and the illnesses of the employees. The fact the incidents cited in the AVD may not have been caused by the cited<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">condition or activity does not disprove the alleged violation.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Proof that a cited activity actually caused harm or necessarily could have caused harm under the precise physical conditions that happened to be present at the time of the violation, or at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">any other specific time, is not required. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Bomac Drilling</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 9 BNA OSHC 1682, 1691-92 (No. 76-450, 1981) (consolidated) (“Under section 5(a)(1) case law, the ‘hazard’ that must be “recognized' is not a particular set of circumstances at a specific locatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n and specific point in time but rather the broader, more generic or general hazard.”), </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overruled on other grounds by United States Steel Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brennan v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 494 F.2d 460, 463 (8th Cir. 1974) (Secretary need not p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rove general hazard was cause of the accident that gave rise to the citation); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1171 (same).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Judge Ball’s 2014 Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Even though the Sec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">retary is not required to establish excessive heat caused the illness of LC1 in June of 2016, it is still his burden to prove that high temperature or heat index on June 17, 2016, exposed Houston city letter carriers to the hazard of excessive heat. In sup</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">port of his position, the Secretary cites Judge Ball’s 2014 decision finding a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2014 WL 5528391</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary states, “On facts similar to those presented here, Judge Ball found that there was</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>‘no real dispute’ that letter carriers in Independence, Missouri, were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 21, n. 20)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref145" href="#ftn145">145</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In this case, however, the Postal Service vigorously disputes the temperature or heat index on June 16, 20</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16, presented a hazard to Houston’s letter carriers, and consequently the record evidence differs markedly from the Independence case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As an unreviewed ALJ decision, the Independence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>case is not Commission precedent. “[R]elia</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nce on an unreviewed administrative law judge decision involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) [is] misplaced.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Leone Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 3 BNA OSHC 1979, 1981 (No. 4090, 1976)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(unreviewed administrative law judge decision does not constitute binding precedent for the Commission).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">TNT Crane & Rigging, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 16-1587, 2020 WL 1657789, at *7 (OSHRC March 27, 2020). A case decided by the Commission last year involving a citatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n under § 5(a)(1) for exposure to excessive heat is, however, binding precedent for this Court.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. The Commission’s Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On February 28, 2019, the Commission issued its decision in a case involving an employee who collaps</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed at a worksite and subsequently died from complications of heat stroke after working on a roofing project. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019). Commissioner (now Chairman) Sullivan, with then-Chairman MacDouga</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ll concurring, vacated two items alleging serious violations that had been affirmed by the ALJ in the underlying case. Commissioner Atwood dissented. Of interest here is Item 1 of the citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1) for exposing employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es “to the hazard of excessive heat from working on a commercial roof in the direct sun.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 2019 WL 1099857, at *1.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The roofing project Sturgill was working on involved tearing off the old roof of a flat-topped bank building in Ohio so a new roof co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uld be installed. The crew included three temporary employees.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">One of the temporary employees was “MR,” a 60-year-old man with various preexisting medical conditions, including hepatitis C and congestive heart failure. It was the first day that MR was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">assigned to work at Sturgill. He began work that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">day at 6:30 a.m. and was tasked with standing near the edge of the roof where other employees brought him a cart full of cut-up pieces of roofing material that he then pushed off the roof into a dumpster bel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ow. The assignment of this work was intentionally made by Foreman Leonard Brown because it was MR's first day on the project. When MR began his work, the temperature was approximately 72°F with 84 percent relative humidity. There is no dispute that Brown e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ncouraged all employees to utilize the immediate access to ice, water, rest, and shade, without fear of reprisal.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At around 11:40 a.m., after other employees reported being concerned about MR to Brown and Brown himself observed him “walking like<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">clumsy,” MR collapsed and began shaking. The temperature at that point was approximately 82°F with 51 percent relative humidity. Emergency medical personnel were summoned, and they took MR to the hospital where his core body temperature was determined to b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e 105.4°F. MR was diagnosed with heat stroke and died three weeks later. According to the coroner, his death was caused by “complications” from heat stroke.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *1-2. The Commission found the Secretary failed to establish “the existe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nce of a hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">4. Is “Excessive Heat” a Cognizable Hazard Under § 5(a)(1)?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service argues that in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission found “excessive heat” is not a co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">gnizable hazard under the general duty clause. In her concurring opinion, Chairman MacDougall questioned the meaning of the cited hazard:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In this case, what is meant by “excessive heat?” Is it the heat index the judge formulated by adding degrees to the am</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">bient temperature, or the heat index that would result from adding 10 degrees to the ambient temperature since the foreman said it felt about that much hotter on the roof, or some combination of factors perhaps set forth in OSHA’s website publication regar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ding “Occupational Heat Exposure”? To pose the question is to answer it. By defining the hazard merely as “excessive heat,” the Secretary has failed to point to any specific, concrete environmental conditions, and has instead effectively defined the hazard</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as a sliding scale of possibilities. This open-ended, moving target is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause as it provides insufficient notice to the employer of exactly what it is required to free its workplace from to protect its employ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ees.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In a footnote to the lead opinion, Commissioner Sullivan (now Chairman) agreed “with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as ‘exce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ssive heat.’” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14. Contrary to the Postal Service’s argument, this agreement does not establish that a majority of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission conclusively found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">. This reference to defining the hazard is the only one in a lengthy footnote on foreseeability, and its vague reference to “the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall” is insufficient to constitute a dispositive conclusion that a citation under § 5(a)(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">1) alleging exposure to “excessive heat” will always fail due to fair notice to the employer.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref146" href="#ftn146">146</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If Commissioner Sullivan’s agreement with Chairman MacDougall’s “concerns” constituted a majority opinion that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard, ther</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">e would be no need for a concurring opinion or for most of the analysis in the lead opinion. The Court determines the Commission has not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">held absolutely that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. The cited hazard is, ho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">wever, difficult to establish under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">5. Scientific Basis of the NWS Heat Index Chart</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified he relied on the NWS and OSHA heat index charts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Service<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">cases (NH Tr. 583-84). The NWS heat index chart is reproduced here:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref147" href="#ftn147">147</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; ">
					<img style="" alt="Picture 1" height="366" width="626" src="U.S.P.S.^16-1713^16-1872^17-0023^17-0279^Commission Decision_files/image1.jpeg" xmlns="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/relationships"/> </p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified he was curious regarding the origins of the color-coded risk levels on the chart. “I contacted somebody at the National Weather Service to find out where these<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">caution levels came from, and that's the article that they provided to me. . . . I was interested. I'd seen these caution levels, and I wanted to find out . . . why the National Weather Service put these out there.” (NH Tr. 590) The article to which he ref</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers is by a Dr. Steadman, who originally created a chart to show how hot it feels (the heat index) when a specific air temperature is paired with a specific relative humidity. The chart was included in an article written by Quayle and Doehring, a climatolo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gist and meteorologist, respectively, from the National Climactic Center in Asheville, North Carolina, and published in the magazine<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in 1981 (NH Tr. 587-94).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service hired Rodman Harvey as a consultant in the five cases before the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Court.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref148" href="#ftn148">148</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court qualified Harvey to testify as an expert “in industrial hygiene, with specialized expertise in assessing the risk of exposure to excessive heat, based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education.” (NH Tr. 2766)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey was asked about the phrase "Likelihood of Heat Disorders with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity” that appears on the NWS’s heat index chart.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Q.: Based on your work with heat stress, what does prolonged exposure mean?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I'm not sure</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>what's meant by that, exactly, by the National Weather Service.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And what is meant by strenuous activity?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: Again, I have not found a definition of that for the National Weather Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Are those terms explained in the OSHA compliance g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uidance?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: No, not that I was able to find.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2775)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified there are two different layers of information on the heat index chart: (1) “Along one axis are temperatures. Numbers along the other . . . side of the chart are relative hum</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">idity. And where they intersect is the corresponding heat index value for those different temperatures and relative humidities”; and (2) “The color coding that goes on top, the four different colors, and the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">osure or strenuous activity, and the definitions . . . for the four different colors: caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme danger.” (NH Tr. 2776) Harvey stated the chart came from “the Steadman article,” which does not address “potential health e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ffects associated with different heat index ranges” or “the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity.” (NH Tr. 2777-78) In the article, Dr. Steadman was attempting to create a chart “that would provide the real feel temper</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ature or the apparent temperature based on the combination of the actual air temperature and the relative humidity.” (NH Tr. 2778)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified he researched the issue to determine the historical or scientific basis for the second layer of informatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n found in the heat index chart. “I was able to find a paper; it’s the oldest reference I can find that has . . . that language of dividing the heat index values up into different categories.” (NH Tr. 2782) It was the paper published in the journal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weather</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">wise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">written by climatologist Robert Quayle and meteorologist Fred Doehring (NH Tr. 2782-83). Harvey could not determine from reading the article the scientific basis for correlating temperature ranges with specific heat syndromes. He stated, “[T]he autho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs don’t make any reference at all to this particular chart in general or specifically with the heat syndrome and they came to those conclusions.” (NH Tr. 2783-84) It is Harvey’s opinion that OSHA based its heat index chart on the chart found in the Steadm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">an article and the paper published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 2786).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey stated he believes the first layer of the heat index chart (“where they list the heat index values”) is scientifically based. “But layer two with the four different categories and the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>terms at the bottom of the graph, no, I don’t think that it is.” (NH Tr. 2786) He does not believe there is a scientific basis for OSHA’s conclusion that the risk level is high when the heat index is 103 to 115 °F (NH Tr. 2786-87).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>correct that, based on the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Rodman Harvey, a gap exists in the historical record that would explain the origin of the risk categories (caution, extreme caution, danger, extreme danger) that evolved from the Steadman article and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">were later included in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">article. Neither Dr. Tustin nor Harvey could find a scientific basis for how the assigned values of caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme dangers were determined. No supporting data is provided for why the lev</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">els of risk are attributed to their respective temperatures (NH Tr. 584-94, 2782-87). That is not to say there is no scientific basis for the risk levels, but none was presented at the national hearing or the local hearings. Despite the emphasis placed on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">this issue at the national hearing, the Secretary does not address it in his brief. The Court finds, based on the record, no evidence was adduced to establish the scientific basis for the risk categories depicted on the NWS heat index chart. This conclusio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n affects the weight given to the heat index chart exhibit but does not affect its admissibility. The reliability of the heat index calculations based on the temperatures and relative humidity is not disputed.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission focused on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the phrase “Likelihood of Heat Disorder with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity,” and found the Secretary failed<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to show that any of the chart’s warnings applied to the conditions present that morning. . . . [F]or any of the warnings [(caution, extr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eme caution, danger, and extreme danger)] to have been applicable at the time of the alleged violation, the Secretary must show either that there was “prolonged exposure” to heat index values that fall within the chart or that the work involved “strenuous<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">activity.” The record fails to establish either of these prerequisites.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3-4.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">6. Prolonged Exposure</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Commission in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited the failure to define “prolonged exposure” as a major flaw in the Secretary’s case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As to the extent of exposure, the evidence shows that the heat index values were at most in the caution range for two of the five hours the crew worked on the day in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>question. Yet, we cannot determine if two hours in those conditions constitutes “prolonged exposure” because the Secretary does not establish what the NWS means by “prolonged exposure”—in fact, there is no record evidence on this issue.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 109</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9857, at *3-4.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC1 drove an air-conditioned van on June 17, 2016. He was delivering on a route that was primarily park and loop, so he spent only 15 to 18 minutes or so driving during the day (Tr. 60). LC1 began work at 8:30 a.m. that day. After casing his mail, he began</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>delivering mail on Route 2536 at 9:50 a.m. (Exh. R-19; Tr. 89). He delivered his first piece of mail at 10:21 a.m. and his last piece of mail at 4:28 p.m. Route inspector GJ then drove him back to the post office and informed the supervisor LC1 was ill. (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 200-01). LC1 and route inspector GJ took two 10-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch break in the van with the air conditioning running (Tr. 63-64, 139-145). He was walking outdoors, delivering the mail, for approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>Fro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m this schedule, the exposure of LC1 to temperatures at specific times of the day can be extrapolated. Dr. Tustin created a chart based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS) for June 17, 2016, in Houston, Texas (NH Exhs. C-303; NH Tr. 439-40).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">J</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">une 17, 2016</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Local</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Central</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Temperature</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Relative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heat Index</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Standard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Daylight<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Humidity</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Time (CDT)</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">_________________________________________________________________</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0735</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>8:35 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>84°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>74%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>92°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0935</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>10:35 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>91°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>56%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>100°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1135</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12:35 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>93°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>49%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>100°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1335</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2:35 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>99°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>42%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>109°F</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1535</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>4:35 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>95°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>44%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>101°F</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-302)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On June 17, the heat index was 100°F at 10:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m., which is in the extreme caution section of the chart. At 2:35 p.m., after LC1 had been delivering mail for approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes (starting from 10:21 a.m.), the heat index wa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s 109°F, which is in the danger section. The next heat index recorded is 101°F, in the extreme caution<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">section of the chart, at 4:35 p.m., which is approximately the time route examiner GJ was driving LC1 back to the Astrodome Post Office.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Over the cours</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e of approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes, LC1 worked outdoors in heat index values ranging from 100°F to 109°F, which the heat index chart places in the extreme caution and danger sections. Nothing presented by the Secretary in the Houston and national he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arings assists in making the determination whether this exposure was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. One definition of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is “continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1356 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> ed. 2005). “Long time,” “longer than u</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sual,” and “lengthy” are relative terms that provide no guidance for ascertaining what standard of measurement an employer should use to calculate at what point exposure becomes prolonged. City letter carriers are contractually guaranteed 8 hours of work e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ach workday, most of which is performed outdoors. For them, 8 hours of exposure to hot weather in the summer months is not “longer than usual.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission held that if the Secretary relies on the heat index chart to prove an emplo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yee was exposed to the hazard of excessive heat, he must show either “prolonged exposure” to specified heat index values on the chart or “strenuous activity” on the part of the employee at those heat indexes. Dr. Tustin, the Secretary’s expert, testified h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e relied on the NWS and OSHA heat index charts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Service cases (Tr. 583-84). The Court determines the Secretary has<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">failed to establish prolonged exposure.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">7. Strenuous Activity</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Strenuous activity” is the second phrase from the heat index chart that lacks clear meaning. “Strenuous” means “requiring or using great exertion.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1676 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed. 2005). Again, no criteria values are provided by the heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>index chart to help determine when activity becomes strenuous. Some guidance is found, however, in Dr. Tustin’s testimony regarding the metabolic heat generated by letter carriers as they deliver the mail.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I read the descriptions of the activities that [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the letter carriers] were doing, specifically their physical activities in terms of whether they were walking or whether they were seated driving a vehicle, for example. I compared their physical activities to tables found in ACGIH heat stress documents. T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hey give a table where they categorize workload as either light, moderate, heavy or very heavy, and they give examples of different activities within the category.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 302)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified the metabolic workload of LC1 and on June 17, 2016, was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">moderate (Tr. 440). A workload characterized as “moderate” (“average in amount, intensity, quality or degree.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">he New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 1089 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">nd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ed. 2005)) does not equate to strenuous activity.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he chart states the color-coded categories are used specifically to denote the “Likelihood of Heat Disorders<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">with</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity.” (emphasis added) The Secretary failed to establish either of the two metrics the chart identifies a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">s correlatives of the likelihood of heat disorders at the given heat index values. The Court determines the Secretary failed to establish LC1 was engaged in strenuous activity while working on June 17, 2016. As in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Secretary has not met h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">is burden of establishing the worker identified in the Citation’s AVD engaged in either prolonged exposure or strenuous activity at specific heat indexes listed on the chart.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">8. Significant Risk of Harm</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>To establish a cited condition or activity presents<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a hazard in the workplace, the Secretary must prove the condition or activity<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposed employees to a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">See Beverly Enters., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1161, 1170-1172 (No. 91-3144, 2000) (consolidated); </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">see also </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1983139073&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_63&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_63"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney Aircraft v. Donovan,</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>715 F.2d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 1983)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (holding that a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> can be established by showing a “meaningful possibility” of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">injury); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1978119394&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_541&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_541"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Titanium Metals Corp. v. Usery</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 579 F.2d 536, 541 (9th Cir. 1978)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (the possibility of harm resulting must be “upon other than a freakish or utterly implausible concurrence of ci</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rcumstances”); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1973112769&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_1265&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_1265"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat'l Realty & Constr. Co. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d 1257, 1265 n.33 (D.C. Cir. 1973)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref149" href="#ftn149">149</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Agency's responsibility to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">determine, in the first instance, what it considers to be a “significant” risk. Some risks are plainly acceptable and others are plainly unacceptable. If, for example, the odds are one in a billion that a person will die from cancer by taking a drink of ch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lorinated water, the risk clearly could not be considered significant. On the other hand, if the odds are one in a thousand that regular inhalation of gasoline vapors that are 2% benzene will be fatal, a reasonable person might well consider the risk signi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ficant and take appropriate steps to decrease or eliminate it. Although the Agency has no duty to calculate the exact probability of harm, it does have an obligation to find that a significant risk is present before it can characterize a place of employmen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t as “unsafe.”</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>448 U.S. 607, 655 (1980) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues he has established excessive heat exposure presents a significant risk of harm to letter carriers generally. He points to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard regarding the statistical correlation between the number of heat-rela</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted fatalities and illnesses and higher temperatures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Screening Levels</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks the number of annual occupational heat-related deaths and nonfatal heat-related illnesses in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CF</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OI). From 2011 to 2016, the CFOI reported an annual average of 36 heat-related fatalities and 3,500 nonfatal heat-related illnesses (NH Tr. 267-68). Dr. Tustin reviewed employer reports to OSHA of heat-related hospitalizations over a three-year period. Th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e employers reporting the most hospitalizations were the United Parcel Service (UPS) (63 hospitalizations) and the Postal Service (49 hospitalizations). Nationwide, UPS and the Postal Service accounted for 14 percent of all reported occupational heat-relat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed hospitalizations over a 3-year period (NH Tr. 270).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes threshold limit values (TLVs) for hazards to which a worker can be exposed on a daily basis without adverse effects. Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Tustin testified the ACGIH and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) implement “screening levels.” “If the environmental<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat is above the screening level, then there’s a hazard and the employer should take additional steps t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o try to reduce the hazard to protect workers.” (NH Tr. 280)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref150" href="#ftn150">150</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on his research, Dr. Tustin concluded, “[A] screening threshold of about 80°F seemed appropriate for using the heat index to screen for hazardous conditions.” (NH Tr. 285)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref151" href="#ftn151">151</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> He conced</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed some workers may experience heat-related illnesses even if the TLV for outdoor temperature is not exceeded, perhaps due to predisposing conditions. “Predisposing conditions are medical conditions or medications that could increase the risk of heat-relat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed illness.” (NH Tr. 577-78)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>A dose-response relationship is the relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) to a substance or condition and the resulting changes (response) in body function. He believes there is dose-response relationship betwee</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n heat indexes above 80°F and heat stress—the higher the heat index, the greater the heat stress hazard. He conducted a meta-analysis of 570 heat-related deaths dating back to 1947 (NH Tr. 287). He calculated the heat index for each case. A heat index of l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ess than 80°F did not appear to present a heat stress hazard. A higher heat index increased the risk of heat stress (NH Tr. 291-92).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A heat index between 80 -- when the heat index was between 80 and 90, there definitely seemed to be more risk. I think abou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t 10 to 20 percent of all the fatalities happened when the heat index was between 80 and 90. Then when the heat index was over 90, there seemed to be higher risk in the sense that I think about 80 percent of the fatalities occurred when the heat index was</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>over 90. So we concluded that a heat index of about 80 °F seemed to be a reasonable screening threshold for figuring out whether there was a heat stress hazard present.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 292) He concluded, “[T]here's a hazard when the heat index is over 80 for the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">type of work that city carriers are doing.” (NH Tr. 581)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Thomas Bernard also testified regarding the effects of heat stress on outdoor workers.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref152" href="#ftn152">152</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court found Dr. Bernard qualified, “based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education,” to testify as an expert “in the areas of industrial hygiene and specifically regarding industrial heat stress.” (NH Tr. 808) Dr. Bernard testifie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d LC1 was above the occupational exposure limit for heat stress (NH Tr. 993).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Number of Heat-Related Incidents Among Carriers</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends the significant risk of harm from excessive heat to which carriers are exposed is made manifest if the Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">urt expands the scope of reported heat-related illnesses beyond the date and location of the Citation’s AVD in this case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If consideration of heat-related illnesses is expanded nationwide, the Secretary believes the significant risk to carriers of excess</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ive heat exposure is evident.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">According to USPS’s records ([NH] Ex. C-127), the number of heat-related incidents per year (since 2015), classified on its official accident reports (PS Form 1769/301) as caused by “GEN-EXPOSURE EXTREME TEMP-HOT” are: 378 for 2015; 564 for 2016; 399 for 2017; and 631 for 2018 ([NH] 1670:9-1671:5). In total, the number of heat-related incidents over the four years was 1,972. ([NH] 1668:13-1669:16).1 When broken down, the 1,972 heat-related incidents came from 1,258 different USPS facilities across the country and resulted in carriers missing a total of 8,757 days away from work. ([NH] Ex. C-127).</p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 18)</p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service counters that the number of carriers reporting heat-related illnesses is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">miniscule when compared to the number who did not report heat-related illnesses. Rodman<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey stated, “"On June 17, 2016, there were approximately 1,806 city carriers working in the postal district that includes Houston, Texas, and there was only one alle</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ged heat-related illness reported.” (NH Tr. 2887)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service retained Dr. Joshua Gotkin to analyze its data on heat-related accidents.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref153" href="#ftn153">153</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court qualified Dr. Gotkin as an expert “in the field of economics, with specific expertise in the field<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of statistical analysis and the application of statistics in sampling.” (NH Tr. 1631-32) Dr. Gotkin reviewed data on the number of heat-related incidents involving letter carriers that had occurred from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2019 (NH Tr. 1632-33</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">). For that 4-year period, he found 1,023 reported heat-related injuries to letter carriers and compared those to the total number of letter carrier workdays. “[Y]ou really just divide the number of events into the total number of carrier days, and that gi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ves you a 1 in 308,000 workdays in terms of the odds of having a heat-related stress incident. . . . I also restricted it to the warmer summer months, and the odds are then reduced to 1 in 142,000 workdays.” (NH Tr. 1651) Dr. Gotkin stated, “[T]hese odds a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re so small that the probability associated with those are nearly zero.” (NH Tr. 1652-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Linda DeCarlo is the manager of safety and OSHA compliance programs for the Postal Service. She is its highest ranking safety officer (Tr. 1245). DeCarlo tracks tren</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ds of hazards as part of her duties. DeCarlo estimated that, since 2015, approximately 500 to 600 Postal Service employees (including letter carriers) annually have reported heat-related occupational injuries (NH Tr. 1257-59). The number of heat-related in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">juries does not cause her concern. “We have close to 120,000 accidents, incidents, near misses and customer events that take place in any given year. Thirty thousand of those are related to motor vehicle. Maybe 20,000 slip, trips, and falls. Seven thousand</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>dog bites. So 500 heat-related claims, only which of half are recordable, is not a major concern when there are other opportunities that we have in front of us.” (NH Tr. 1261)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary argues the small percentage of letter carriers affected with he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at-related illnesses does not disprove excessive heat hazards existed on the days they were affected. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Ind.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employer argued different employees were affected differently by the ergonomic activity cited as a hazard. The Commission he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld susceptibility to illness or injury alone is not a basis for finding no hazard exists.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Pepperidge further points out, however, and the Secretary's experts agree, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>non-workplace factors may cause or contribute to the illnesses at issue, and that individu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">als differ in their susceptibility to potential causal factors. However, such characteristics (and the inability to determine threshold of harm) are not unique to putative ergonomic hazards but inhere in other workplace hazards as well. For<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">example, some o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r all of these characteristics obtain for many chemical, toxic and other workplace hazards. Thus, to preclude the application of section 5(a)(1) to a hazard with the characteristics cited by Pepperidge would be to preclude the use of Section 5(a)(1) for ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ny occupational ills. To be clear, characteristics such as those identified by Pepperidge may (as discussed later) bear on questions of causation or feasibility of abatement. They do not, however, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ipso facto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> preclude the possibility of regulation under Sec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 89-265, 1997 WL 212599, at *23 (OSHRC Apr. 26, 1997). The Secretary also contends he is not required to state the temperature or heat index at which heat becomes excessive. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While knowledge of the threshold for injury may be essential in some cases, h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">owever, the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to regulation under the general duty clause.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1997 WL 212599, at *22.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Secretary’s burden to prove it is likely a heat-relate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d illness will occur at certain temperatures, only that if such an illness occurs the letter carrier would be exposed to a significant risk of harm. “[T]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here is no requirement that there be a ‘significant risk’ of the hazard coming to fruition, only that i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the hazardous event occurs, it would create a ‘significant risk’ to employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 322–25 (5th Cir.1984).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 89-2804, 1993 WL 119662, at *11 (OSHRC April 2, 1993). The Secre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tary must prove, therefore, that if “excessive heat” occurs, it would create a significant risk to letter carriers delivering mail that day. “[I]n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>order to prove the existence of a hazard within the meaning of the general duty clause, the Secretary cannot<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">merely show that there may be some degree of risk to employees. He must show, at a minimum, that employees are exposed to a significant risk of harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986 WL 5351412, at * 5(OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Magnitude of the R</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">isk</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin was unable to quantify the degree of risk to which outdoor workers would be exposed in 100°F weather. Counsel for the Postal Service cross-examined Dr. Tustin regarding a scenario in which 1000 letter carriers are working on a day when the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperature is 100°F:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me in that scenario how many employees -- what percentage of employees working in that 100-degree day would experience a heat-related illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: You can't tell me how likely it is?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">can't give you an exact number as far as a number of employees who will have an illness, no.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: When you say you can't give me an exact number; can you give me any number?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can tell you, like I said before, that there's a dose-response rela</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tionship, and it's --from the data that I've seen, it's more likely that employees<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">will become sick on a 100-degree day compared to an 80-degree day. But I can't give you an exact number.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me, on a 100-degree day with 1,000 employees worki</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng outside under identical conditions, what percentage will sustain a heat-related illness that is "serious" by your definition?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you recall during your deposition giving testimony about the likelihood that a cohort of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">workers would experience heat-related illness? . . . [Reading from deposition]: QUESTION: "The employees that would develop an illness, what sort of characteristics would you expect to see in those employees, if any?" ANSWER: "Like I said, I can't predict.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If you gave me a cohort of workers at the beginning of the day, and so predict which workers are going to develop a heat-related illness, I don't think I can do that -- I could do that." Do you recall giving that testimony?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">agree with it?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 546-47)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin’s testimony establishes incidents of heat-related illness are likely to increase as the heat index rises above 80°F, but it does not establish the magnitude of the risks or their significance. Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Tustin stated the severity of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related illnesses varies. Some, such as heat stroke, can be deadly, but others (such as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat rash and dehydration) can be minor (NH Tr. 261). Dr. Tustin reviewed spreadsheets compiled by the Postal Service when he was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">preparing his expert report. They listed heat-related incidents reported by Eastern Area Postal Service employees in the summers of 2017 and 2018 (NH Exh. C-162 & C-163).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. So you testified earlier that there are incidents in the data that clearly<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">weren't reportable; is that correct, just from your review?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I mean, just looking at the spreadsheet there are some that say the person felt dizzy and remained working, so yes. I mean, that doesn't seem to be a reportable incident.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd is it your understanding that these reports could include situations like an employee calling their supervisor and saying, "I feel really hot, I'm going to sit down for a while," and drinking a bottle of water and then continuing working?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Y</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es, it appears that there are some like that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I mean, there's one in there that just says, "I feel hot," right?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I don't know. There might be.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, if that employee sits down and drinks a lot of water and says, "Hey, I feel gr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eat, I'm going to go back to work," do they have a heat illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: They may have -- they might have had symptoms that would cause them to stop working, so that could be a mild heat illness, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you characterize that as serious?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tustin: No</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 628-29)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Determination of causation is also an issue. In recording injuries from vehicular accidents, falls, or dog bites, there is little doubt of the actual cause of the injury. Not all conditions diagnosed as heat-related are, how</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ever, heat-related. Dr. Tustin conceded the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tolerability of Heat Stress</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At one point, Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Bernard compared ACGIH’s TLV levels for heat to OSHA’s occupational noise exposure standard. Section 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise exposure during an 8-hour day to 90 dBA for all workers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The PEL for noise is 90 dBA. And you</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>might argue a little bit about what the number is, but [there] generally are between 20 and 25 percent of the population will suffer an occupational hearing loss at 90 dBA. So that's the reason for the hearing conservation amendment where you have audiogr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ams. That's your way of catching somebody who will be less tolerant of the noise. Even with the ACGIH TLV at 85 dBA, there's a small percentage of people who will still have an occupational hearing loss. So again, the audiograms are a way of catching that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(NH TR. 994-95)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Counsel for the Postal Service returned to the subject on cross-examination.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If we think about people being exposed to noise levels of 90 dBA or higher, you or somebody like you could tell us at those ranges this percentage of worke</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs would lose hearing; is that fair?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: With these TLVs would you agree that even at levels below the TLV there will be certain workers who will have heat-related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And you would agree with me that at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">levels above the TLV, perhaps significantly above the TLV, there will be workers that will not have heat- related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [W]e know that above 90 dBA there's a certain percentage who are pretty likely to lose<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hearing; do we not? That's why OSHA set the limit at 90?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you agree with me that the TLVs are designed -- currently designed such that 99 percent of workers exposed at levels below the TLVs will keep their core body temp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eratures at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: The final question on ACGIH, the ACGIH guidelines are set not to prevent heat illness. They're set to -- the goal of them, if you will, is to keep the core body temperature at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d: Well, and more importantly -- or more specifically so that you can maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So again, those are unlike, for example, the noise standard which is set to prevent hearing loss? This is set to maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Ber</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So it's not set to prevent an illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Not directly.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, I mean, you already agreed that certainly you will have some unspecified percentage of workers who will experience a heat illness even when working at levels bel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ow the TLV?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1056-59)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with heat exposure, noise exposure affects different people differently. A certain percentage of workers will suffer some hearing loss at a level below the PEL, and a certain percentage may not register h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">earing loss at certain levels above the PEL. The difference is employers know at what level OSHA, for the purpose of compliance, has determined noise presents a hazard. Section 1910.95 establishes a regulatory baseline that provides notice to employers of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the PEL for noise exposure and the requirements for hearing monitoring and testing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quantification of “Excessive” Heat</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary must show a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard. Here, the condition and the alleged hazard are iden</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tical. The condition of excessive heat presents an alleged hazard of excessive heat. The precise temperature at which regular heat becomes excessive heat is, however, unclear. OSHA has been urged to promulgate a heat stress standard since shortly after the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Act went into effect.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992) (“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In 1972, NIOSH recommended that OSHA adopt a standard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">governing exposure to heat, and a panel appointed by OSHA endorsed that recommendation in 1974. Nev</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ertheless, OSHA has not adopted a heat stress regulation[.]”).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The local and national hearings in the Postal Service cases establish people tolerate environmental heat at different levels, and other factors, such as underlying medical conditions or medication use, can affect their usual tolerability. Dr. Tustin and Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Bernard agree that some people may sustain a heat-related illness at temperatures below 80°F, their recommended screening level. The statistical evidence from the national hearing establishes the vast majority of letter carriers completed their routes wi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">thout incident on the dates the heat-related illnesses cited by Secretary occurred. Without a temperature- or heat index-specific standard, it is difficult for employers to know when heat is “excessive.” Chairman Sullivan commented on the lack of a unifor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m measurement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. “The Secretary’s failure to establish the existence of an excessive heat hazard here illustrates the difficulty in addressing this issue in the absence of an OSHA standard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *5, n.8.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In her concu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rring opinion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">former Chairman MacDougall addresses the nebulous phrase “excessive heat.”<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Excessive heat” is a condition that is inherent in the performance of outdoor work and one that only presents the possibility for harm, not an empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyment condition that by itself necessarily carries a significant risk of harm.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mo. Basin Well Serv., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 26 BNA OSHC at 2316 n. 5 (MacDougall, Chairman) (“As the Commission observed in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pelron,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an employer cannot reasonably be expected to free its wo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rkplace of inherent risks that are incident to its normal operation.”). This vague definition also neither identifies a condition or practice over which an employer can reasonably be expected to exercise control nor provides an employer with fair notice of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>what it is required to do to protect its employees.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Whether there exists a significant risk depends on both the severity of the potential harm and the likelihood of its occurrence, but there is an inverse relationship b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">etween these two elements. As the severity of the potential harm increases in a particular situation, its apparent likelihood of occurrence need not be as great.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weirton Steel Corp,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 98-0701, 1999 WL 34813785, at *5 (OSHRC July 31, 2003).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The record d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">emonstrates the difficulty of accurately determining the etiology of illnesses presumed to be heat-related. The Secretary has not shown the incidence of carriers’ self-reported heat-related illnesses establishes a “significant” risk of harm, either in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">statistical likelihood of occurrence or in the severity of potential harm.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Conclusion</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary did not establish the cited weather conditions exposed Houston’s letter carriers to a significant risk of harm from<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">excessive heat on June 17, 2016.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref154" href="#ftn154">154</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "> The Secretary has not met his burden to establish a condition or activity presented a hazard. The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">B. Feasible and Effective Means to Eliminate or Materially Reduce the Hazard</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assuming the Secretary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had established the heat index on June 17, 2016, presented an excessive heat hazard, as well as the elements of industry or employer recognition, likelihood of death or serious physical injury, and knowledge, the Court finds he failed to establish the ele</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ment relating to feasible and effective means of abatement.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the feasibility of a proposed abatement measure, the Secretary must ‘demonstrate both that the measure[] [is] capable of being put into effect and that [it] would be effective in mat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">erially reducing the incidence of the hazard.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Arcadian,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>20 BNA OSHC at 2011 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Beverly Enters. Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 19 BNA OSHC at 1190). Where an employer has undertaken measures to address a hazard alleged under the general duty clause, the Secretary must show th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at such measures were inadequate.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">U.S. Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 21 BNA OSHC 1767, 1773-74 (No. 04-0316, 2006).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *8. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary's burden to show that demonstrably feasible measures would materially reduce the likelihood th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at such injury as that which resulted from the cited hazard would have occurred. . . . The Secretary must specify the particular steps the employer should have taken to avoid citation, and he must demonstrate the feasibility and likely utility of those mea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sures.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Champlin Petroleum Co. v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Comm'n,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>593 F.2d 637, 640 (5th Cir. 1979).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. Proposed Method of Abatement</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation states:</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is to follow the guidelines contained in the OSHA-NIOSH Infosheet “Protecting Workers from Heat Illness,” the OSHA document “Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers,” the NIOSH document “Criteria for a Recommended Standard Occupational Exposure to Hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t and Hot Environments,” and OSHAs Safety and Health Topics Page on Occupational Heat Exposure:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. Establish and implement a comprehensive, written heat related illness prevention program.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. Designate and train a knowledgeable person onsite who is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">well informed about heat related illnesses and authorized to modify work activities and the work/rest schedule.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. Train all employees regarding the service’s Heat Stress Program, the health effects associated with heat stress and recognizing the signs, sy</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mptoms and methods of the prevention of heat-induced illnesses.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. Develop specific procedures to be followed for emergency situations and procedures for first aid to be administered immediately to employees displaying symptoms of a heat related illness.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Verify that adequate medical services are available. Train employees, such as Route Examiners, to administer first aid for heat related illnesses. Supply adequate medical supplies and equipment such as cool towels and a thermometer.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. Develop a written<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">schedule for acclimatizing employees beginning work in a hot environment or those returning from an absence of a week or more.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. Establish or designate air-conditioned areas along the delivery route where heat-affected employees may take their breaks and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">/or recover.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. Physiologically monitor workers by establishing a routine to periodically check workers for physical signs such as body temperature, heart rate and body water loss. Use dermal patches for monitoring employee body temperatures to better iden</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tify when workers need to be removed from the work area.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. Establish specific break schedules during high-temperature conditions that differ from regular break schedules. Ensure that these break schedules are followed.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In his brief, the Secretary focuse</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s on seven methods of abatement, two of which (equipping vehicles with air conditioning and analyzing existing data on heat-related illnesses) are not proposed in the Citation for this proceeding, and which the Court will not address in this decision.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref155" href="#ftn155">155</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he seven methods the Secretary recommends for implementation in his brief are a work/rest cycle; air-conditioned vehicles; emergency response procedure; analysis of existing data on heat-related illnesses; employee monitoring; reduction in time spent outdo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ors; and training. Work/rest cycles and reduction in time spent outdoors are discussed below in the section addressing economic feasibility. The Court will address the remaining recommended methods that are both listed in the Citation and argued in the Sec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">retary’s brief.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">. Emergency Response</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the proposed abatement methods in the Citation provide:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. Develop specific procedures to be followed for emergency situations and procedures for first aid to be administered immediately to empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyees displaying symptoms of a heat related illness.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. Verify that adequate medical services are available. Train employees, such as Route Examiners, to administer first aid for heat related illnesses. Supply adequate medical supplies and equipment such a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s cool towels and a thermometer.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends an effective first aid program would materially reduce the likelihood of a letter carrier’s heat-related illness becoming more serious, and he cites Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard as supporting this posi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion. A review of their testimony shows their opinions on this topic are equivocal with regard to the Houston case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Let's talk about category of abatement measures and that is first aid or emergency care. Are there abatement measures that can be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">taken once a letter carrier starts to experience symptoms of heat stress to keep it from becoming more serious?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: There are. First aid, like you mentioned, is something that can be done. Now, you're starting to get into things that I consider to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>be less effective in the sense that first aid does not reduce the heat stress at all. First aid is more reactive rather than proactive. But yes, if there is a proper first aid program that kicks in quickly when symptoms happen then, yes, that can reduce t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he hazard that the illness will become worse.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And based on all the testimony that you reviewed, did you reach an opinion about whether the Postal Service's existing emergency care procedures are adequate?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes, I reached an opinion and my</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>opinion is that they're not adequate.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Why do you say that?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: There were several incidents out of the seven where I thought that the first-aid response and treatment that the worker received was inadequate.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 518-19)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin proce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eds to discuss the incidents that gave rise to the citations in the Benton, San Antonio, Martinsburg, and Des Moines cases, specifically skipping over the Houston incident (NH Tr. 520-24). The Court infers from this omission that Dr. Tustin did not think t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Postal Service’s emergency response was inadequate in the Houston case.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin also qualified his opinion regarding first aid and treatment, stating that calling 911 (as happened here) is the best approach. “[M]y opinion is that the supervisor shou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld not be triaging these illnesses based on all the evidence that I've seen. So another thing they could do would be to simply call 911.” (NH Tr. 526)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard also condoned calling 911 as an alternative to administering first aid.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: For Postal Se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvice workers who work alone, are you suggesting or recommending that supervisors or co-workers go to where that carrier is and where that carrier is experiencing symptoms and provide first aid to them?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: That's an option that the Postal Servic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e can consider.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you believe that would be safer than having that employee who is experiencing symptoms call 911?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: No.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1085)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The safety officer for the Astrodome Post Office testified letter carriers are trained in standup saf</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ety talks to call 911. “We give them the symptoms of heat stress and heat strokes. And, you know, to let them know if they start feeling sick or ill in any kind of way, to call 911 to let somebody know.” (Tr. 709)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As for Dr. Bernard’s suggestion co-worker</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s could be trained to administer first aid to letter carriers, his testimony shows problems arise when the practicalities of that situation are considered.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: With regard to first aid training, your testimony was that co-workers and supervisors should go</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to that carrier that's in distress and provide first aid; correct?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Correct.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And you believe, I'm assuming, that that sort of system is technically feasible; . . . correct?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In making that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">determination, did you consider any limitations in the collective bargaining agreement about the types of work various crafts can perform?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: No.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Did you consider how quickly supervisors or mail carriers, given their job responsibilities, c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ould actually get to the carrier in distress to provide that first aid?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: No.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Did you consider the amount of time it would take the supervisor or the co-worker to get to the employee who is experiencing potential signs and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">symptoms of heat exhaustion?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: No.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Did you consider any distances, for example, the supervisor may have to travel to get to that carrier in order to provide that first aid?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: No.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1118-19)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Paragraph 5 of the Citation re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">commends supplying “adequate medical supplies and equipment such as cool towels and a thermometer.” Dr. Bernard testified cooling towels and similar products “provide a sense of comfort but they’re not going to materially control heat stress.” (NH Tr. 111</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court determines the Secretary has not established the recommend abatement methods regarding first aid and medical supplies would have materially reduced an excessive heat hazard in this case.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">b. Employee Monitoring</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Paragraph 8 of the proposed a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">batement methods listed in the Citation provides:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Physiologically monitor workers by establishing a routine to periodically check workers for physical signs such as body temperature, heart rate and body water loss. Use dermal patches for monitoring employe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e body temperatures to better identify when workers need to be removed from the work area.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary’s argument in support of the Postal Service’s implementation of physiological monitoring of letter carriers is vaguely worded and lacks a basis for e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stablishing this method would materially reduce the incidence of an excessive heat hazard:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In the summer of 2016, supervisors in the [Houston] office did nothing different on particularly hot days during the summer, such as increase employee monitoring. Th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ere was no evidence for example that on extremely hot days, supervisors checked on letter carriers working on the street. Increased monitoring of employees during particularly hot weather would be beneficial and is clearly feasible. . . . Dr. Bernard testi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fied employee monitoring is beneficial because it allows for observations of heat-related disorders, and it provides an “active decision-making process” of evaluating how an employee is feeling rather than allowing for a “passive decision” and waiting unti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l symptoms are overwhelming. ([NH 838-840]) Making increased monitoring mandatory rather than optional, is therefore a feasible means of abatement that would significantly reduce the hazard.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, pp. 50-51)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard favors a “virtual bud</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dy system” to provide monitoring.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The idea is in a traditional heat stress exposure, that there's a buddy system. We definitely encourage the idea that you're never out of sight of somebody else. And</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">this is so that you can observe any signs of heat-relate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d disorders. You can query them about any symptoms, and that plays both ways. I do appreciate the fact that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the . . . Post Office, you know, really – we can't put two people on a route. I kind of get that. And so it's looking for an alternative way of doin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g this. And I think I mentioned -- but not sure that I said it here that they stay -- that you pair carriers off so that they stay in contact with each other. What's important there is that there's an active decision-making process about how I feel and wha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t my symptoms are. My experience has been if you leave that as a passive decision, that generally people will go beyond their limits.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 838-39)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The one letter carrier for whom medical testimony exists in this proceeding is LC1, who was accompanied<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">by an actual “buddy,” route examiner GJ, during his entire delivery on June 17, 2016. GJ noted LC1 was perspiring heavily and repeatedly asked him if he was okay, to which he responded he was. Towards the end of the delivery, when it was clear LC1 was not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">well, she drove him to the Astrodome Post Office, and the P.M. supervisor called 911. “[A]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n employer may defend against a general duty clause citation by demonstrating that it was using an abatement method that is as effective as the one suggested by the S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecretary. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brown & Root, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 8 BNA OSHC 2140, 2144, 1980 CCH OSHD ¶ 24,853, p. 30,656 (No. 76–1296, 1980).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1993 WL 119662, at *14. Here, route examiner GJ’s accompanying LC1 on his route was as effective as the virtual buddy system proposed by Dr. Bernard.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary also recommends the use of dermal patches to physiologically monitor letter carriers on th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eir routes. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Use dermal patches for monitoring employee body temperatures to better identify when workers need to be removed from the work area.” He makes no mention of dermal patches in his brief. Dr. Conibear testified dermal patches provide no useful i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nformation regarding core body temperature. “Skin patches are not a valid way of assessing core body temperature.” (NH Tr. 3058)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary has not demonstrated physiologically monitoring letter carriers would have materially reduce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d an excessive heat hazard in this case.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">c. Training</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends the heat stress training provided to the Astrodome Post Office letter carriers prior to June 17, 2016, was inadequate. On May 28 and June 1, 2016,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the safety captain at the Astrod</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ome Post Office gave standup safety talks focused on delivering mail in hot weather conditions as part of the Postal Service’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exhs. C-2, C-29, C-30; Tr. 513, 581-82).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The safety captain told</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>letter carriers to take pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecautions in hot weather, including “drink plenty of water. Make sure their clothes are loose-fitting, . . . and get plenty of shade and rest when you can.” (Tr. 700) “We give them the symptoms of heat stress and heat strokes. And . . to let them know if t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hey start feeling sick or ill in any kind of way, to call 911 to let somebody know.” (Tr. 709)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The record establishes LC1 drank large amounts of water and beverages on June 17, 2016, and he took his breaks in the van with the air conditioner running. He w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as dressed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">appropriately for the weather, and he paced himself by using the heart rate monitor on his watch to keep his heart rate below 120 beats a minute. He routinely walked 11 to 13 miles each workday on his route. He generally perspired heavily when d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elivering mail, so that would not alert him as a symptom of heat-related illness. He also had a history of muscle cramps (Tr. 98, 125-30). The Secretary has not established LC1’s training in heat safety was inadequate or articulated what specific additiona</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l method of training would have materially reduced an excessive heat hazard.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary has not met his burden of showing a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce a hazard of excessive heat.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Economic Infeasibility</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, the Secretary failed to establish its proposed abatement methods regarding work/rest cycles, acclimatization programs, and additional paid breaks are economically feasible. It is the Secretary’s burden to show his “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>abatement measures are economically feasible. . . . In cases involving the general duty clause, the Commission has generally held that an abatement method is not economically feasible if it ‘would clearly threaten the economic viability of the employer.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">National Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 n.37. ” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enterprises, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 91-3144, 92-238, 92-1257, 93-724, 2000 WL 34012177, at *34-35 (OSHRC Oct. 27, 2000).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref156" href="#ftn156">156</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary’s brief addresses the abatement methods of implementation of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work/rest cycles and reduction of time spent outdoors. Two of the guidelines in the Secretary’s proposed abatement method listed in the Houston Citation are:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. Develop a written schedule for acclimatizing employees beginning work in a hot environment or t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hose returning from an absence of a week or more.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. Establish specific break schedules during high-temperature conditions that differ from regular break schedules. Ensure that these break schedules are followed.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary’s burden to show</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>his “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed abatement measures are economically feasible. . . . In cases involving the general duty clause, the Commission has generally held that an abatement method is not economically feasible if it ‘would clearly threaten the economic viability of t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he employer.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">National Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 n.37. ”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enterprises, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 91-3144, 92-238, 92-1257, 93-724, 2000 WL 34012177, at *34-35 (OSHRC Oct. 27, 2000). The proposals related to reducing the amount of time carriers spend working outdoor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">require the Postal Service to pay them for the time during which they are not working or pay additional carriers at regular or overtime rates.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified regarding abatement measures that he recommends the Postal Service implement to red</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uce its employees’ exposure to excessive heat. Safety organizations used the concept of hierarchy of controls to prioritize measures to reduce hazardous exposure. The first and most effective measure is elimination of the hazard, followed by substitution,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) (NH Tr. 498-500). Dr. Tustin stated elimination of the hazard (hot weather) is not an option for the Postal Service, nor is substitution.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Work/Rest Cycles</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iscussed, as an administrative control, work/rest cycles to lower the postal worker’s metabolic heat. “[T]he employer would give workers rest breaks . . . and they would increase in either frequency or duration as the temperature increases.” (NH Tr. 508) H</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e advocated for a “protocol for giving more frequent breaks” such as “when the temperature reaches a certain level, workers might break for 15 minutes out of every hour and rest in a cooler location. As the temperature increases even more, there might be a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nother threshold where they have to rest even more than 15 minutes per hour—maybe 30 minutes per hour.” (NH Tr. 509)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin believes the most effective use of the work/rest cycle is to require mandatory breaks. “[F]or heat-related illnesses in particu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lar, . . . if it’s progressing to heat stroke that can cause disorientation and confusion, mental status changes. So somebody who is progressing to heat stroke might not realize that they need a rest break. So relying on the worker to take a rest break cou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld be dangerous in that situation.” (NH Tr. 513) He does not think the Postal Service’s policy of allowing comfort stops to be an effective administrative control. “To be honest it didn’t even really appear sincere to me. The testimony that I reviewed indi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cated that sometimes supervisors said that workers were allowed to take extra rest breaks but then when workers either reported symptoms or said they wanted extra rest breaks; they were . . . either disciplined or supervisors became angry.” (NH Tr. 514) It</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is Dr. Tustin’s opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that exposure to excessive heat “would have been significantly reduced in all seven incidents [cited in the five Postal Service cases before the Court] if a work/rest cycle program had<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">been implemented.” (NH Tr. 514)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Acclimatization</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed three types of acclimatization in the context of abatement measures. First, a worker may not be acclimatized if he or she is newly hired and has not been exposed to the work<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">environment. “In that case allowing the person to become acclimatized to heat stress is thought to be helpful.” (NH Tr. 515) Second, a worker who has taken time off work, either due to vacation or illness, “might lose acclimatization or when the worker com</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es back the heat stress might be higher when the worker left. So allowing that worker to gradually acclimatize, . . . if the absence has been more than about two weeks, is helpful.” (NH Tr. 515-16) The third case involves “situations where essentially the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">entire workforce is unacclimatized if it’s, . . . for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">example, a heat wave. Protecting the entire workforce somehow during a heat wave can materially reduce the hazard.” (NH Tr. 516)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recommended newly hired letter carriers and letter carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">returning after a work break follow an acclimatization schedule that builds up daily to increased heat exposure (NH Exh. C-312). He believes his recommended acclimatization is technically feasible for the Postal Service. “[I]t's with the preplanning that g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oes into things. And they do plan their routes. They do have unexcused absences and others. So there's a capability of managing how you can assign routes and a workload, so I think this fits into that possibility.” (NH Tr. 837)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard acknowledged on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>cross-examination he did not know realistically how the Postal Service could implement his recommended acclimatization plan.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In those scenarios where, you know, you're going to have in your opinion workers who cannot be on the street working outside<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">because they returned from that 3-week vacation, you said they can be productive in other ways. Given what you know about the Postal Service operation, what are they going to do during that time?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, I don't know.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So you don't know</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>if they can be productive or not?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yeah, I mean, I can create scenarios and the Post Office will laugh at me. You know, so this isn't my business, but the Post Office knows their business. . . . But the goal is, you know, is some sort of prog</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ressive increase. The classic one is 50 percent on day one. 60, 80, 100. . . . And that is the outdoor portion, the casing doesn't count.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1080-81)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Reducing Time Outdoors</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin also advocated for earlier start times. Noting temperatures typica</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lly are highest between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Dr. Tustin recommended the Postal Service could adjust its delivery schedule, so letter carriers are not working during the hottest hours in the afternoon. “[I]f you shifted the work hours that they finish b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y 1:00 p.m. then [the letter carriers] would be exposed to both lower levels of environmental heat overall. So the level of heat would be lower and the amount of time that they were exposed to a hazardous level of environmental heat would be shorter.” (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 518)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Funding the Proposed Abatement Methods</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary presented no witnesses, expert or otherwise, to show funding the proposed additional rest/recovery/acclimatization/break time is economically feasible. Instead, the Secretary argues the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service could simply raise prices for competitive products, such as packages, or borrow $4 billion from the U.S. Treasury (Secretary’s brief, p. 62). These suggestions are speculative and presented without evidence of their efficacy. The Secretary a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lso claims the Postal Service is not actually operating at a deficit because it has defaulted on its financial obligations for several years.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The 2018 Presidential task force report provides a clear snapshot demonstrating six consecutive years of postal pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ofits totaling $3.8 billion in revenue. (DC Ex. C-135 at p.19) All of USPS’s claimed losses are merely paper losses. After nine years of not paying into the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF), it is clear the prefunding mandate of the Postal Accountabilit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y and Enhancement Act is not a true expense because the act has no mechanism to enforce payment, USPS suffers no penalty from default, and it intentionally chooses to spend its revenue elsewhere.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 61)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service, in contrast</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, presented a detailed analysis explaining why the Secretary’s proposed time-related abatements are unworkable.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">David Williams Jr., chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, testified at length regarding its precarious fi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nancial condition resulting from increased competition and the obligation to prefund the RHBF (NH Tr. 1751-52). He described how the complex network of employees, contractors, facilities, airplanes, trucks, and other vehicles coordinate nationwide to meet<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the timetable imposed by 24-hour clock, and how one snag could create a bullwhip effect (NH Tr. 1760, 1780-81, 1783-84, 1791-92, 1795-97). Williams stated, “Every step depends on the previous step. And if we change one thing, we change another.” (NH Tr. 18</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">14)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams testified the Secretary’s recommendations for work/rest cycles and unlimited paid breaks were economically (as well as technically) infeasible.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If you think about the 24 hour clock that I talked about the need for our carriers to get back by<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6:00 p.m. so that we could meet the dispatch schedules and start that whole process around our operating plan to insure that we achieve the service expectations of our customers, when an employee can take an unlimited break for work 75 percent of the time<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that means that for -- at least for the one where the [temperature requires] 45 minutes work 15 minutes break for every hour, that’s significant.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>That impacts our ability to deliver mail on time to make the 24 hour clock. If you think about 50 percent of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the time where a carrier is working 30 minutes out of every hour, totally infeasible in terms of our ability to provide prompt, reliable and efficient service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And then if you think of 15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of break, totally infeasible. Then</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the unlimited breaks, I don’t know of any business, any business that provides unlimited breaks whenever anybody would want to take a break.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . . [W]e’re hemorrhaging money every day. And the costing that was performed on this analysis is in the hundred</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s of millions of dollars. We can’t afford it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 1911-13)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulated that the Postal Service’s net losses were in the billions for 2016, 2017, and 2018:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Do Yeun Sammi Park, financial economist for the Postal Service, testified regarding the financial impact of implementing the abatement methods</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>proposed by the Secretary related to paid worktime.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref157" href="#ftn157">157</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court determined Dr. Park was qualified “in terms of her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education” as an expert in economics with a “specialized expertise in cost modeling.” (Tr. 1559-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">60)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">She explained her process for developing a costing model to determine how much proposed changes in CBAs would cost the Postal Service. CBAs usually expire after 3 or 5 years, and then the terms have to be renegotiated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]henever we do the negotiation, th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e major portion is an economic proposal, which is determining the wage increase, the general wage increase or COLA increase or step increase. Those are the three main parts of the wage increase.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So whenever we do the negotiation, there's a lot of proposa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ls going on, and we – my task was to cost each economic proposal, how much it's going to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cost to the USPS. . . . So I developed a fairly complicated model, the costing model. And so I polish up the model, develop it and prove it and update it before the ne</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gotiations start. And whenever the negotiation is actually going on, the main spokesperson talks to the union's head, and then they discuss – they bounce each other the proposals, and they let me -- tell me I need to cost what it's going to cost USPS 1.3 p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ercent of general increase next year or throughout the 3-year contract. And I have to cost -- for example, it's going to cost $800 million to the USPS. . . . So a costing model consists of basically wages and benefit part. . . . So the general increases on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>. . . the salaries, so that comes into it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The benefit part, we also have to -- so whenever we increase a salary, that also affects the benefit, and we have to cost that part out. Mainly, the cost part of the benefit is -- we look at the proportion of h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ow much, if we increase salary -- the basic salary goes up, then what's the proportion of benefit goes up with it. So those are the main big components of the costing model.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1556-58)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August of 2018, the Postal Service asked Dr. Park to determin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e the cost of two proposed changes designed to reduce the exposure of letter carriers to excessive heat: an acclimatization program and an additional paid 5-minute break. For the acclimatization program, Dr. Park assumed the targeted letter carriers are re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">turning to work after a 3-day layoff and after a 7-day layoff. For both layoff periods, Dr. Park assumed the letter carriers’ return schedule would start the first day with restricting them to working only 2 hours outdoors, then 4 hours the second day, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>then 6 hours the third day. On the fourth day, the letter carriers can return to their regular schedules. Dr. Park relied on the acclimatization analyses developed by Robert Mullin, a data analyst in field staffing and support for the Postal Service, to p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">erform her cost modeling the proposed changes (NH Tr. 1473, 1560-63).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Park used a “consolidated rate” to calculate the cost. The consolidated rate is determined by combining the various wage rates for full-time, part-time, and non-career postal emplo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yees into one wage rate. She also reviewed the CBAs for city and rural letter carriers for details relating to guaranteed hours the Postal Service is contractually obligated to pay (NH Tr. 1564-68). Based on her analyses of six hypothetical situations, Dr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Park determined the total costs of the acclimatization program and the paid 5-minute break:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(1) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$333,877,519</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$487,864,332</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(2) Cost of 3 Day Accl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$209,293,069</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$312,124,391</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(3) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$179,628,724</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$263,267,6</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">64</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(4) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$126,620,282</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$188,428,747</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(5) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$87,849,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">671</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$130,815,782</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(6) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$67,536,663</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$100,540,277</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. R-202, pp. 6-8; NH Tr. 1599-1602)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues these figures are inflate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref158" href="#ftn158">158</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:67.2px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The calculation is a gross over-estimation of costs as acclimatization is not needed after a mere three or seven days off; rather, it is necessary for new workers and workers returning from a two- to three-week absence. Therefore the group selected fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r costing was over-inclusive. Further, acclimatization is generally only needed when the heat index is at least 91°F, so calculating for every single day inside a three-month time period is also grossly over inclusive.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 48, n. 33)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is not the Postal Service’s burden to establish the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods are economically feasible. The Postal Service has adduced the analysis of a cost modeling specialist who projected the cost of implementing specified extra break<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and acclimatization schedules. The Secretary had the opportunity to rebut the projected costs with his own expert or to cross-examine Dr. Park more extensively on the accuracy of her projections.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“OSHA is not required to prove economic feasibility with ce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rtainty but is required to use the best available evidence and to support its conclusions with substantial evidence.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">American Iron & Steel Institute v. OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">939 F.2d 975, 980–81 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead II)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. OSHA must also provide “a reasonable estimate o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f compliance costs and demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that these costs will not threaten the existence or competitive structure of an industry, even if it does<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">portend disaster for some marginal firms.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United Steelworkers of America, AFC-CIO-CLC,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>64</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7 F.2d 1189, 1272 (D.C. Cir. 1960), (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">N. Am.'s Bldg. Trades Unions v. Occupational Safety & Health Admin.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>878 F.3d 271, 296 (D.C. Cir. 2017).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary’s burden to prove the economic feasibility of his proposed abatements.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secreta</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or demonstrate a reasonable likelihood compliance costs would not threaten the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice preside</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nt for the Postal Service, was asked about financing the proposed acclimatization and paid break programs. He stated, “We don’t have sufficient funds to even pay our existing obligations. So, no, we do not have funds to pay additional obligations. . . . We</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>just don’t have sufficient cash. We—we can’t.” (NH Tr. 2383-84)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Restrictions Imposed by the CBA</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Alan Moore has been the Postal Service’s manager of labor relations since 2007(NH Tr. 2211). He is responsible for contract administration for the NALC and for managing the labor relations process when rules are created or changed (NH Tr. 2214-15). His tes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">timony illustrates how the CBA creates further obstacles to feasibly implementing the Secretary’s proposed time-based methods of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Reorganization Act requires the Postal Service to bargain with its employees’ labor unions. The parties</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>bargain over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions (NH Tr. 2216). Generally, when a contract is set to expire, the parties have an approximately 90-day window to bargain. They jointly establish the ground rules, including what discussions will be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>off the record. They set up bargaining teams who work on proposals (NH Tr. 2218). The Postal Service looks at the total cost of any proposed contract. “[G]enerally there’s a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quid pro quo<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">process. So if the union . . . wants something, then we get somethin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g in return.” (NH Tr. 2219) During the term of the CBA, the Postal Service cannot unilaterally change wages, hours, benefits, or working conditions of the contract (MH Tr. 2225-26).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>NALC is the exclusive bargaining representative of city letter carriers.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Not all city letter carriers are members of NALC but the CBA for NALC applies to all of them. City letter carriers include career employees, who are either full-time (with 40-hour assignments) or part-time. Part time employees are divided into part-time re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gulars and part-time flexibles. The CBA limits the number of part-time regular employees to 682. The part-time flexible position is being sunsetted and replaced by city carrier assistants (CCAs). CCAs are non-career employees who are on a path to become ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reer employees when a regular position opens up. The CBA limits the number of CCAs to 15 percent of the full-time employees per district, and no more than 8,000 CCAs nationwide. The Postal Service is prohibited from unilaterally exceeding any position caps</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>set out in the CBA (NH Exh. R-117; NH Tr. 2228-34).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA does not permit the Postal Service to divide a city letter carrier’s assignment so part of it is worked in the morning and part in the late afternoon. “[T]here’s a requirement that full-time ass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ignments are either 8 or 9 hours within 10 hours.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref159" href="#ftn159">159</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>[T]he 8 hours within 9 hours . . . is in offices with a hundred employees or something. There’s a baseline there. . . . So the biggest gap you can have in a regular assignment is 2 hours.” (NH Tr. 2234-35</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA guarantees full-time city letter carriers 8 hours of work or 8 hours’ worth of pay daily. If a full-time city letter carrier works only 2 hours during a day’s assignment, the Postal Service still owes the city letter carrier for 8 hours’ pay (NH</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 2235-36). The Postal Service must assign overtime work first to full-time employees who have signed up for the overtime-desired list. If the Postal Service assigns an employee who is not on the list to work overtime, it must also pay the employee on t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he overtime-desired list for the same work (NH Tr. 2237-38).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service has demonstrated the Secretary’s proposed time-based abatement methods<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">threaten its economic viability. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Court concludes the Secretary has failed to establish his proposed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatements relating to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times are economically feasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VII. CONCLUSION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary has not met his burden of proving the cited conditions presented a haza</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd of excessive heat exposure to Houston letter carriers on June 17, 2016. He has not established his recommended methods of abatement for emergency response, employee monitoring, and training would have materially reduced the alleged hazard. He also faile</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d to establish the economic feasibility of his proposed abatement methods related to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, and work/recovery cycles.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Because the Court finds the Secretary did not prove a violation of the general duty clause, i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t is not necessary to address the Secretary’s request for enterprise-wide abatement of excessive heat exposure for letter carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VIII. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The foregoing decision constitutes the findings o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IX. ORDER</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the foregoing decision, it is hereby<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDERED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Item 1 of the Citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1), is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and no penalty is assessed.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">SO OR</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DERED.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">___________________________<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; ">Dated: July 29, 2020</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Administrative Law Judge, OSHRC</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Washington, DC</span></p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Un</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ited States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "> OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">th</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary of Labor,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">United States Postal Service,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket No.:<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">17-0279</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC),</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee Representative,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> And</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA)</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Authorized Employee<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Representative.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:10.667px; margin-bottom:10.667px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Judson Dean, Esq.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Gina MacNeill, Esq., USPS, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Eric Goulian, Esq., USPS, Washington, D.C.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Michael J. Gan, Esq. and Mark Gisler, Esq., Washington, D.C.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">For NRLCA</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">BEFORE: Administrative Law Judge Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">I. INTRODUCTION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On the afternoon of August 13, 2016, a rural letter carrier for the United States Po</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">stal Service began to feel dizzy and nauseated as she drove and delivered mail on her route in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She was sweating profusely and then stopped sweating altogether. Alarmed, she drove to a house on her route belonging to a couple wit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h whom she had become friendly over the years. The couple brought her inside to rest and called the Martinsburg Post Office to alert her supervisor of the situation. Her supervisor eventually arrived at the house and drove the rural carrier to a hospital,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">where she was admitted.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>The Martinsburg Post Office notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the incident. OSHA opened an inspection of the post office on August 17, 2016. As a result of the inspection, the Secretary issued a one-it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">em Citation and Notification of Penalty to the United States Postal Service (referred to in this proceeding as the Postal Service or USPS) on January 19, 2017. The Citation alleges a repeat violation of § 5(a)(1), the general duty clause (§ 654(a)(1)), of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651-678 (Act).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees “to recognized hazards of working outside during periods of excessive heat.” The Secretary proposes a penalty of $69</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,713 for the alleged violation and seeks enterprise-wide implementation of specified abatement measures.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This case is one of five pending before the Court in which the Secretary alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees to excessive heat as they del</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ivered the mail. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), authorized employee representatives, elected party status in the proceedings. NALC did not send a representative to attend the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hearing (Tr. 13-14). Counsel for the NRLCA attended the hearing, presented an opening statement to the Court, and cross-examined two witnesses. Neither union submitted a post-hearing brief (Tr. 51, 252, 520). The five cases were consolidated early in the p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">roceedings for settlement purposes, but the parties were unable to resolve the issues.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On January 26, 2018, Judge Heather Joys, the settlement judge, severed the cases for hearing, and they were reassigned to the Court, who heard the five cases sequentiall</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y in October and November of 2018.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref160" href="#ftn160">160</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties agreed the Court would hold a separate hearing (referred to as the national hearing) to present expert witnesses and witnesses addressing issues common to the five cases. The Court held the 12-day national<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hearing in Washington, D.C., from February 25 to March 12, 2019. The testimony and exhibits in the national hearing are part of the records in the five cases, unless otherwise noted. The records of the individual cases were not admitted in the other action</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s, unless noted.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref161" href="#ftn161">161</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This is the fourth of the five Postal Service cases heard by the Court. It was held from November 5 to November 7, 2018, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The parties submitted briefs for all five cases on September 17, 2019. For the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reasons that follow, the Court finds the Secretary did not establish a condition or activity in the workplace presented an excessive heat hazard to Martinsburg’s carriers on August 13, 2016. The Court also finds the Secretary failed to show an economically</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>feasible means existed to materially reduce the alleged hazard of excessive heat. The Citation is vacated.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">II. JURISDICTION AND COVERAGE</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service timely contested the Citation on February 13, 2017. The parties stipulate the Commission has juris</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">diction over this action, and the Postal Service is a covered employer under the Act (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 1-2).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref162" href="#ftn162">162</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Based on the stipulations and the record evidence, the Court finds the Commission has jurisdiction over this proceeding under § 10(c) of the Act, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service is a covered employer under § 3(5) of the Act.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">III. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13892</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties filed post-hearing briefs on September 17, 2019, in the five Postal Service cases. On October 15, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order No</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 13892</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 84 Fed. Reg. 55239 (October 15, 2019) (E.O. 13892)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Section 4 of E.O. 13892 provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Sec. 4.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fairness and Notice in Administrative E</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">nforcement Actions and Adjudications.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When an agency takes an administrative enforcement action, engages in adjudication, or otherwise makes a determination that has legal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">consequence for a person, it may apply only standards of conduct that have been publ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">icly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise. An agency must avoid unfair surprise not only when it imposes penalties but also whenever it adjudges past conduct to have violated the law.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On November 6, 2019, the Postal Service submitted a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>letter to the Court with a copy of E.O. 13892 attached “as supplemental authority.” The Postal Service states:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[E.O. 13892] is relevant to two primary arguments in the Postal Service’s Post-Trial Briefs:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1. The Commission has already recognized that de</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fining a hazard as “excessive heat,” which the Secretary has done in this case, falls far short of due process. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA is required to afford regulated parties safeguards “above and beyond” those required for due process. Vagu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ely defining a hazard as “excessive heat” does not meet [E.O. 13892’s] requirements.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2. [E.O. 13892] makes it clear that OSHA’s reliance on its heat chart and other guidance documents as the basis for establishing a heat hazard is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">impermissible. While agency guidance documents can be useful in enhancing the regulated community’s understanding of a regulation, they are not intended to form the basis of a violation. Guidance documents do not have the benefit of undergoing notice and c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">omment rulemaking, and thus do not provide the regulated community with fair notice.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Letter, p. 2) (footnotes omitted)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary filed a response on December 4, 2019, stating the terms of E.O. 13892 do not create rights enforceable against the Secret</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ary, and due process concerns are not implicated where the Postal Service has recognized or should have recognized the excessive heat hazard at issue. The Secretary notes the Postal Service has suffered no unfair surprise as that term is used in the Order.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>By order dated January 30, 2020, the Court accepted the Letter and attached copy of E.O. 13892 as supplemental authority in this proceeding in accordance with FRCP 15(d), which provides:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(d) SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS. On motion and reasonable notice, the c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ourt may, on just terms, permit a party to serve a supplemental pleading setting out any transaction, occurrence, or event that happened after the date of the pleading to be supplemented. The court may permit supplementation even though the original pleadi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng is defective in stating a claim or defense. The court may order that the opposing party plead to the supplemental pleading within a specified time.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having considered the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that in citing the Postal Service for a viola</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion of § 5(a)(1) for excessive heat exposure, the Secretary did not overstep the terms of E.O. 13892. Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 states, “This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">law or in equity by any party<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.” Section 11(c) of E.O. 13892 bars review in adjudicative proceedings of an agency’s compliance with E</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.O. 13892.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Furthermore, § 9(c) of the Act grants the Secretary the authority to cite employers for violations of § 5(a)(1). 29 U.S.C. § 658(a). Section 11(a)(i) of E.O. 13892 provides, “Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof.” E.O. 13892 cannot be used to restrict the Secretary’s congressional authority to implement § 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, E.O. 13892 states agencies “may apply only stan</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">dards of conduct that have been publicly stated in a manner that would not cause unfair surprise.” Section 5(a)(1) requires employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). Hazards are recognized within the meaning of § 5(a)(1) if they are known to the cited employer or would be known to a reasonably prudent employer in th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">e industry.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SeaWorld of Fla., LLC v. Perez,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">748 F.3d 1216 (D.C. Cir. 2014). Employer or industry recognition precludes unfair surprise. The Secretary had previously cited the Postal Service for the willful exposure of carriers to an excessive heat hazard,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">and a Commission judge affirmed the violation. The decision and order became a final order of the Commission.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service cannot claim plausibly it was unfairly surpri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">sed by subsequent citations for repeat violations alleging exposure of carriers to excessive heat hazards.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IV. THE MARTINSBURG HEARING</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stipulations<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulate the following:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref163" href="#ftn163">163</a></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. [The Postal Service] is divided into seven Areas<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">which are in turn divided into Districts.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. The seven areas are: Northeast Area; Eastern Area; Western Area; Pacific Area; Southern Area; Great Lakes and Capitol Metro.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. This hearing involves operations at the post office at 1355 Old Courthouse Square,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Martinsburg, West Virginia (Martinsburg) which is located in the Eastern Area.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. On August 13, 2016, rural carrier [LC-1]</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref164" href="#ftn164">164</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was an employee of [the Postal Service] who worked at the Martinsburg Post Office.</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. On August 13, 2016, LC-1 was a rural carri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. On August 13, 2016, LC-1 [had] worked for [the Postal Service] as a rural carrier for 26 years[,] 10 months.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. On August 13, 2016, LC-1 was assigned to Rural Route 13 which was her regular route.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. On August 13, 2016, LC-1 had been assigned Rur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">al Route 13 for 21 years.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">11. On August 13, 2016, LC-1 [had driven] a Long Life Vehicle (LLV) for [the Postal Service] for at least 10 years.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">12. The LLV had a fan on the dashboard that was 6” in diameter.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13. LC-1 was hospitalized on August 13, 2016.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">14. On August 13, 2016, the total number of city letter carriers who were employed by the Martinsburg Post Office was 24.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">15. On August 13, 2016, the total number of rural letter carriers who were employed by</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Martinsburg Post Office was 33.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16. On August 13, 2016, the total number of mail routes at the Martinsburg Post Office was: </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>18 City routes</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>24 Rural routes</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exh. J-1)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">BACKGROUND</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Martinsburg Post Office</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service employs both city lett</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er carriers and rural letter carriers at the Martinsburg Post Office in Martinsburg, West Virginia. During the summer of 2016, 24 city carriers and 33 rural carriers worked in the post office. Rural carriers deliver mail on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">mounted<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">routes, meaning they<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">deliver mail mostly from their vehicles as they drive from mailbox to mailbox. Rural carriers occasionally park and exit their vehicles to deliver parcels or mail that requires customers’ signatures (Exh. J-1, ¶¶ 14-15; Tr. 576, 587-88).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>There are several</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>classifications for rural carriers. A regular rural carrier is a career employee who delivers mail on one assigned route every day and has the same day off every week. A part time flexible (PTF) rural carrier is a career employee who is not assigned a reg</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ular route. A rural carrier associates (RCA) is a non-career employee who covers routes on the off days of regular carriers. Associate rural carriers (ARCs) deliver Amazon packages on Sundays and federal holidays (Tr. 576-77). A T6 is a regular rural route</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>carrier who is assigned to five specific routes that rotate. “They basically fill in for the day off of the regular carrier on five different routes during the week.” (Tr. 627)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2016, the Martinsburg Post Office received outgoing mail at around 7:30 a.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m. on trucks transporting it from a facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Clerks in the Martinsburg Post Office would sort the mail into parcels,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">flats</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(magazines and legal-sized envelopes), and letters. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Pos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tal Service and the NRLCA prohibited carriers from assisting in sorting the mail. Postmaster TT, who was postmaster of the Martinsburg Post Office in the summer of 2016, stated “Rural carriers deliver mail in the rural area, and clerks are the only ones th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at break down or sort mail or sell product at the retail counter.” (Tr. 578-79)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2016, the start time for rural carriers was 8:00 a.m. They could not start earlier because the clerks would not have completed sorting the incoming mail (Tr. 169, 582, 630-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">31). Postmaster TT explained the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">casing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">process carriers used to sequence their day’s mail once they received it from the clerks:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[A] carrier case is basically a cubicle that a carrier stands at and it's got three sides to it and it has six shelves and it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>has a ton of slots in it, and every slot represents an address on the row. So like to kind of consider that the neighborhood and it literally would go in order that they would deliver their mail. So they would get a bucket of mail, bring it over and organ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ize it in the way that they would deliver it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 582)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>One route may have 500 to 1,000 addresses for which mail must be cased at the beginning of each workday. Casing mail for rural carriers generally takes 2 to 31⁄2 hours to complete, which is about twice</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as long as casing time for city carriers (Tr. 584). The post office workroom where the carriers case mail is air-conditioned (Tr. 633). After casing the mail, rural carriers pull it down in order and place it into hampers they roll out to their vehicles f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or loading. In the summer of 2016, rural carriers generally clocked out to the street to deliver the mail anytime from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Tr. 585). Rural carriers usually completed delivery of their routes in 4 to 5 hours (Tr. 593).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As the rural car</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">riers are casing their mail in the morning, supervisors go around and perform a time check (or projection) to see what time each carrier thinks he or she will return in the afternoon. If a carrier projects a late return, the postmaster or supervisor can ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">range for assistance or make other adjustments. “[O]nce the carriers hit the street, if you don’t know that they’re going to run late until it’s too late, the help has gone home.” (Tr. 606)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rural carriers collect customers’ outbound mail as they deliver t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heir routes each day and bring it back to the post office. They are required to return with the outbound mail by 6:00 p.m. because the dispatch truck that transports the outbound mail to the distribution facility leaves shortly after 6:00 p.m., and a super</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">visor has to drive any late mail to the distribution center after hours (Tr. 581).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Route Evaluations</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service conducts rural route evaluations annually, usually in February, March, or April, when the mail flow is “average” compared to the peak<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">holiday season in December and the lighter volume in summer. Postmaster TT stated mail volume changes “[d]ramatically” over the course of the year, lessening significantly “[u]sually toward the end of May.” (Tr. 598) By performing the evaluations in late w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inter or early spring, the Postal Service avoids the extremes of mail volume. “[The carriers’] evaluation is done during the average time of year, so, you know, Christmas they're carrying more mail, but it's also the overtime time. So they would get paid a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">bove and beyond their evaluation at Christmas. But in the summer, it's kind of where they make up time. So you know, a route that may be evaluated at 81⁄2 hours, they may be able to do in less time because there's lighter mail volume. They'd be skipping more</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>houses. It's a day-to-day thing.” (Tr. 598-99)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The first part of the evaluation is a ride along, when the evaluator rides with the carrier or follows in a separate vehicle and records the mileage driven and the steps taken. If the carrier has “to do a d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ismount or if [the carrier has] to get out of the vehicle to service a customer, its actual footage is measured.” (Tr. 594-95)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second part of the evaluation is counting the mail. Postmaster TT explained the process:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Usually in my experience, it runs<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2 full weeks or 12 business days, but it can run up to 30 days. We literally count everything that comes in. So what happens is as the mail is coming in, I'm counting every piece . . . When I finish a pile, I put the yellow sticky note on, and the carrier<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is permitted to go ahead and verify your count on every set.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>All that information is entered into a computer program and at the end of . . . each day I would enter everything in, and the next morning the carrier would come in and they would have like a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">worksheet in front of them that summarized the day prior, and that would be their opportunity to dispute anything that they didn't agree with or add something or remind you of something.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Then at the end of the count, put all the information in. It spits b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ack out the evaluation. You sit down with the carrier, go over it, and then you both sign off on it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 595-96)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The rural carrier is expected to complete delivery for that route within the evaluated time. The Postal Service does not pay rural<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carriers more if they exceed the evaluated time (with the exception of Christmas overtime) (Tr. 70, 598-99).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LLVs</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In the summer of 2016, the vehicles provided by the Martinsburg Post Office for letter carriers were six Dodge Caravans, four Ram ProMasters</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and several Long Life Vehicles (LLVs). The Caravans and the ProMasters were air-conditioned and equipped with left-hand side steering, which could be used by carriers on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">park and loop</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>routes and on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">centralized delivery</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>routes.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref165" href="#ftn165">165</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> They could not be used o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n mounted routes because the carrier could not reach safely across from the left-hand driver’s seat and through the opened right-hand window to deliver the mail to the mailboxes (Tr. 588-90).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The LLV is designed for right-hand driving and is not air-condi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tioned (Tr. 74). The LLV has two side windows that can be rolled down (Tr. 590-91). The LLV also has two 3-inch by 5-inch vents in each back corner and a fan, 6 inches in diameter, mounted to the dashboard (Tr. 75, 592-53).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Carriers could drive with the w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">indows rolled down and could leave them rolled down when they exited the LLVs, as long as they were in sight of it. Carriers could also drive with the driver’s side door open as they made deliveries from mailbox to mailbox. “They were not allowed to cross<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">an intersection of any sort, even if it was a small subdivision street. That door had to be closed any time they were crossing more than just box to box.” (Tr. 592)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>RLC-1 is a former city carrier who worked for the Martinsburg Post Office for almost 34 y</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ears before he retired in 2008 (Tr. 257). He began driving LLVs when they were relatively new, “[e]arly somewhere in the ‘90s.” (Tr. 263) He delivered on a mounted route and estimated he spent 51⁄2 to 6 hours driving each workday. He described the interior o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f an LLV on a summer’s day. “Just very, very hot. . . . [L]ike a car without air conditioning wouldn’t be as hot as it was in that truck. It’s bare metal with a piece of rubber on the floor. So it’s just very, very hot in there. And the windshield in them<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is enormous. And the fan that sits on the [dashboard is] just blowing this very hot air on you all the time.” (Tr. 264-65) RLC-1 stated the LLV’s “engine sits up front, and you get the transmission with the exhaust. Everything’s right under you. And hot ai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r rises.” (Tr. 265)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref166" href="#ftn166">166</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 drove an LLV for approximately 8 years on her route. Before that, she drove her personal vehicle, for which the Postal Service reimbursed her for mileage. The Martinsburg Post Office eventually disallowed LC-1 the use of her per</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sonal vehicle (Tr. 72-73).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref167" href="#ftn167">167</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>LC-1 was in the LLV approximately 80 percent of her route. Perhaps 5 percent of that time was spent in a shaded area (Tr. 76-77, 114). LC-1 explained that when driving from the post office to her route and back, she could lower</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>only the right-side window closest to her. “I could open both of them when I was on the route, but if you were going in -- like traveling back and forth from the road or the Post Office to the route, I would say anything over 30-mile-an-hour, you could on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly have the one window down, because your mail was sitting on a ledge beside of you where the other window is. And, of course, you can't have the air blowing in and blowing things around.” (Tr. 75) The carriers refer to an LLV as “an Easy Bake Oven,” (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">77)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 is a rural carrier for the Martinsburg Post Office (Tr. 165). She also drove her personal vehicle to deliver mail on Route 1 before the post office disallowed it. She spends approximately 90 percent of her route in an LLV (Tr. 168-69). In the su</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mmer of 2018, she felt ill one day when the temperature was above 90°F after having driven her LLV for approximately 3.5 hours (Tr. 170).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[I]t started out just sweating profusely, and it didn't seem like I could get enough to drink. Just very dry. As it pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ogressed, I just -- just felt like I couldn't breathe properly. So I had to -- I had a parcel for this one lady on my route, and I get out and she said, "You look awful." And I said, "I feel awful." And she produced a bottled water for me and an orange, a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd I sat there at her house until I finished the orange and the water. And I was able to continue on. And when I got back to the Post Office, I did feel a bit dizzy.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 169-70)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-2 testified that in the summer, the heat in the LLV affects her on a daily basis. “Just about every night I have leg cramps and a headache.” (Tr. 177) She did not have these symptoms when she drove her air-conditioned personal vehicle (Tr. 177). LC-2 ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s not told her supervisors about the leg cramps and headaches and has not sought medical treatment for them (Tr. 208-09).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-3 is a city letter carrier for the Martinsburg Post Office (Tr. 214). She drives an LLV on her regular route. She described the h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eat in an LLV on a summer day. “It feels like you’re in a sauna. It’s radiant heat coming off the floorboards that just overwhelms you, and you feel like<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">you can’t escape. . . . When you’re inside the LLV, it feels overwhelming because there’s not much air</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>movement even with the fan on. It’s blowing hot air in your face.” (Tr. 226-27)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref168" href="#ftn168">168</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>RLC-2 worked as a city letter carrier for 44 years and retired in May of 2018 (Tr. 282). He drove an LLV as he delivered mail on his route, which was primarily mounted (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 291). “It’s pretty warm. And I probably opened the windows more than most carriers did because it just, you know, was very warm especially on a sunny day with that sun coming through all that glass of the big windshield and everything -- pretty warm. It</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was so warm that the fan in there really is pretty much worthless because it just blows hot air in your face. So you don’t use the fan.” (Tr. 292)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>RLC-2 testified regarding an incident that occurred in June of 2016, when he was driving an LLV an average</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of 71⁄2 to 91⁄2 hours a day (Tr. 290-91).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref169" href="#ftn169">169</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>He stated he began to experience symptoms of “nausea, feeling light-headed and just not sweating. That’s why my wife was concerned when I talked to her about the fact that I wasn’t sweating. I just felt really weak.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” (Tr. 292)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-4 is an RCA who carries the mail “for the regular carriers when they’re out of town or they need a day off.” (Tr. 330) She testified regarding the LLVs she drives on the various routes she has delivered. “I would describe it as you could f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry an egg on the floor of it, and also I believe that no human being should have to drive. That’s how hot they get in the summer. No human being should have to drive an LLV in the summer.”(Tr. 331) She stated the temperature of the interior of an LLV in t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he summer “is way hotter” than the outdoor temperature, and the fan “blows hot air. . . It does not help at all (Tr. 332).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-4 recalled an incident on July 2, 2018, when the temperature was “[a]t least 100 degrees (Tr. 333). She left the post office arou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd 11:30 a.m. and was driving an LLV. At approximately 3:15, she began to feel nauseated and dizzy. She eventually vomited several times. She notified Supervisor DD by text that she did not feel well (Tr. 334-38). She managed to complete the her assigned r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">outes, but when she returned to the post office, Supervisor DD assigned her another route.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I got back and I pulled into my parking spot and I saw [Supervisor DD] coming towards me with a clipboard and I asked him, I said, "Do I really have to go back out?"</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And he said, "Yes. I'm sorry, we just really need the help." It was 5:45 at this point. And there were two other regular carriers that had pulled in at the same<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">time as me. I was telling them that I was sick and I had thrown up a couple of times and they<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-- that's what they said to [Supervisor DD]. They said, "She cannot go back out. She's sick. Look at her."</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Like I was sweating profusely, like noticeably. Not just sweaty from the heat. Like sick sweaty.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And he said, "I'm sorry, but you have to go back<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">out." And I got back in the back of my truck to get my stuff and my voice was cracking and I started to cry. Then I went inside and [LC-2], the regular carrier, gave me a towel, a wet towel to put on my neck, and I was about to leave and [Supervisor DD] of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fered me a drink of Gatorade if I had a cup. . . . I just left to do my – because we have a time crunch and they want us back at a certain time. So I wasn't going to say no to my supervisor.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 339-40)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Bruce Goetz is the Eastern Area safety manager for the Postal Service (Tr. 447). He testified the Postal Service uses approximately 30,000 LLVs in the Eastern Area. He acknowledged LLVs “can get hot” in the summer, and that “could be a factor” in heat-rela</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted incidents (Tr. 506).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overtime-Desired List and Scheduling<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">City routes are configured so letter carriers can complete them in 8 hours. Regular city carriers are guaranteed 8 hours per day in accordance with the CBA and must be paid overtime for any t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ime worked over 8 hours. Postmaster CE was the city delivery supervisor for the Martinsburg Post Office in 2016 (Tr. 626 ). She explained carriers could choose to be on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">work assignments</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, for which “they are willing to work however many hours in a day that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">it took to complete their route. . . . They did not want to work their day off, but they would work as many hours in one day as they needed.” (Tr. 644)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Every quarter, management posts an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overtime-desired list</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on the post office bulletin board. Carriers co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uld sign up to be on the 10- hour or 12-hour overtime desired list, for which they are willing to work up to 10 or 12 hours every day (Tr. 370-71). “They would help on other routes, either a case, or carry, or both and they would also work on their day off</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>if they were needed.” (Tr. 643) The lists run from quarter to quarter, and carriers have to sign up each time if they want to remain on the list. Carriers can choose to be on the list one quarter and off the next (Tr. 644)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>If a city carrier believes it w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ill take more than 8 hours to complete his or her route on a given day, the carrier can submit a form (Form 3996) in the morning to request more time (overtime) or help (auxiliary assistance) (Tr. 641). Postmaster CE testified she would approve or disappro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ve the request based on the amount of mail the carrier had that day. “I could compare<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that request to the DOIS [(Delivery Operations Information System)] workload status report.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref170" href="#ftn170">170</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> And also I could look at the mail myself, see that what the carrier has, an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d then make the determination.” (Tr. 641)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Postmaster CE was asked what happens when a city carrier has already clocked out to the street and is delivering mail when he or she notifies management the route will not be completed in 8 hours. She responded,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“If the carrier is an overtime carrier, an overtime-desired carrier, I would allow them to carry the mail themselves. If the particular carrier was an . . .8-hour worker, I would send either an overtime person to finish carrying the route for them, or mayb</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e a CCA if I</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">had one.” (Tr. 642)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Supervisors often assign letter carriers a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">pivot<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">bump</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to facilitate mail delivery. RLC-2 explained the use of pivots. “Pivoting is something that usually occurs during the summer when the mail volume is lower. It is a m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">anagement strategy to . . . ‘capture the savings.’" (Tr. 296) For example, if on a given day some city carriers complete their routes in 71⁄2 hours, their supervisors can determine they are undertime and assign them an additional half hour of street time to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">meet their 8 hour minimums. Supervisors may divide up an auxiliary route, which has no regularly assigned carrier, and assign portions of the route (pivots) to various carriers (Tr. 296-97). “So they’re not only carrying their own route but they’re carryin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g part of another route just to make their 8 hours in the summer.” (Tr. 297)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>RLC-2 believes the Postal Service benefits financially from assigning pivots because it saves money by paying for fewer hours at the end of the day. “They’re not paying an extr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a 3 or 4 hours to carry a route or auxiliary route or whatever. It’s being absorbed by the regular carriers.” (Tr. 297-98) This strategy comes at a physical cost for the carriers, according to RLC-2. “The downside is this happens during summer. And when y</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ou’re already out there and it’s 90 or 95 degrees or maybe even a 100 index day, you’ve already had a tough enough day as it was. And now you’re out there another half hour or 45 minutes or whatever, carrying somebody else’s route in addition to yours.” (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 298) RLC-2 conceded that when the Postal Service assigns pivots to regular carriers, it is utilizing hours for which it is contractually obligated to pay (Tr. 301).</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Time Pressure</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-2 felt pressure to complete her route as quickly as possible every day</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. She does not usually take the 30-minute lunch break to which she is entitled because she is trying to complete her route and get back to the post office by 6:00 p.m. (Tr. 177-80). She has been yelled at by a postmaster for failing to meet her evaluated t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ime. She witnessed Supervisor DD send LC-4 back out to deliver mail on another route after she had vomited while delivering mail on her assigned route (Tr. 181-84).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-3 testified she has felt pressure to complete her route more quickly (Tr. 219).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If we'r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e going to go over the 8 hours, they want you to explain why you're going over the 8 hours. And they don't take into account the human factor that customers are going to ask you questions, if you have to pick up packages, and things of that nature. . . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When you get back in the office, they usually ask you: "What took you so long? We didn't have that much mail; it shouldn't have -- you shouldn't have taken this time on the street."</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 219-20)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In the summer of 2016, city letter carriers were permitted to take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">comfort breaks,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to use the restroom, buy or refill beverages, or cool off (Tr. 644). Asked if carriers were allowed to take extra breaks in hot weather, LC-3 replied, “They say we can, but<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they pressure you if you do.” (Tr. 221) As a city carrier, LC-3 was entitled to overtime. On days when she took longer than 8 hours to complete her route, she was paid for the overtime, and she was not disciplined for exceeding 8 hours (Tr. 238-39).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>RLC-2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>testified regarding the pressure carriers feel to work faster, in part due to the GPS-equipped scanners they carry to scan bar codes on parcels as they deliver them.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The time pressure that’s exerted on the employees through the GPS in their scanner could<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">make them want to hurry because they know that they’re being tracked. They can even hear the pings in their scanner being tracked. And the supervisors at the desks watching the little pins every -- whatever it is -- minute, you know, watching them on the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">street. So just the time pressure involved in that. . . . [M]anagement knows exactly where you are on the map and can track you on the map and print out a map of exactly where you are. They even know if you’re off your route. . . . At one time I had a Pos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tmaster actually called me up or texted me and wondered where I was. I was taking a break and he wanted to know what I was doing, you know, and it was just one of my two scheduled ten minute breaks. He knew where I was.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 287-88)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-5 is a city letter<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carrier for the Martinsburg Post Office (Tr. 361). She testified, “We're under a lot of pressure to get the mail delivered and be back, preferably by 5:00 but by 6:00p.m. at the latest. That's, like, our drop dead time. And it's -- you know, you're pushed,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>you're pushed, you're pushed to do more. If you happen to get done early, they find more for you to do, to go help someone else. So you -- it's just not a real comfortable working situation.” (Tr. 365-66) She testified management’s attitude towards comfor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t breaks is “two-sided. Out of one side of their mouth, they will say it’s hot, take more breaks in the shade if you need them. And out of the other side, it’s hurry up because you need to be back by 6:00.” (Tr. 367)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Hydration</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In the summer of 2016, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Martinsburg Post Office placed marine coolers containing ice and bottled water in a vestibule next to the parking area for the LLVs. The post office also provided two water fountains and a breakroom with a sink and faucet, a refrigerator, and a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vending mac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hine (Exh. R-32; Tr. 585-86, 634-37). City and rural carriers had access to “[a]ll the water, the water coolers, the marine coolers were full of ice, and we have ice bags in the freezer.” (Tr. 586)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Heat Stress Safety Training</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Postmaster TT testified regar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ding heat stress safety training during the summer of 2016. “We had service talks regarding how to dress, how to stay hydrated, you know, getting good sleep the night before, avoiding alcohol, being mindful of any medications that you took that heat may be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a factor of, reminding them to take water, reminding them when they came back off the street to drink as well.” (Tr. 600) Topics included how to prevent heat-related illness, recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, providing help to th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ose with heat illness, and reporting heat illness (Exhs. R-6, R-7, R-9, R-10, R-12, R-13; Tr. 197-99, 232, 407).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Exhibit R-9 is a copy of safety talk entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beat the Heat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">May 2016<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Beat the Heat, Stay Cool<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It’s that time of year again, when the temperatures begin to rise, and the potential for heat related illnesses becomes a factor during your daily work routines. It’s important to remember the keys to staying cool and safe this summer season.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here are som</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e quick tips for battling the heat:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. Hydrate before, during and after work. Prevention is important, so make sure to maintain good hydration by drinking at least 8-ounces of water every 20 minutes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. Dress appropriately for the weather. On warm days,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>make sure to wear light colored, loose fitting, breathable clothing to keep body temperatures down.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. Utilize shade to stay cool. When possible, use shaded areas to stay out of direct sunlight.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. Know the signs of heat stress. You should understand wh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at heat stress is, and how it can affect your health and safety. Here are some things to look out for:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Headache<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Confusion or dizziness<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Nausea<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Muscle cramps</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Weakness or fatigue<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>• Rash<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Finally, it’s i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mportant to notify your supervisor or call 911 if you’re experiencing signs of heat related illnesses. This will not only ensure your safety but can also save your life!</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Exh. R-9)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Postmaster TT stated this safety talk was “for everyone in the building, n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot just carriers. It would have impacted the clerks as well. If I remember correctly, there was a poster that accompanied this, a carrier with a bottle of water in his hand. So that was posted. And this was given frequently, not just once in a while.” (Tr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>602)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LC-1 and the August 13, 2016, Incident</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 worked for the Postal Service for 27 years, leaving the job in February of 2017 (Tr. 68).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref171" href="#ftn171">171</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>She started her career with the Postal Service as a rural carrier associate (RCA), which is “basically a substitu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">te for a regular carrier. They work when the regular carrier needs time off.” (Tr. 67-68) LC-1 worked as an RCA for approximately 7 years and then became a rural carrier (Tr. 65).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1’s regular route for almost 20 years was Route 13. Route 13 comprised approximately 780 addresses. LC-1 generally completed the route in 5 or 6 hours once she was on the road (Tr. 70). She was expected to be on the street by 11:45 a.m. and back at the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">post office 5:20 p.m. (Exhs. R-21 & R-22; Tr. 71-72, 100).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Route 13 is a mounted route, meaning the carrier will stay in the vehicle when making most deliveries. At each address, LC-1 would pull up to the mailbox, open it, and insert that day’s mail whil</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e staying seated in the vehicle. If there was a parcel or mail for which the customer needed to sign, she would exit the LLV and take it to the residence and leave the parcel or get the customer’s signature. There were also residential cluster boxes for ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">il delivery to multiple people (Tr. 76-77, 93, 94).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>Every time LC-1 exited the LLV, she was required to curb the wheels, put the vehicle in park, turn off the ignition, set the emergency break, and lock the doors. If she stayed in sight of the vehicle,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">she could leave the windows rolled down—otherwise she was required to roll them up. LC-1 was in the LLV approximately 80 percent of the route. Perhaps 5 percent of that time was spent in a shaded area. LC-1 chose to take the mail in every day for a 7-Eleve</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n convenience store, where she would also use the restroom and buy beverages. It was the only time on her daily route that she was in an air-conditioned building (Tr. 76-77, 114).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On August 13, 2016, LC-1 arrived at the Martinsburg Post Office at 8:45 a.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m. She was wearing shorts and either a T-shirt or a tank top.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref172" href="#ftn172">172</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> She cased her mail in the air-conditioned post office workroom. After loading her LLV, she left the post office at 11:10 a.m. She had two or three bottles of water with her. About an hour later, she stopped at the 7-Eleven for a break. She dampened some<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">paper towels and wrapped them around her neck to cool off. She bought bottles of Gatorade, water, and iced tea. She was at the 7-Eleven for about 15 minutes (Exh. R-22; Tr. 78, 80-81, 120-23, 127).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At approximately 12:45 p.m., she began to feel ill. “I s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tarted feeling sort of nauseous and sweating pretty profusely. And then as time went on, it got to where I was feeling lethargic and I started nodding. And then I stopped sweating. And I just kept nodding, and it was getting worse as time went on.” (Tr. 78</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-79) Despite feeling ill, LC-1 continued delivering her route for approximately an hour and a half. “I was afraid that if I didn’t push myself and try to finish the route that I would be reprimanded in some way for not completing the tasks. . . I’ve been h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arassed in the past about not completing them quick enough and not getting done in the evaluated time.” (Tr. 83)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At approximately 2:20 p.m., she decided to return to a house where she had already delivered that day’s mail. She had become friendly over th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e years with the Clarks, the couple who live there. She exited the LLV, making sure to lock it, and knocked on the door. Both Mr. and Ms. Clark came to the door, looked at LC-1, and told her she needed to come inside immediately (Tr. 82-83, 85-86, 127). “[</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">T]hey looked at me, and they said, ‘Oh, my God, you need to get in here right away.’ And they took me in and sat me down in a chair next to the door. She went and got me a cold rag and put that on my forehead.” (Tr. 86)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Ms. Clark called the Martinsburg P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ost Office and informed Supervisor DD of the situation. Supervisor DD arrived at the Clarks’s house. He asked LC-1 if she was able to drive herself to the hospital, and she replied she did not feel it was safe to do so (Tr. 87). He then asked her if she th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ought she needed an ambulance. Eventually Supervisor DD and LC-1 left together and got in DD’s car. LC-1 believed they were going to the hospital but Supervisor DD drove to the Martinsburg Post Office instead to pick up “the necessary paperwork.” (Tr. 88)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Supervisor DD then drove LC-1 to the Berkeley Medical Center emergency room (Tr. 89).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The attending physician told LC-1 her “kidneys had stopped functioning, and that they needed to admit [her] and try to get [her] kidneys restarted.” (Tr. 90) She stayed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at the hospital for 2 days, and she was off work for another 4 days (Tr. 90). At the time of the incident, LC-1 was taking several prescription medications daily, including lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, oxycodone, oxymorphone, tizanidine, gabapentin, T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">opamax, and diclofenac (Tr. 118-19).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">V. THE NATIONAL HEARING</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Joint Stipulations</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The national hearing was held from February 25 to March 12, 2019, Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the hearing, the Court admitted the parties’ statement of joint stipul</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ations into the record:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">4. As of September 30, 2018, the Postal Service employed ap</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proximately 497,000 career employees and approximately 137,000 non-career employees.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5. In FY 2016, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>170,885 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>40,436 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>68,261 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">53,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6. In FY 2018, the Postal Service employed the following:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>168,199 city delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>42,115 city carrier assistants</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70,852 career rural delivery carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>59,183 rural carrier associates</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7. In FY 2016, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service had approximately 144,571 city delivery routes and 74,724 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8. In FY 2018, the Postal Service had approximately 143,358 city delivery routes and 78,737 rural delivery routes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9. In FY 2016, the Postal Service managed a c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ombined total of approximately 31,585 post offices, stations, and branches.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10. In FY 2018, the Postal Service managed a combined total of approximately 31,324 post offices, stations, and branches.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. J-100; NH Tr. 11)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Overview of the Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">’s Operations<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>David Williams Jr. has been the chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service since February of 2015. He is responsible for all operations required to process, transport, and deliver mail (NH Tr. 1728, 1746). H</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e explained the Postal Service’s operations are divided into three primary sectors: network operations, delivery operations, and retail and customer service operations (NH Tr. 1774-75).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Network operations cover mail processing plants where mail is sorte</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d, processed, and distributed to some level of ZIP Code order (NH Tr. 1775-76). Network operations include the surface and air transportation that is coordinated with the distribution centers and post offices throughout the nation. The Postal Service coord</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inates surface transportation with the assistance of over 1,900 contractors and covers approximately 1.9 billion miles a year (NH Tr. 1774-76). It relies on “a vast air network,” which includes 90 airplanes during the day and 140 at night provided by FedEx</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, as well as planes provided by UPS (NH Tr. 1760). The Postal Service also uses commercial airlines (mainly Delta, United, and American) to transport mail (NH Tr. 1779). The extensive transportation network is necessary due to the Postal Service’s unique m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">andate to deliver to every address in the United States.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[A] lot of transportation is involved in moving product because of the complexity of our network, the fact that we go everywhere. We go everywhere because our mandate is to serve every American, no m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">atter where they live, no matter what community they're in. And the connectivity that's required to make that happen involves a very complex, very sophisticated transportation network. We spent about $7.9 billion a year on transportation, so a significant<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">spend. It's the second-largest spend, and 11 percent of our expenses are involved in transportation.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1780-81)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Nationwide, delivery operations require city and rural letter carriers to complete approximately 226,000 routes 6 days a week (NH Tr. 178</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3-84). The Postal Service uses the concept of “FirstMile” to identify the initial contact the customer has with the Postal Service during delivery operations. A customer wanting to send a piece of mail puts a stamp on it, places it in the household mailbox</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and raises the red flag. The raised red flag “is a signal to our carrier workforce that there is mail to be collected. . . We also have a FirstMile component at our post offices. . . [T]here’s a slot where they can drop mail into any one of approximately</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>31,000 post offices.” (NH Tr. 1785-86)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Retail and customer service operations also involve a FirstMile component when customers buy stamps or mail packages at a post office. Williams stated the Postal Service has<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the largest retail footprint in the Unit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed States, with more retail units than Starbucks, Walmart, and McDonald’s combined. Service and sale associates (SSAs) work in the fronts of the post offices and interact with customers while postal clerks work in the backs sorting mail (NH Tr. 1787-89).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Williams expounded on the scope and complexity of its operations.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I can't think of any network that is as complex as ours. You think about all the touch points that we have in our network, every 226,000 carriers, 31,000 post offices, 285 processing and dis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tribution centers. Back through our network of transportation, whether it's air or surface, 2 billion miles. Airplanes that are flying all over the country, connecting that promise and that thing, that message of sympathy and love, transactions, educationa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l material to anybody else in the United States or our territories, even the world. We deliver 47 percent of the world's mail.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So significant, significant operational footprint that we have, supported by a tremendous amount of complexity to make sure that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>we're delivering the promise of when you put that stamp on that birthday card for one of your loved ones, they're going to get it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1791-92)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In order to ensure its operations run smoothly and punctually, the Postal Service implements “the 24-hour</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>clock” as an organizing principle. “[W]e have critical points on the clock, developed to make sure that we're hitting the mark, all to achieve on-time service to points. Our mission to provide prompt, reliable, efficient service is based on this 24-hour<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">clock. And it's critical.” (NH Tr. 1795)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The clock starts with letter carriers retrieving mail at the FirstMile. At the end of the day, the letter carriers return to their post offices and place the collected mail in containers that are loaded onto truck</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s to transport the mail to processing and distribution centers. The operational process starts with cancellations, during which the stamps on mail are marked to show they have been used. The Postal Service expects 80 percent of all collected mail to be can</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">celed by 8:00 p.m. Aligning the cancellation process with the 24-hour clock is crucial for the Postal Service’s overall operations (NH Tr. 1795-97). “[T]hat very first step is highly important because any variation in the very first processing step, it cou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ld be a slight variation, but that slight variation creates greater variation at the next step. It creates even larger variation on the third step. Fourth step, even larger. By the time you get to the last step, which is the delivery, we call it the bullwh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ip effect. A small variation at the front end creates this huge swing of variation at the back end.” (NH Tr. 1797)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The next step is the outgoing primary processing, where mail is sorted to a destinating plant based on the first three digits of the ZIP Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">de.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref173" href="#ftn173">173</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> This step needs to be completed by 11:00<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">p.m. to align with the 24-hour clock. A second sorting is completed by midnight (NH Tr. 1798-1800). “[A]t midnight, across the country, all this mail that's been collected, the mail that's received over a retail o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">peration, mail that you have put in your mailbox to be collected by the carriers, mail that was inducted into our plant operations by any one of our mailers that have discounts, that so some level of sort, all of that has to take place by midnight.” (NH Tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 1800-01)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>After the mail is sorted, it must be assigned to transportation by 2:00 a.m. “No wiggle-room on in that. Trucks have to leave. Our entire surface network has been designed by the transport time that it takes to go from point A to point B. Can’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t bend time; can’t bend distance. . . [T]his number is fixed in our operating window. By 2 o’clock we have to have that mail assigned. . . [P]lanes and trucks have to leave on time. That is the mark that has to be made.” (NH Tr. 1801-02)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Once mail reache</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s its destinating plant, the incoming processing begins. Mail arrives throughout the day and night, but it must be processed by 3:00 a.m. because that is the time postal employees start delivery point sequencing (DPS). DPS must be completed by 6:00 a.m. Pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iority mail takes longer and is not sorted to DPS but is sorted to a specific post office. It must be finished by 4:00 a.m., when trucks leave the destinating plant to transport mail to the post offices. Once the day’s mail has arrived at the local post of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fice, it must be delivered to the intended address by 6:00 p.m. that day (NH Tr. 1803-06). “[W]e want to get our carriers off the street by 6:00 p.m. And that’s important because the trucks have to come back from the post office, back to the originating pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ocessing plant so we can get cancellations done by 8:00 p.m., 80 percent of them.” (NH Tr. 1806)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">LLVs and Air Conditioning</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Thomas Bernard testified regarding the benefits of providing letter carriers with air-conditioned vehicle.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref174" href="#ftn174">174</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court found Dr. Bernard qualified, “based on his knowledge, skill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">experience, training, and education,” to testify as an expert “in the areas of industrial hygiene and specifically regarding industrial heat stress.” (NH Tr. 808)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recomme</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nded air conditioning be provided in the letter carriers’ vehicles, and he found it to be technically feasible (NH Tr. 823). The goal of a heat stress program is to reduce the metabolic rate. An air conditioned space is “more favorable to dissipating heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">by sweat evaporation[.] . . . [T]he air conditioning provides a less humid environment, so that's the thing that really helps make it more favorable to evaporative cooling.” (NH Tr. 820) Letter carriers could take breaks in their air-conditioned vehicles a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd save time driving to an air-conditioned rest area. Air-conditioned vehicles would also assist with the first aid response in the event a letter carrier recognizes the onset of a heat-related disorder. “[A]n air-conditioned vehicle helps facilitate the r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecovery so that it doesn’t progress into an incident.” (NH Tr. 823)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Han Dinh works for the engineering department of the Postal Service as its manager for vehicle engineering (NH Tr. 314). He has a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Applied Science, bo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th in mechanical engineering (NH Tr. 316). He is “the chief technical advisor for the Postal Service when it comes to vehicles. . . . [He is] responsible for the research, development, technology, testing and evaluation, including the specifications for ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">il vehicles for the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 315).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh testified the Postal Service introduced the LLV to its workforce in 1987 and the fleet of over 200,000 vehicles was fully deployed by 1994 (NH Tr. 317, 347-48). In 2014, the Postal Service began its</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) project because by that time the LLVs were from 20 to 27 years old and the costs to maintain and repair them were increasing. “[T]he spare parts have been very hard, difficult to find because General Motors stopped<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">making the spare parts for the vehicle. . . . [The engineering department had] to actually design and rebuild and make the new frame for the” LLVs (NH Tr. 320).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LLVs and NGDVs are purpose-built vehicles with right-hand driving. The Postal Service’s engine</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ering department convened a supply conference in 2015, attended by representatives from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, among others (NH Tr. 321-22). The Postal Service issued a statement of objectives (SOO) and subsequently selected the top six suppli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ers to build prototypes meeting the SOO and deliver them to the Postal Service by the end of September of 2017. The Postal Service began testing and evaluating the prototypes, and that process was continuing at the time of the national hearing (NH Tr. 323-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">26). Dinh stated the Postal Service is “planning to have the vehicle go into production assembly lines in December 2021, if everything goes right.” (NH Tr. 332) Air conditioning was listed as “optional” at the supply conference, but the Postal Service list</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed it as a requirement in the SOO (NH Tr. 337-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The SOO, updated November 20, 2015, by Dinh, provides:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The vehicles must have air conditioning/cooling systems sufficient to cool the operator’s torso area when seated in the driving position with the dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iver’s window open, so that the air temperature at the operator’s torso area is maintained at or below 85 degrees Fahrenheit when the outside temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooling is only required in the operator cab.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-161; NH Tr. 352-53</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh explained the Postal Service has not committed to deploying air conditioned vehicles to its workforce but wanted to study its efficacy.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We wanted to study the feasibility of the air conditioning in the delivery vehicle with the window open, with c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">arriers getting in and out all the time. So the intent behind to have a requirement in the SOO codified so that we can have a chance to study whether we can efficiently cool the vehicle with everything open and we go at the extremely low speed. And you pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">bably are aware that all delivery vehicles, from UPS, from FedEx, none of them have air conditioning today in their vehicles. So we wanted to study it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 339-40)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dinh explained the rationale for requiring the capacity for cooling the interior of th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e cab to 85°F when the outside temperature is 120°F.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">My research at the time found out that when the outside temperature 120 degrees, the maximum temperature they can achieve with the AC system is around 70 degrees at the vent where the AC vent is inside t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he vehicle. So we made an educated guess at the time, if the vent temperature, the coolest temperature at the vent is about 70 degrees and the torso area is far away from the vent because of heat loss between where the vent is and the torso of the driver,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>so we made an educated guess about 15 degrees. So by the time it gets to the torso with the heat loss -- heat environment coming from the environment, the torso area probably at best can achieve -- optimum temperature would be around 85 degrees. That's ed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ucated guess of how the air conditioning system would -- could operate at the time.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 353-54)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Three of the suppliers submitted prototypes of the NGDV with air conditioning. The Postal Service was in the process of testing and evaluating the feasibi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lity of air conditioning the NGDVs at the time of the national hearing (NH Tr. 363-64). It is Dinh’s opinion that equipping vehicles with air conditioning is a matter of comfort, and not safety, for the drivers (NH Tr. 367-68). He testified the Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ice had not reached a final decision on whether it would require its NGDV to be equipped with air conditioning (NH Tr. 341, 368-69).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Kevin McAdams works for the Postal Service in Washington, D.C., as its vice president of delivery and retail operations. H</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e agreed with Han Dinh that air conditioning is a matter of comfort, not safety, and the ubiquity of air conditioning in contemporary vehicles reflects a societal shift in lifestyle. “What's different today is air conditioning as a comfort feature has<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">beco</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">me like satellite radio, right? You don't have a tape deck anymore. It's just standard equipment. . . . So that decision is really – society has made that decision. The car manufacturers have made that decision for us. But in 1980 that was not an unusual d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ecision [to drive a vehicle without air conditioning].” (NH Tr. 2098-99)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Aaron Tustin testified regarding the temperatures inside LLVs.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref175" href="#ftn175">175</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court determined Dr. Tustin was qualified to provide expert testimony “regarding occupational medicine in gen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eral, heat stress exposure assessments, and the epidemiology of occupational heat-related illnesses.” (NH Tr. 254)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">concluded the interiors of LLVs were hotter than the outside air temperature after reviewing a report entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Postal Vehicle Te</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">mperature Test Phoenix District Safety Office 2005</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Exh. C-151; NH Tr. 299). The Phoenix report explained the setup and process for the Phoenix test:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The test set-up consisted of taking temperature readings on three days when the temperatures were above</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>normal in the Phoenix area. The first test was to get baseline data on temperatures in a Long Life Vehicle (LLV) with readings on dew point, heat index, percent relative humidity and the outside air temperature on May 19th, 2005. The follow up testing, on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>May 20th, consisted of gathering data points comparing two LLV side by side measuring one LLV with windows up and the other LLV with windows down 11⁄2 inches to quantify the difference in temperature. Additional testing was performed on May 23</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>gathering d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ata on temperatures on a static Ford Windstar and 2-ton delivery vehicle; both vehicles closed with windows up. The hypothesis was designed to take accurate measurements of the temperature in postal delivery vehicles to answer the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">question “Are vehicles an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y cooler with the windows down 11⁄2 inches opposed to windows closed?” The hypothesis was further tested to find out if the vehicle inside temperature increased 75% within the first 5 minutes and 90% of the temperature increase occurred within 15 minutes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Exh. C-151, p. 1)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The report summarized the Phoenix test results:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The following conclusions were made from the analysis of the series of tests to compare the rate of rise of temperature in static postal delivery vehicles:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The temperature reached a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">maximum of 122 degrees inside the LLV at 5 p.m. when the temperature was 101 degrees outside; a temperature differential of 21 degrees. The temperature rose only 4 degrees in the first 5 minutes and 10 degrees within 15 minutes. This did not verify the hyp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">othesis of 75% temperature increase in the first five minutes nor 90% within fifteen minutes. However, the hypothesis did not take into account the constant rise of the outside air temperature during the day. The temperature on the test day ranged from 86<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">degrees at 10 a.m. to 101 degrees at 5 p.m.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The side by side test of two LLV’s comparing temperatures with the windows closed in one LLV and the windows down 11⁄2 inches in the other show very small difference. The results show that at the maximum<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperature the difference in temperature was only 21⁄2 degrees. This equates to only a 2% difference in temperature.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In conclusion, this testing shows that having windows down in a parked LLV does not make a significant impact on the inside temperatu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">re.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-151, p. 3)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin summarized the results of the temperature test:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">They put temperature sensors inside an LLV, both with the windows completely closed and also with the windows cracked open about an inch and a half, and they were compar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing the interior temperature to outside temperature. I believe they had several conclusions, but some of the main conclusions that I take away from this were that the interior temperature was always hotter, at least 5°F hotter, than the outside conditions.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 299-300)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination, Dr. Tustin conceded the test was conducted in LLVs parked in direct sunlight in a parking lot in Phoenix, Arizona, with the doors closed and the windows either closed or open 1.5 inches. It took an hour for the inte</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rior temperature to increase 21°F, and the interior temperature reached 122°F after the LLV sat in direct sunlight for 7 hours. Dr. Tustin agreed he could not think of an example in any of the five Postal Service cases where a carrier left an LLV parked in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>direct sunlight for an hour or more (NH Tr. 650-52). He also acknowledged the Phoenix test did not factor in any cooling effects from a carrier opening the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">door to reenter the LLV and driving it with the windows down to the next park point (Tr. 653-54).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Service hired Rodman Harvey as a consultant in the five cases before the Court.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref176" href="#ftn176">176</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Court qualified Harvey to testify as an expert “in industrial hygiene, with specialized expertise in assessing the risk of exposure to excessive heat, based on</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education.” (NH Tr. 2766)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey found the Phoenix test report to be unreliable. “In reviewing the document, there's errors with regard to definitions of terms. There's nonsensical statements about tempera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tures increasing by a certain percentage point. There's representations in the conclusions that don't appear to be supported by the testing that was done. And the testing conditions were not very rigorous in terms of standardization or trying to standardiz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e other variables.” (Tr. 2838)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey elaborated on the errors he found in the report:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: You mentioned definitions. Can you be specific about what you found with regard to the definitions?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: Yeah. On page 4 of that document, there's a section ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lled "Definitions". And it has a definition for "heat stress" and then in parentheses it says, "heat index". And then the definition is primarily a definition of heat index and has nothing to do with heat stress, which is the primary word or phrase being d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">efined.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Mr. Harvey, I notice on the first page of the document, which is marked 0001085, in the first paragraph, there's a reference to "hypothesis" and then it's got 75 percent and 90 percent. What does that sentence mean?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I have no idea wha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t it means. It talks about the hypothesis that the temperature increased 75 percent in a certain period or 90 percent, but the temperature is not an absolute scale. So you can't compare two different temperatures using percentages. For instance, 60 degrees</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Fahrenheit is not twice as hot as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. So I don't know what the hypothesis was or what they were trying to test.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I believe that the document describes – I guess what I would call the testing conditions for the various vehicles. Did<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">you find any flaws in the testing methods?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: [I]n describing the methods when they tested the LLVs, they made a point to point out that the LLVs were both pointing south so that the effect of the sun would be the same on each. And then later</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they test two other vehicles and one was pointed to the south and one was pointed to the west. So the effect of the sun would be completely different.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If you look at the first chart or graph or whatever it is on the first page, which begins 0001085,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is this trying to tell us the temperature with windows open or windows closed, or what is this trying to communicate? Based on your review of this.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I don't know that I can tell the condition of the LLV from what's written here.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2838-40)</span><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref177" href="#ftn177">177</a></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Finances of the Postal Service</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service originated in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin its first postmaster general. President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act in 1792, creating the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Post Office Department. It became a cabinet-level department and transitioned to an independent agency in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (NH Tr. 1747-1750).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2006 Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) wh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ich, Williams stated, “created some business model changes for the Postal Service, split our products into two product types, competitive products and market dominant products, [and] placed some restrictions on pricing for market dominant products so that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">we could no longer rise our rates beyond [the Consumer Price Index,] CPI.” (NH Tr. 1751)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The PAEA requires the Postal Service to prefund the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (RHBF) annually. Williams stated this requirement “really is a millstone around the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Postal Service’s neck in terms of finances. The manner in which we’re required to prefund that obligation is one that I don’t think the vast majority of companies or any other government agency is required to do.” (NH Tr. 1751-52)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jim Sauber of NALC</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref178" href="#ftn178">178</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>agreed the prefunding obligation is “really the central driving force of Postal Service’s finances. . . . Most companies just pay their retiree health premiums on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a pay-as-you-go basis for their current retires. This law added an additional obligation to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service, not only to pay their existing retirees’ health and premiums, but to pay in advance, decades in advance the cost of future retiree health benefits.” (NH Tr. 894-95) The Postal Service operated at a loss in 2016, 2017, and 2018 (NH Tr. 8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">90-93).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref179" href="#ftn179">179</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>This prefunding mandate cost the Postal Service $9.1 billion in 2016, $4.3 billion in 2017, and $4.5 billion in 2018. The year 2016 “was the last year in which the Postal Service was required to prefund their retirees’ health, but also out of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">their own operating budget pay for current retirees’ health benefits. Starting in 2017 and going forward, they can now use the fund that they’ve set aside for these prefunding payments, which . . . has nearly $50 billion in it.” (NH Tr. 896-97)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Since 2010</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service has been unable to meet the RHBF payments. “They have to report it as an expense, but then it gets reported as an additional liability on their balance sheet.” (NH Tr. 897) Because the Postal Service is a federal agency and not a privat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e company, it cannot file for bankruptcy. “So this has become the center of all the discussions about postal reform legislation, is what to do, how to reduce or repeal this prefunding burden.” (NH Tr. 898) If the unpaid amounts for the retiree health benef</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">its were removed from the budget statements for 2013 to 2018, the combined operating income for those years would be $3.8 billion (NH Exh. C-135; NH Tr. 899-903).</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Sauber explained the retiree health benefit is not a debt owed to a third party.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]his is n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ot like defaulting on your mortgage if you don't make these payments. It's like if you're in tough times and you stop putting money into your kid's college fund. It's a future obligation and a future liability that you're going to have, but nonetheless it'</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s out there and just by law Congress has decided that the Postal Service and only the Postal Service -- no other private company has to do this, has to prefund retiree health.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 903-04)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is an agency of the federal government and,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as such, does not file taxes. It is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to file annual 10-K reports (NH Exh. C-131; NH Tr. 874-75). The Postal Service is funded entirely by the sales of postage and stamps—it receives no revenue from federal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">taxes “with one small exception.” (NH Tr. 876) Market dominant services (MDS), which include “letters, invoices, statements, [and] marketing mail,” are items for which the Postal Service is the main provider (NH Tr. 877). The Postal Regulatory Commission</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(PRC) permits the Postal Service to raise rates once a year for MDS, indexed to the CPI (NH Tr. 878) The Postal Service increased rates in January of 2019 by 2.5<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">percent and estimated it would “generate approximately $891 million in annualized income.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H. Tr. 881)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Congress also provides a “sort of safety valve” for circumstances where higher rate increases are deemed necessary, called “exigent rate increases” that are “above and beyond the CPI.” (NH Tr. 881-82). In 2011 or 2012, in the aftermath of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Great Recession, the Postal Service experienced a severe drop in mail volume. It petitioned the PRC for a 4.3 percent exigent rate increase above the CPI, which the PRC granted in December of 2013. The exigent increase was temporary, staying in effect unti</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l the Postal Service recovered $4.6 billion. It expired in April of 2016 after meeting that goal (NH Tr. 882-83).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service also raises revenue by offering competitive services in the categories of priority mail, priority mail express, first-clas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s package service, and parcel select. It has more flexibility in setting the rates according to market conditions for competitive services (NH Tr. 883-85). Sauber stated competitive services have given an economic boost to the Postal Service. “There was a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">booming, booming growth in e-commerce, and so the demand was providing the ability for the Postal Service to raise their rates. The demand was also raising their costs too, so that's in part why they did these rate increases.” (NH Tr. 890) The Postal Servi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce raises about $21.5 billion of its annual $71 billion revenue from competitive services. In 2018, approximately 4 percent of the total number of pieces letter carriers delivered were categorized as competitive services (NH Tr. 886-67). In January 2019, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Postal Service implemented a 7.4 percent increase in its competitive rates (NH Exh. C-131; Tr. 887).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Another anomaly of the Postal Service’s business model is its partnership with its direct competitors. Williams stated, “[W]e rely on FedEx and we rely</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on UPS, but we also compete with them. So in the package market there is a lot of competition, as you might imagine, with two big package delivery companies like UPS and FedEx. So within the competitive product line, most of the products and services are<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">around packages.” (NH Tr. 1753)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is committed to meeting service standards for mail delivery, meaning the transit time for different types of mail is predictable. First class mail has overnight, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and 5-day service st</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">andards (NH Tr. 1756). The Postal Service recognizes its customers rely on its promise to meet its service standards for both business and personal reasons.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]e have a 2-day service commitment for first class mail if you're mailing within a 6-hour drive t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ime within the United States, 2-day service standard. You're expecting to have that mail delivered in 2 days. If you're mailing a bill or if you're synchronizing when you're mailing a birthday card to your mother, and you know she lives within six hours of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>you, you know you've got 2 days to get that mail piece delivered, the promise that we're making our customers through our service standards.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And cataloguers plan their promotions around expected delivery times in the home. They staff up their call center</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s expecting when we're going to deliver a catalogue in somebody's home so that when you receive a catalogue, you're calling up the call center and making an order.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So our customers are counting on us. Amazon is counting on us to make their 2-day promise.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cataloguers are staffing up and counting on us to deliver catalogues so that whatever product is being sold can be bought. And if you've got personal correspondence, business correspondence or paying your bills, we've got a promise that we're going to deli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ver on that promise. When those expectations aren't met, our customers can get quite agitated, right. If you make a payment to your mortgage and it's not received on time and you get hit with a late fee, that's a major issue for our customers. If you staff</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>up your call center and expecting a lot of calls because you've entered product into one of our plants and we don't deliver</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that timely, number one, you're not getting the sales that you're expecting. You've paid for a lot of people to be in call centers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that aren't taking calls.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1762-64)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For certain guaranteed types of mail, the Postal Service must refund the customer’s postage if the mail is not delivered in the promised time, which, Williams stated, is a financial penalty. However,<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">bigger penalty for us is when customers use us and we don't deliver on the promise that we're making, they go to alternative places, right? We're competing in every single product line. It's not just the competitive products where people traditionally see<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">us as competing with United States Parcel Service or FedEx.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We're competing now with our own customers. We're competing with Amazon. Amazon is creating their own delivery network. We're competing with electronics. . . . If you go on any social media app,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, whether it's email, you're getting hit multiple, multiple times by an unlimited number of companies that are using electronic media to deliver their message, whether it's a business message, whether it's a tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ansaction, whether it's a bill payment, bill presentment, advertising piece, if it's periodicals, online periodicals.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So even within our market dominant products, we're competing in every product, and service -- it's very hard to compete when somebody can</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>deliver an email to your account free and when they want. . . . But if we're not delivering on our standards and we're losing customers, we call that churn, so churn is a term that we use. Last year we lost $5.5 billion for customers that left us. About 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.8 billion of that was because of service-related issues.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So when we're not delivering on service, promises that we're making when we ink deals with some of the major e-commerce companies, they leave us. Some of them left us this past Christmas season whe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n we were having difficulties in certain pockets of the country. We lost business because some of these e-commerce companies diverted packages that we would normally have received and were expecting to receive, they diverted them to some of our competitors</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1765-67)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">NALC and Heat Stress Awareness</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Manuel Peralta works in Washington, D.C., as the national director of safety and health for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">NALC. NALC, with approximately 295,000 active and retired members, is “the union that has exclusive jurisdict</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ion to represent city letter carriers throughout the country.” (NH Tr. 43)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In July of 2012, Peralta learned a letter carrier in Independence, Missouri, “had died, and it was believed to have been related to the heat.” (NH Tr. 52) In December of 2012, the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Secretary issued a willful citation to the Postal Service for a § 5(a)(1) violation for exposing employees to excessive heat. The Postal Service contested the citation and the case went to hearing in February of 2014.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attended the hearing presid</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed over by Judge Peggy S. Ball. He observed the testimony of the Secretary’s expert witness, Dr. Thomas Bernard (NH Tr. 52-54).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref180" href="#ftn180">180</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Dr. Bernard’s testimony inspired Peralta to address the issue of excessive heat exposure for letter carriers.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As a direct result of the testimony of the doctor and the Occupational Safety and Health expert . . . I was stunned over what they explained, ho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">w it -- the heat affects the body. . . . The steps that I personally took is, I started to speak with the Business Agent, speak with the other officers, and determined that we had to learn more about the heat, learn more about its effects, learn more about</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>what do we have to do as a craft to prevent our brothers and sisters from getting hurt. A few months later, the judge issued her decision.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref181" href="#ftn181">181</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>And in reading her decision, I decided to start writing articles where I specifically made reference to her findin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gs and her opinion. And I started to read more and more and more, including documents that came out from NIOSH and recommendations, and started to put together information and sending it more and more to the field.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 55-56)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In response to increased<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">awareness of heat stress, the Postal Service and NALC negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2015 (NH Tr. 56, 59). Section 1 of the MOU addresses training and provides:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">New letter carrier employee orientation will include the heat stress trainin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g identified below. Training will also be provided annually (no later than April 15) to all employees, with regular reminders throughout the summer season by local management.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LMS Course 10019802—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors and Carr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iers)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">PowerPoint Presentation—Heat Stress Recognition and Prevention (Supervisors to present to carriers). This program is designed as alternative training for those employees without access to the online Learning Management System.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Heat Stress SDOM Video:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> http://blue.usps.gov/hr/safety/video/heat-stress.htm</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stand Up Talks and Info Pak Information (attached as an appendix).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106, p. 3) The Postal Service did not make the heat stress training mandatory for supervisors until May of 2018 (NH. Tr. 61</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU was signed on May 5, 2015, and applies to the post office in Independence, Missouri, but states, “While this Agreement applies solely to the Independence, Missouri, Post Office, including its stations and branches, the parties recognize that he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at abatement is an essential element of on-the-job safety for city letter carriers in all locations where city letter carriers are exposed to excessive heat.” (NH Exh. C-106)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second section of the MOU addresses increased supervisory monitoring of lett</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er carriers when the heat index rises to 103 °F:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2) Monitoring Employees</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]o the extent practicable, management will increase contact with employees performing street duties for the purpose of monitoring employees’ well-being on days when the Natio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nal Weather Service predicts a heat index (air temperature and relative humidity combined into a single value) at or above 103°F. For purposes of this agreement, the combination of air temperature and relative humidity at or above 103°F is deemed an “exces</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sive heat day.” The chart below indicates the heat index system used by the National Weather Service. [The NWS’s heat index chart is depicted.]</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 147-51)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The MOU includes a section on work/rest cycles, again finding the heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">index of 103°F to be a triggering event for additional measures:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5) Work/Rest Regimen</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On days where the National Weather Service predicts a heat index at or above 103°F, in addition to their regular scheduled break(s) and lunch break, city letter carriers<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are encouraged to take additional breaks in designated climate-controlled or shaded areas . . . when necessary to mitigate the impact of excessive heat. Additionally, the parties understand and agree that it may be necessary for individual city letter carr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iers to take additional breaks when the heat index is under the threshold set above. Individual city letter carriers retuning from absence or illness may be especially vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat, and therefore, are especially encouraged to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>take necessary breaks pursuant to this paragraph. City letter carriers taking an extra break under this provision, using their assigned MDD, send a text message to their assigned facility at the MDD,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">send a text message to their assigned facility at the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">beginning of the break (indicating the break location) and another text message at the conclusion of the break. The parties understand and agree that there may be circumstances where a city letter carrier taking a break under this provision may not immedia</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tely report the breakthrough the MDD.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-106; NH Tr. 151-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In 2015, without input from NALC, the Postal Service implemented a heat stress awareness program that supervisors communicated to letter carriers during standup safety talks (NH Tr. 62-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">63). Peralta found the program to be “very shallow in the depth of information provided. . . . [I]t’s the limitation of hydrate yourself, avoid certain things, but very little, and none that I remember on acclimatization.” (NH Tr. 63) He also objected to t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he format of standup talks being used to communicate the information, based on the 5 years he had worked as a letter carrier in California.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">When I was a carrier in Anaheim, I remember being called together for standup talks where the supervisor would read<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in the most monotonous, boring, uninspiring tone what he was required to read. And it felt like they were making a little checkmark on a piece of paper, telling you to finish up, go back to your case. It was absolutely worthless. So I spoke up because I wa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s very disappointed with the quality of training. And that's one of the reasons that my president later volunteered me for the safety committee.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 63-64)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta created a form entitled<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Initial Heat Injury Report</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and distributed copies to the local</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>union branches and posted it on NALC’s website (NH Exh. C-105; NH Tr. 65-67). The purposes of the form are to track heat injuries and to assist injured letter carriers with claims under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (NH Tr. 67). NALC developed yea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rly spread sheets to track the heat injury reports (NH Exhs. C-107 (2015), C-108 (2016), C-109 (2017), C-110 (2018); NH Tr. 79-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta investigated many of the injury reports and found a pattern emerged.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[I]t surprised me how much pressure the emplo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing. We have a heat wave. We know we're affected by the heat wave. . . . It was my understanding that the employees were<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">suffering from pressure to keep pushing forward. When I read the statements, in some of them it was, "I called my supervisor. My supervisor told me to keep going in spite of a standup talk that told us to recognize the symptoms. When we did call, we were f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">orced to keep going." And that happened a lot.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 70-71) Eventually, Peralta became aware that letter carriers who suffered heat injuries were subject to disciplinary procedures (Tr. 89, 96).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Peralta attributed the death of a letter carrier in Medfo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rd, Massachusetts, in July of 2015 to excessive heat exposure (NH Tr. 102). He testified regarding the death of another letter carrier<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in Woodland Hills, California, in July 2018 on a day when the temperature was 117 °F. The letter carrier “had been off du</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ty for approximately three months. She had suffered an on-the-job injury. I believe it was either a severely sprained or a broken ankle. She was on medication, off work for three months. That Friday was her first day back.” (NH Tr. 104) Peralta discovered<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service had certified the deceased letter carrier had undergone heat safety training during a period of time when she was not working.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[D]uring my meeting on May the 15th of 2018 with management, they also told me every single letter carrier in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the country will also undergo the LMS training for the heat safety program that we audited in 2015. They specifically put, to me, confirmation that 640,000 employees will undergo that training. Because I was very doubtful that they were going to have ever</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ybody go. I said, are you talking every single letter carrier? Well, we're not talking about individually, but in groups. Every single letter carrier and every single supervisor. So as the facts revealed themselves, I am provided with documents that indica</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ted [the deceased letter carrier] was certified as having gone through that training when she wasn't ever at work yet. Her first day at work, she returns and dies, but they certified that she had gone through that training weeks earlier, which was absolute</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly untrue. They were embarrassed, and then they later, after the fact, corrected their records.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 106)</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Rural Delivery</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The working conditions and payment structure for rural carriers differs from that of city carriers. David Heather of the NRCLA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">provided an overview of rural delivery for the Postal Service.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref182" href="#ftn182">182</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heather described a typical day for a rural letter carrier: Rural carriers report to their post offices and gather their mail, including the delivery point sequence mail that has already be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">en organized. They then case the mail for 2 or 3 hours by sorting it into the slotted sections of the case for each delivery address. The rural letter carriers also gather and sort their parcels. They then load the mail and parcels into their vehicles and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proceed on their routes. They deliver and collect mail as they drive their routes, dismounting to walk parcels to the addresses or to deliver to business addresses. After completing their routes, the rural letter carriers return to their post offices where</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they will deal with undeliverable mail (due to an incorrect address, for example) and the mail they collected on their routes (NH Tr. 179-81). Heather testified approximately 45 percent of the rural carriers drive their own vehicles, and the rest drive LL</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Vs (NH Tr. 181-82).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heather explained the different positions among the rural letter carriers:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[T]he first designation would be a regular rural carrier. That’s a career rural carrier who works either five or six days a week on a full-time regular route.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">We have another career position called a PTF or a part-time flexible rural carrier. Those folks are only guaranteed anywhere between two and five days of work per week. But they’re considered career. They have career benefits. So that’s the second category</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. We have rural carrier associates [RCAs] who are actually not guaranteed a whole lot of work at all. Because when they’re hired their job is specifically to fill in for one particular regular carrier. Ideally, we would have an RCA assigned to every regula</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r route so that when the regular carrier is gone that RCA’s job would be to fill in. That is a non-career position. And then we have another non-career position that we established fairly recently called an assistant rural carrier. And that position was es</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tablished specifically to help us deliver parcels on Sundays and holidays. And then we did agree that they could do some other work on Saturdays. So it’s basically a weekend position.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 183-84)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heather explained rural letter carriers “are kind of an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>anomaly in the Postal Service and probably in all of labor” in the calculation of their salary (NH Tr. 186). They are paid on the basis of “evaluated time,” using<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a daily evaluation which comes from a weekly evaluation of the route. And this weekly evalu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ation is determined by a mail count which is a periodic time where we take a snapshot . . . most of the time it is [for] two weeks. And during that period of time we establish how many boxes there are on the route; how long the route is in miles. We count,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>physically count, every letter, every flat, every parcel that the carrier delivers. We count every certified letter. All of these items have a time factor that’s been agreed to and in some cases arbitrated by the carriers over the years. And you add up al</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l of these elements. You multiply the time factors. You add all of that up and you come up with a weekly evaluation for the route. And that establishes how that route will be paid and how that carrier will be paid until there is a next mail count or a nex</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t substantial change in the route.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 187)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rural letter carriers are paid the same amount regardless whether they complete their routes in 6 hours or 10 hours (NH Tr. 188). They cannot earn overtime. “It’s a matter of personal motivation and efficien</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cy.” (NH Tr. 189) The pay rate includes the time spent casing in the post office as well as delivering the mail (the street time). Evaluated time is calculated based on 42 different elements. The weather is not one of them (NH T. 188-89, 2484-86).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rural l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">etter carriers are not permitted the 10-minute morning and afternoon breaks that the city letter carriers take. They are allowed an unpaid 30-minute lunch break “in whatever increments [they] want, wherever and whenever [they] want along the route.” Heath</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er assumes “the bulk of our rural carriers probably don’t take any of that lunch most days. . . . [T]he incentive is strong. When you get to go home when you’re done, that’s a strong motivator.” (NH Tr. 191) It is Heather’s opinion that if rural letter car</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">riers were paid for 30-minute lunch breaks,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they would still not take them “[b]ecause rural carriers want to get done and go home.” (NH Tr. 195)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rural letter carriers are expected to return to their post offices in time for the evening dispatch, when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“the last truck comes to the office to pick up the outgoing mail.” (NH Tr. 191) If a rural letter carrier misses the evening dispatch, a postal employee will have to drive to the distribution center with collected mail (NH Tr. 192). Heather stated, “[T]her</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e’s always pressure to make it back to dispatch. I think that’s especially high during the peak season when the weather’s bad, when we have a lot more parcels than we normally would. When I say ‘peak’ I mean Christmas. . . . [T]here are folks who have trou</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ble getting back before the dispatch even during all seasons.” (NH Tr. 193)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>James Boldt has been the Postal Service’s manager of rural delivery since 2013 (NH Tr. 2466). He is responsible for overseeing the policy and procedures of rural delivery, includi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng the efficiency of operations and changes in standards for how rural carriers perform their duties (NH Tr. 2470).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Boldt testified the Postal Service delivers on 78,500 rural routes nationwide, in 64 of its 67 districts, to approximately 45 million deliv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ery points (NH Tr. 2470). He stated people often envision “rural” as farm country but in reality “city delivery is basically urban and suburban, and rural delivery is suburban and rural. . . .[A]bout 58 percent of the rural routes are actually in locations</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that I would consider more suburban.” (NH Tr. 2471) Each year, the Postal Service adds 1.1 to 1.5 million new deliveries, and up to 75 percent of those are on rural routes. The Postal Service employs approximately 132,000 regular and replacement rural let</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ter carriers. Regular rural letter carriers are career employees who deliver on a regular route. Replacement carriers, or rural carrier associates (RCAs) are noncareer employees who relieve regular carriers on their scheduled days off, or when they take an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nual or sick leave. The Postal Service also employs approximately 6,500 associate rural carriers (ARCs) who deliver on Sundays and holidays. The NRLCA represents all three categories of rural carriers (NH Tr. 2472-73).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The majority of rural deliveries ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e to curbside mailboxes; park and loop routes are rare. Approximately 53 percent of rural letter carriers drive vehicles provided by the Postal Service (mainly LLVs). The remaining rural letter carriers drive their personally owned vehicles (POV), for whic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">h the Postal Service provides a maintenance allowance (NH Tr. 2478-79, 2481-82).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref183" href="#ftn183">183</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Form 3996 and Time Pressure</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jennifer Thi Vo works as the Postal Service’s director of city delivery (NH Tr. 2583). She has worked for the Postal Service for 25 years and ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s held a variety of positions, including post office supervisor (NH Tr. 2584). She oversees all work aspects of city letter carriers and the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">approximately 143,000 routes on which they deliver. The Postal Service employs approximately 161,000 full-time city</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>letter carriers and 2,800 part-time employees, plus approximately 44,000 CCAs (NH Tr. 2587-88).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo has experience as a post office supervisor receiving Form 3996 requests from letter carriers due to predicted hot weather. She explained the process she u</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sed with the requesting letter carriers to determine whether she approved or disapproved the requests.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I supervised in Memphis during the summer of 2014. . . . [I]t's hot, so on the 3996 they asked for overtime based on the heat. What I was explaining to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the managers and the supervisors, we had four types of 3996, all heat off for half an hour.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>What I looked at and what I try to teach is that each one of the 3996s are different because the employees are different and the routes are different. So the first</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>one that I disapproved was for 30 minutes and it had heat. The conversation with the employee is that they leave their route at 10:00 o'clock and then usually are back by 4:00. But that day they were leaving at 9:30, so they're leaving an extra half an ho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ur early. So the conversation that I would have is, "I'm disapproving your 3996. You asked for 30 minutes "O" due to the heat. I do think that you might take the 30 minutes but you're leaving a half an hour earlier. I'm not going to give you any extra work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">." So I would disapprove that.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The second one might be different. 30 minutes, and I remember this one. He asked for 30 minutes. He was leaving on time, so he's leaving at 10:00. He's supposed to leave at 10:00. He put heat, but his building, his route is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">95 percent in</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the building. It's in the Civic Center, which is air conditioned, which the heat should not affect it. But usually what I did on that was I disapproved the 30 minutes. I gave him 15 minutes and told him that I would approve it. Use it if he n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eeds it. If he needs more, let us know. But that's the conversation.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The last two we approved because they were out on the street. They were leaving at the same time, so we went ahead and approved it.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On those three cases, none of those employees worked</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>overtime. It's really about the communication and talking to them. If they need it, they need it. If they don't -- 3996 is just a form to kind of determine if you need something.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It's going to change once you get on the street. It might be that they use</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d 35 minutes. It might be they used 15 minutes, but every single form is not the same, every route is not the same and every carrier is not the same.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So that supervisor is really the key because they're the ones that are talking to employees every day. .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . [Form 3996 requests are] made at the beginning of the day, but all of the stations and branches usually have a requirement to call by a certain time. So if you know -- so at my stations, they're required to call at 3:00 o'clock. So they know -- it does</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n't mean wait until 3:00 o'clock to call. It means that as soon as they find out that there's an issue there, give us a call.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>We have three options. The supervisors that pick up the phone have three options when they call. The first option is go ahead an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d use the overtime. Second option is I'll send you some help. And the third option is bring back the mail.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Now, there's situations. Just like there's different carriers, there's different supervisors out there that's going to need training and stuff that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">will just say, "Continue going." If it's going to continue going, they have approved that overtime.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2597-2600)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>When asked if it is proper procedure if a supervisor “just had their employees put a 3996 in a folder, doesn’t look at them, disapproves</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>them,” Vo responded, “It would be. . . . A 3996 is—if it doesn’t get approved or disapproved, it’s automatically approved. So if you put in a request for overtime and the supervisor doesn’t address it or any point, then the overtime’s approved.” (NH Tr. 2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">672)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref184" href="#ftn184">184</a></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo testified a letter carrier’s medical condition could affect the time needed to complete a route (NH Tr. 2636). When a letter carrier notifies the post office in the morning he or she is not feeling well, the supervisor can allow extra time for o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vertime or assign part of the route as a pivot. If a letter carrier is on the street and calls to say he or she is not feeling well and may require extra time to complete the route, Vo stated, “We usually won’t have an issue with that.” (NH Tr. 2637)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ross-examination, Vo was asked about testimony from letter carriers in the local cases indicating their supervisors consistently discouraged them from submitting Forms 3993 or taking lunch or breaks due to hot weather. She responded, “So what I heard from<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the testimony is that the employees felt they were pressured to be done on time. And I don't see that to be the case of my experience and what I see as in data. These looked like isolated incidents. But I don't see -- I haven't seen any factual, just what<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I've heard on it. But I don't think that that is representative of the Postal Service.” (NH Tr. 2728)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Vo presents an idealized description of conversations between supervisors and city carriers regarding Form 3996 requests. The pleasant, civilized discuss</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ions she envisions, based on mutual respect between carriers and supervisors are not, however, the norm. Rather than being “isolated incidents” when “employees felt they were pressured to be done on time,” the records in the five Postal Service cases, acr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oss five cities, demonstrate rural and city carriers experience near-constant pressure to complete their routes faster and to discourage them from taking breaks or calling in sick. In this case, every city and rural carrier, active and retired, testified t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hey were “harassed” or “pushed” or “yelled at” when they asked for more time or assistance (Tr. 68, 93, 177-84, 219-21, 287-88, 365-67). The Court agrees with Peralta’s opinion regarding the attitude of the Post Office to its carriers. “[I]t surprised me h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ow much pressure the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employees were under to keep working. It stunned me that it was a common denominator in most of the cases. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing.” (NH Tr. 71).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard testified letter carriers are influenced by the corporate cult</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ure of the Postal Service to prioritize productivity. “[T]here seems to be a dance where I ask for extra time with a form 3996 . . . and [the forms will] sit on a desk, and so it becomes an effective denial. . . . [T]here's pressure that comes down . . . t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o the senior supervisor in an office down to the first-line supervisors to the employees about the need to meet these goals. And I mention it from the dance point of view is there was no evidence that people were punished on taking more time, but there was</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>certainly this culture of discouraging, you know, that was there.” (NH Tr. 847-48) He stated letter carriers who in 2016 did report heat stress symptoms “were nonetheless encouraged to continue their routes.” (NH Tr. 945) Even though supervisors received<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat stress training, “they still had the emphasis on productivity versus trying to make sure that there was an early identification of signs and symptoms and early first aid.” (NH Tr. 947)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Even if the letter carriers in these cases did not suffer<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related illnesses, they were experiencing illnesses of some sort and were plainly in distress. Yet in every one of the five local cases, supervisors to whom carriers reported their ailments either ignored the calls or texts or exhibited dismissive and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>disparaging attitudes towards the carriers. To discourage requests for overtime or sick leave, supervisors intimidated, belittled, and, in at least once case, bullied carriers, creating an atmosphere of disquiet and suspicion. These cases reveal a pervasi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ve culture of mistrust and skepticism on the part of postal supervisors regarding reports of injuries or illnesses made by carriers. The supervisors’ indifference and the carriers’ reluctance to engage in confrontational conversations with management contr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ibute to the stress already inherent in meeting the unforgiving demands of the 24-hour clock.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VI. THE CITATION</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Secretary’s Burden of Proof</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of the general duty clause, the Secretary must prove: “(1) a condition or activity in th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e workplace presented a hazard; (2) the employer or its industry recognized the hazard; (3) the hazard was causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and (4) a feasible and effective means existed to eliminate or materially reduce the hazar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S. J. Louis Constr. of Tex.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>25 BNA OSHC 1892, 19 1894 (No. 12-1045, 2016).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas, LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 14-0844, 2019 WL 33717, at *2 (OSHRC March 27, 2019). “The Secretary also must prove that the employer ‘knew, or with the exercise of reaso</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tampa Shipyards Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 1533, 1535 (No. 86-360, 1992) (consolidated).”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *2 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Alleged Repeat Violati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">on of § 5(a)(1)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of Citation No. 1 alleges,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rm to employees in that employees were exposed to recognized hazards related to working outside during periods of excessive heat.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a) On August 13, 2016, at job sites located on mail routes in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with an afternoon heat index of 103</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>degrees Fahrenheit, the employer exposed employees to the recognized hazard of excessive heat during mail delivery. Beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m., a rural letter carrier began delivering mail from an enclosed Postal Service truck (LLV) without air</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>conditioning and in the direct heat. At approximately 1:30 p.m. the employee began feeling the symptoms of heat stress. The employees was hospitalized and diagnosed with heat related illness.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref185" href="#ftn185">185</a></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">A. Existence of a Hazard</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. The Evidence Does Not Establish E</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">xposure to Excessive Heat Caused the Illness of LC-1</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The first element the Secretary must prove to establish a § 5(a)(1) violation is: “A condition or activity in the workplace presented a hazard.” The alleged violation description (AVD) of the Citation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>identifies the workplace at issue as “outside.” The Citation identifies the hazard presented as “excessive heat.” The “condition or activity” that presented the alleged hazard appears to be the afternoon heat index of 103°F.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Heat Stress Hazards</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary called Dr. Tustin to testify regarding excessive heat exposure. He<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">explained heat stress results from a combination of a person’s metabolic heat and environmental heat. Metabolic heat is generated by the human body and environmental heat resu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lts from sources outside the body. Sources of environmental heat include air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat, and air movement. Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air. Radiant heat is generated by electromagnetic waves, such a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s direct sunlight (NH Tr. 255-57). Sunlight is “radiation that is striking the worker. So moving from the shade into the sunlight, even if the air temperature doesn’t change, you’ll be struck by the radiant heat so it can feel hotter.” (NH Tr. 258) The Na</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tional Weather Service uses the heat index to combine air temperature and relative humidity as a single metric. “What it’s doing is accounting for two of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the main environmental factors. . . . If the humidity rises, the heat index rises for a given temperat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ure. So it’s assessing how it feels to a worker.” (NH Tr. 274)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The most serious illness caused by heat stress is heatstroke, which causes a dysfunction of the brain. Symptoms include slurred speech, disorientation, confusion, unconsciousness, or coma. He</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">atstroke causes an elevated body temperature, generally defined as 104 or 105°F (NH Tr. 259). Heat exhaustion is a less severe result of heat stress. Its symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and profuse sweating. Heat exhaustion does</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>not result in an elevated body temperature or brain dysfunction (NH Tr. 260). Dr. Tustin stated symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-541). Unlike heat stroke, there is no diagnostic test for heat exhaustion (NH Tr. 536). Less severe conditions caused by heat stress include heat cramps, heat rash, and heat syncope (fainting) (NH Tr. 261).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">LC-1 and the August 13, 2016, Incident</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tus</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tin reviewed weather data from the National Weather Service (NWS) for Martinsburg, West Virginia, on August 13, 2016 (NH Exh. C-304; NH Tr. 445). The NWS data showed the highest temperature in Martinsburg on August 13 occurred at 3:53 p.m. It was 93°F, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the relative humidity was 58 percent, resulting in a heat index of 106°F.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified a heat index of 106°F is hazardous, based on epidemiological studies and cases he has reviewed (NH Tr. 447). He stated his belief is “also consistent with oth</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">er recommendations, for example, from the National Weather Service and OSHA, heat index charts and thresholds that they’ve published.” (NH Tr. 419)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin reviewed LC-1’s hearing testimony and medical records, and he gave his opinion of her medical co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ndition at the time she arrived at the hospital on August 13, 2016.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">She was in the hospital for, I believe, two days, and they performed several tests. The ones that I thought were most pertinent were the blood tests. So they tested her creatinine level, w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hich I've already mentioned for the previous case. Her creatinine level was elevated about four times the upper limit of normal, according to my – what I recall. And so that's essentially diagnostic of what we call kidney failure or renal failure. Her blo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">od pressure was low, so that's an objective vital sign that we look at. That was probably a causal factor in the renal failure. They had her seen by a nephrologist, who's a kidney specialist. And the nephrologist concurred that this was acute renal failur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e due to prerenal kidney injury. . . . [The attending physician] diagnosed her with, like I said, acute renal failure, which resolved by the time she was discharged. And they diagnosed her with heat exhaustion, which also resolved by the time she was disc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harged two days later.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 452-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>LC-1 had gone to the emergency room approximately 2 weeks before the incident at issue, on July 28, 2016. She was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI), hypotension,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">renal failure and essential hypertension,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and was given a prescription for Ceftin (NH Tr. 3023-24). Dr. Tustin disagreed with the diagnosis of UTI.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">She did not have any pain or burning with urination. She didn't have any flank pain, so pain around the region of the kidneys or in the region of the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>bladder on physical exam. The lack of those symptoms really reduces the likelihood of a UTI. And the reason they diagnosed a UTI was based on a urinalysis. But when I looked at the urinalysis results, it was contaminated, which that means that it wasn't<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a clean urine sample. And when you do a urinalysis, you're trying to examine a clean sample directly from the bladder. But sometimes when the patient urinates, the sample can be contaminated by cells or bacteria or other things from the surrounding tissue.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The laboratory in July specifically mentions it was a contaminated urine sample. They said that it should be repeated because it was contaminated. So you really can't diagnose a UTI based on a contaminated urine sample.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 459). LC-1 was also diagno</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sed with a UTI during her stay at the hospital that began 2 weeks later on August 13, 2016 (Exh. R-35, p. 305).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin was asked about the side effects of one of the medications LC-1 was taking.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [C]an topiramate cause sweating cessation?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tustin: Yes, I've seen that. I've seen that listed as a side effect.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In this case in August of 2016, do you believe that topiramate caused [LC-1] to stop sweating?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No, I don't think so. . . . [T]here are actually several reasons, but pro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">bably a couple of the most important ones are the mechanism just doesn't make sense to me. If topiramate caused someone to not be able to sweat, then you wouldn't see sweating in the morning and then suddenly stop sweating in the afternoon, for one thing.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>I think that if it was due to topiramate that's she's been taking for months or years, then you wouldn't see that abrupt change from sweating to not sweating.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And the other thing I think is that it doesn't really make sense that it would cause dehydrati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on. If topiramate prevented somebody from sweating, that would actually protect against -- protect against dehydration because the person wouldn't be sweating, so they wouldn't dry out like someone dries out when they are sweating a lot. And so if it was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">due to the topiramate, then she, in my opinion, would not have developed the dehydration-related acute renal failure. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>[T]hey instructed her to continue taking the topiramate. So that indicates to me that they did not think it had a causal role in her</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>acute renal failure. I think a physician would not have instructed a patient to continue taking a medication if the physician thought that it had caused acute renal failure that was serious enough for hospitalization.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 460-62)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On cross-examination</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, Dr. Tustin conceded LC-1’s opioid usage could cause some of the same symptoms he attributed to heat exhaustion.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can taking opioids cause UTIs?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I believe I have seen that, yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And can UTIs cause dehydration?<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: They can,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can taking a high dose of opioids cause low blood pressure?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Again, I don't remember all the side effects of opioids, but it might be possible.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can it cause fatigue?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Possibly.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Some of the literature I've read s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ays it can cause sedation. Do you agree with that?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes. Yes, I agree with that.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 692).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Shirly Conibear also reviewed LC-1’s medical records.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref186" href="#ftn186">186</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court determined Dr. Conibear was qualified, based on her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, to testify as an expert “in occupational medicine, with specialized expertise in heat stress and abatement measures that may materially r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">educe the hazard of excessive heat.” (NH Tr. 3013)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear concluded LC-1 did not experience a heat-related illness on August 13, 2016 (NH Tr. 3021). She noted that when LC-1 had gone to the emergency room previously on July 28, 2016, she had compla</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ined of “nausea, dizziness and generalized weakness for a few days.” (NH Tr. 3024) At the time she went to the emergency room, LC-1 was taking the medications “atorvastatin, lisinopril, omeprazole, oxycodone, oxymorphone, tarzanadine and topiramate.” (NH T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 3024)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear testified regarding the uses and side effects of the medications LC-1 was taking. Topiramate (Topamax) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, used to suppress seizures and as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">an anti-psychotic. Side effects of topiramate include cessati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on of sweating and increased body temperature (NH Tr. 3033). Lisinopril lowers blood pressure, which can cause symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness (NH Tr. 3025-26). Hydrochlorothiazide a diuretic, “so it causes volume depletion of about a l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iter and a half of fluid. . . . [I]t basically reduces blood pressure by eliminating the amount of fluid there is to pump around. So it works in concert with the lisinopril to lower blood pressure.” (NH Tr. 3026) Diuresis is not a side effect of hydrochlor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">othiazide but is “the desired effect. You're giving it to them so that they will become dehydrated and that lowers the blood pressure.” (NH Tr. 3040)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Two of LC-1’s medications were synthetic opioids: oxycodone (prescribed four times a day) and oxymorphone</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(prescribed three times a day) (Tr. 3025). Dr. Conibear explained doctors calculate the morphine equivalent dose (MED) to determine a patient’s cumulative daily intake of any drugs in the opioid class to reduce the likelihood of an overdose.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[Morphine] w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as the ultimate pain reliever for many years and then when the synthetic opioids came out, there was a question about how to switch people who were taking morphine to these drugs and how -- there was no experience with them. So this was a way of equating i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t to what doctors were using previously. It's also a way of in terms of looking at overdose, what the risk is. Basically, they all work the same way. They just have different timings of when they act.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3030)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear stated an MED of “60 would</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>be considered a very substantial dose currently.” (NH Tr. 3031) She calculated LC-1’s MED as 240, or four times the recommended dosage (Tr. 3030-31). When asked what side effects could result from such a high dosage, Dr. Conibear responded, “[D]efinitely<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">somnolence and lethargy and sleepiness. Can also lower blood pressure, suppress respiration. It can also paradoxically cause cramping, cause urinary retention and the bowel stops working. Those are the most common. . . . [Urinary retention] does tend to l</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ead to urinary tract infection.” (NH Tr. 3030)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear testified the symptoms LC-1 reported at the ER on August 13, 2016, (“nausea, stopped sweating, and lethargy”) were “very similar” to the symptoms she reported July 28, 2016, when she was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">diagnosed with renal failure (NH Tr. 3035). Dr. Conibear believes the hospital correctly diagnosed LC-1 with a UTI during her stay that began on August 13, 2016. “[I]t was diagnosed by a nephrologist and she had an elevated white blood count and she ascrib</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed to having had urinary tract infection symptoms for the previous two weeks.” (NH Tr. 3036) LC-1’s discharge records reflect “her neutro cells are elevated ... It's called a left shift and it signifies infection somewhere in the body, usually a bacterial<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">infection.” (NH Tr. 3039).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear concluded LC-1’s medication use, in combination with the UTI, caused LC-1’s hospitalization on August 13, 2016, not excessive heat.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Is it your belief that her symptoms were caused by her medications on August 13</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2016?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. [W]hat symptoms would the opioids cause?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Somnolence, sleepiness, and they could have lowered her blood pressure to a certain extent. They could have been responsible for her muscle spasms, for her</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>chronic dizziness, nausea, lethargy.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: What symptoms would the diuretics cause?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Diuretics cause dehydration and they cause low blood pressure, and that can cause feeling of fatigue and weakness and dizziness.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: What symptoms would the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">topiramate cause?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Topiramate can cause lack of sweating and it also can cause sleepiness, dizziness.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [LC-1] had been taking some of these medications for quite some time, or had she?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes, quite some time.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">if she had been taking these medications for years without suffering side</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">effects other than July 28th, is the differentiating factor the urinary tract infection?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes, I would say so.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3047-49)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear stated that a UTI “causes<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">an inflammatory response, so it's not just in the organ that's infected itself. It's that icky feeling that you get when you have the flu. It's called -- it actually has a name now. It's called systemic inflammatory response. The whole immune system gets r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oiled up and it gives you those feelings that people associate with being sick.” (NH Tr. 3049-50). She disagreed with the LC-1’s diagnosis of heat exhaustion. “[E]verything that she had is explained by the diagnoses list that we went through, with the exce</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ption of heat exhaustion.” (NH Tr. 3052)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear noted LC-1’s medical records state under “Final Diagnoses” that one of her diagnoses was “Heat exhaustion, unspecified,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">initial encounter</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.” (Exh. R-35, p. 279) (emphasis added) “That's what was diagnos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed in the ER. . . . I think she continued to have the same problem August 13th that she had July 28th. She had hypotension and that caused her kidney problems, and those were the drug side effects and she had a urinary tract infection.” (NH Tr. 3053) When<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">asked if LC-1 would have manifested the same symptoms had she been working when the heat index was 70°F, Dr. Conibear replied, “Yeah, I don't think it would have made any difference.” (NH Tr. 3054)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Credibility Determination</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified unequivoca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lly that heat stress caused LC-1’s illness that led to her hospitalization on August 13, 2016. Dr. Conibear was just as adamant the heat index of around 103°F at the time LC-1 sought help from the Clarks that day had nothing to do with her illness, which w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as caused by predisposing conditions. These two highly-credentialed experts reviewed the same medical reports and testimony and reached opposite conclusions. They both appeared confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy as they testified. The Court does not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, however, find their conclusions regarding the cause of the illness of LC-1 to be particularly helpful.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear reviewed the limited information presented in the medical records and appeared to conclusively diagnose LC-1’s condition.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">They each appeared to be beyond doubt as to cause of the illness of LC-1, whom they had never met or examined. They selectively discounted diagnoses in LC-1’s medical records that did support their opinions but relied on other diagnoses that aligned with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">their seemingly predetermined conclusions.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Conibear was unwavering in her opinion the hot weather on August 13, 2016, in Martinsburg had no causal link to the illness of LC-1.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Didn't you testify in your deposition that due to her<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">medications, [LC-1]was more susceptible to suffering an illness as a result of exposure to heat stress?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And didn't you testify during your deposition that the drugs [LC-1] was taking interfered with her body's ability to dissipate<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat and therefore made her more likely to become ill?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Meaning she was more prone to having a heat-related illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And so is it your opinion that [LC-1] did in the end suffer a heat-related illness . . . [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">c]aused both by her exposure to heat stress and her medications?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Conibear: No.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 3198)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The unyielding stances of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear as to whether heat stress caused the illness of LC-1 on August 13, 2016, are not persuasive. Dr. Tustin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>stated humans have a range of tolerability for heat stress, depending on factors such as predisposing conditions and acclimatization (NH Tr. 546-47). The certitude of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear, formed after reviewing the limited information available in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the medical records, is at odds with their testimony that the symptoms of heat illness often mimic the symptoms of other conditions, and vice versa (NH Tr. 538-41, 3156).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 451 F.3d 104, 127 (2d Cir. 2006),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 552 U.S. 31</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2 (2008) (stating that “[a]n expert opinion requires some explanation as to how the expert came to his conclusion and what methodologies or evidence substantiate that conclusion[],” and dismissing negligent manufacturing claim<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">where expert failed to explai</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n the basis for his opinion that catheter burst radially, not longitudinally);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">SkinMedica, Inc. v. Histogen Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 727 F.3d 1187, 1210 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (evidentiary value of conclusory expert testimony is “unhelpful”; such opinions “lack any substantive exp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lanation tied to the intrinsic record” and “without a more detailed explanation” as to how the expert “formed his conclusions,” they “deserve[] no weight”). . . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mosser Constr., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 23 BNA OSHC 1044, 1046-47 (No. 08-0631, 2010) (finding expert’s opi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nion “unpersuasive” where the expert failed to explain factual details underlying it);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Peterson Bros. Steel Erection Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 16 BNA OSHC 1196, 1203-04 (No. 90-2304, 1993) (discounting expert’s testimony because he did “not include the factual basis and reason</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing behind [his] opinion”),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>26 F.3d 573 (5th Cir 1994).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857, at *5-6 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On the issue of whether heat stress or some other physical condition caused the illness of LC-1 on Au</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gust 13, 2016, the Court accords no weight to the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Conibear. They testified previously in the national hearing that symptoms of heat illness can also be symptoms of other conditions.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is the Secretary’s burden to establish</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard to employees. Here, he did not prove the illness of LC-1 was caused by exposure to heat stress rather than the effects and side effects of the multiple medications she took and the UTI she may hav</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e had (the Postal Service did not prove it was not caused by heat stress exposure, but it is not the respondent’s burden). It is not essential to the Secretary’s case, however, to prove a causal connection between the cited condition and the illness of LC-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. The fact the incident cited in the AVD may not have been caused by the cited condition or activity does not disprove the alleged violation.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Proof that a cited activity actually caused harm or necessarily could have caused harm under the precise physical</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>conditions that happened to be present at the time of the violation, or at any other specific time, is not required. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Bomac Drilling</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 9 BNA OSHC 1682, 1691-92 (No. 76-450, 1981) (consolidated) (“Under section 5(a)(1) case law, the ‘hazard’ that must be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“recognized' is not a particular set of circumstances at a specific location and specific point in time but rather the broader, more generic or general hazard.”), </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">overruled on other grounds by United States Steel Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brennan v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 494 F.2d 460, 463 (8th Cir. 1974) (Secretary need not prove general hazard was cause of the accident that gave rise to the citation); </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enters.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC at 1171 (same).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Judge Ball’s 2014 Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Even though the Secretary is not required to establish excessive heat caused the illness of LC-1 on August 13, 2016, it is still his burden to prove that high temperature or heat index on that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">day exposed Martinsburg’s letter carriers to the hazard of excessive heat. In support of his position, the Secretary cites Judge Ball’s 2014 decision finding a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2014 WL 5528391</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tates, “[O]n facts similar to those presented here, Judge Ball found that there was ‘no real dispute’ that letter carriers in Independence, Missouri, were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 30)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref187" href="#ftn187">187</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In this case, however, the Pos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tal Service vigorously disputes the temperature or heat index on August 13, 2016, presented a hazard to Martinsburg’s letter carriers, and consequently the record evidence differs markedly from the Independence case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As an unreviewed ALJ decision, the In</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dependence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>case is not Commission precedent. “[R]eliance on an unreviewed administrative law judge decision involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) [is] misplaced.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ee Leone Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 3 BNA OSHC 1979, 1981 (No. 4090, 1976) (unreviewed administrative law judge decision does not constitute binding precedent for the Commission).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">TNT Crane & Rigging, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 16-1587, 2020 WL 1657789, at *7 (OSHRC March 27, 2020). A case decided by the Commission last year involving a citation under § 5(a)(1) for exposure to excessive heat is, however, binding precedent for this Court.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. The Commission’s Decision in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">A.H.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill Roofing, Inc</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On February 28, 2019, the Commission issued its decision in a case involving an employee who collapsed at a worksite and subsequently died from complications of heat stroke after working on a roofing project.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill Roofing, I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">nc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., No. 13-0224, 2019 WL 1099857 (OSHRC Feb. 28, 2019). Commissioner (now Chairman) Sullivan, with then-Chairman MacDougall concurring, vacated two items alleging serious violations that had been affirmed by the judge in the underlying case. Commissioner<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Atwood dissented. Of interest here is Item 1 of the citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1) for exposing employees “to the hazard of excessive heat from working on a commercial roof in the direct sun.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 2019 WL 1099857, at *1.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">roofing project Sturgill was working on involved tearing off the old roof of a flat-topped bank building in Ohio so a new roof could be installed. The crew included three temporary employees.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">One of the temporary employees was “MR,” a 60-year-old man with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">various preexisting medical conditions, including hepatitis C and congestive heart failure. It was the first day that MR was assigned to work at Sturgill. He began work that day at 6:30 a.m. and was tasked with standing near the edge of the roof where othe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r employees brought him a cart full of cut-up pieces of roofing material that he then pushed off the roof into a dumpster below. The assignment of this work was intentionally made by Foreman Leonard Brown because it was MR's first day on the project. When<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">MR began his work, the temperature was approximately 72°F with 84 percent relative humidity. There is no dispute that Brown<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">encouraged all employees to utilize the immediate access to ice, water, rest, and shade, without fear of reprisal.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At around 11:40<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a.m., after other employees reported being concerned about MR to Brown and Brown himself observed him “walking like clumsy,” MR collapsed and began shaking. The temperature at that point was approximately 82°F with 51 percent relative humidity. Emergency m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">edical personnel were summoned, and they took MR to the hospital where his core body temperature was determined to be 105.4°F. MR was diagnosed with heat stroke and died three weeks later. According to the coroner, his death was caused by “complications” f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rom heat stroke.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *1-2. The Commission found the Secretary failed to establish “the existence of a hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">4. Is “Excessive Heat” a Cognizable Hazard Under § 5(a)(1)?</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Po</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">stal Service argues that in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. In her concurring opinion, Chairman MacDougall questioned the meaning of the cited hazard:</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In this case, what is mean</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">t by “excessive heat?” Is it the heat index the judge formulated by adding degrees to the ambient temperature, or the heat index that would result from adding 10 degrees to the ambient temperature since the foreman said it felt about that much hotter on th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">e roof, or some combination of factors perhaps set forth in OSHA’s website publication regarding “Occupational Heat Exposure”? To pose the question is to answer it. By defining the hazard merely as “excessive heat,” the Secretary has failed to point to any</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>specific, concrete environmental conditions, and has instead effectively defined the hazard as a sliding scale of possibilities. This open-ended, moving target is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause as it provides insufficient notice to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the employer of exactly what it is required to free its workplace from to protect its employees.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In a footnote to the lead opinion, Commissioner Sullivan (now Chairman) agreed “with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ugall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as ‘excessive heat.’” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14. Contrary to the Postal Service’s argument, this agreement does not establish that a majority of the Commission<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">conclusively found “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. This reference to defining the hazard is the only one in a lengthy footnote on foreseeability, and its vague reference to “the concerns expressed by Chairman MacD</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ougall” is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">insufficient to constitute a dispositive conclusion that a citation under § 5(a)(1) alleging exposure to “excessive heat” will always fail due to fair notice to the employer.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref188" href="#ftn188">188</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If Commissioner Sullivan’s agreement with Chairman MacDougall’s “con</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">cerns” constituted a majority opinion that “excessive heat” is not a cognizable hazard, there would be no need for a concurring opinion or for most of the analysis in the lead opinion. The Court determines the Commission has not held absolutely that “exces</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">sive heat” is not a cognizable hazard under the general duty clause. The cited hazard is, however, difficult to establish under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">5. Scientific Basis of the NWS Heat Index Chart</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified he relied on the NWS and OSHA heat index ch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">arts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Service cases (NH Tr. 583-84). The NWS heat index chart is reproduced here:</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref189" href="#ftn189">189</a></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "> </p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified he was curious regarding the origins of the color-coded risk levels on the chart. “I contacted somebody at the National Weather Service to find out where these caution levels came from, and that's the article that they provided to me.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . . I was interested. I'd seen these caution levels, and I wanted to find out . . . why the National Weather Service put these out there.” (NH Tr. 590) The article to which he refers is by a Dr. Steadman, who originally created a chart to show how hot it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>feels (the heat index) when a specific air temperature is paired with a specific relative humidity. The chart was included in an article written by Quayle and Doehring, a climatologist and meteorologist, respectively, from the National Climactic Center in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Asheville, North Carolina, and published in the magazine<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in 1981 (NH Tr. 587-94).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Rodman Harvey was asked about the phrase "Likelihood of Heat Disorders with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity” that appears on the NWS’s heat index cha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rt.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Q.: Based on your work with heat stress, what does prolonged exposure mean?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: I'm not sure what's meant by that, exactly, by the National Weather Service.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And what is meant by strenuous activity?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: Again, I have not found a definition of that for the National Weather Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Are those terms explained in the OSHA compliance guidance?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Harvey: No, not that I was able to find.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 2775)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified there are two different layers of information on the heat index chart: (1) “Along one axis are temperatures. Numbers along the other . . . side of the chart are relative humidity. And where they intersect is the corresponding heat index v</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alue for those different temperatures and relative humidities,” and (2) “The color coding that goes on top, the four different colors, and the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity, and the definitions . . . for the fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ur different colors: caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme danger.” (NH Tr. 2776) Harvey stated the chart came from “the Steadman article,” which does not address “potential health effects associated with different heat index ranges” or “the likel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity.” (NH Tr. 2777-78) In the article, Dr. Steadman was attempting to create a chart “that would provide the real feel<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">temperature or the apparent temperature based on the combination of the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>actual air temperature and the relative humidity.” (Tr. 2778)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Harvey testified he researched the issue to determine the historical or scientific basis for the second layer of information found in the heat index chart. “I was able to find a paper; it’s t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he oldest reference I can find that has . . . that language of dividing the heat index values up into different categories.” (NH Tr. 2782) It was the paper published in the journal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, written by climatologist Robert Quayle and meteorologist Fred<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Doehring (NH Tr. 2782-83). Harvey could not determine from reading the article the scientific basis for correlating temperature ranges with specific heat syndromes. He stated, “[T]he authors don’t make any reference at all to this particular chart in gener</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">al or specifically with the heat syndrome and they came to those conclusions.” (NH Tr. 2783-84) It is Harvey’s opinion that OSHA based its heat index chart on the chart found in the Steadman article and the paper published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 2786).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Ha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvey stated he believes the first layer of the heat index chart (“where they list the heat index values”) is scientifically based. “But layer two with the four different categories and the terms at the bottom of the graph, no, I don’t think that it is.” (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H Tr. 2786) He does not believe there is a scientific basis for OSHA’s conclusion that the risk level is “high” when the heat index is 103 to 115 °F (NH Tr. 2786-87).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service is correct that, based on the testimony of Dr. Tustin and Rodman Har</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">vey, a gap exists in the historical record that would explain the origin of the risk categories (caution, extreme caution, danger, extreme danger) that evolved from the Steadman article and were later included in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weatherwise<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">article. Neither Dr. Tustin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>nor Harvey could find a scientific basis for how the assigned values of caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme dangers were determined. No supporting data is provided for why the levels of risk are attributed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to their respective temperatures (NH Tr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 584-94, 2782-87). That is not to say no scientific basis for the risk levels exists, but none was presented at the national hearing or the local hearings. Despite the emphasis placed on this issue at the national hearing, the Secretary does not address i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t in his brief. The Court finds, based on the record, no evidence was presented to establish the scientific basis for the risk categories depicted on the NWS heat index chart. This conclusion affects the weight given to the heat index chart exhibit but doe</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s not affect its admissibility. The reliability of the heat index calculations based on the temperatures and relative humidity is not disputed.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission focused on the phrase “Likelihood of Heat Disorder with Prolonged Exposure or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Strenuous Activity,” and found the Secretary failed<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to show that any of the chart’s warnings applied to the conditions present that morning. . . . [F]or any of the warnings [(caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme danger)] to have been applicable<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at the time of the alleged violation, the Secretary must show either that there was “prolonged exposure” to heat index values that fall within the chart or that the work involved “strenuous activity.” The record fails to establish either of these prerequi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sites.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3-4.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">6. Prolonged Exposure</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Commission in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited the failure to define “prolonged exposure” as a major flaw in the Secretary’s case.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As to the extent of exposure, the evidence shows that the heat index</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>values were at most in the caution range for two of the five hours the crew worked on the day in question. Yet, we cannot determine if two hours in those conditions constitutes “prolonged exposure” because the Secretary does not establish what the NWS mea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ns by “prolonged exposure”—in fact, there is no record evidence on this issue.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *3-4.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1began work at 8:45 a.m. on August 13, 2016, casing her route’s mail in the air-conditioned workroom of the post office. She he began delivering mail on Route 13 at 11:20 a.m. and took a 15-minute break in the air-conditioned 7-Eleven around 12:10 p.m.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At approximately 2:20 p.m., she went to the Clarks’s residence, where they invited her inside their air-conditioned house. She waited there until supervisor DD arrived to take her to the hospital (Exh. R-22; Tr. 127).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>From this schedule, the exposure of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">LC-1 to temperatures at specific times can be extrapolated. Dr. Tustin created a chart based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS) for August 13, 2016, in Martinsburg, West Virginia (NH Tr. 446).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">August 13, 2016</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Local</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Eastern</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Temperature</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Relative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Heat Index</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Standard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Daylight<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Humidity</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Time</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Time (EDT)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">_________________________________________________________________</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0853</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>9:53 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>84°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>77%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>93°F</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0953</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>10:53 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>87°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>70%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>98°F</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1053</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>11:53 a.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>91°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>61%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>103°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">153</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>12:53 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>93°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>56%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>105°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1253</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1:53 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>92°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>58%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>103°F</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1353</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2:53 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>92°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>60%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>105°F</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1453</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>3:53 p.m.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>93°F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>58%</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>106°F</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. C-304)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On August 13, at 11:53 a.m., after LC-11 had been working for approximately 43 minutes, the heat i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ndex was 103°F, which is in the extreme caution section of the chart. At 12:53 a.m., after LC-1 had been delivering mail for an hour and a half (having taken a 15- minute break in an air-conditioned building), the heat index was 105°F, which is in the extr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eme caution section. At 12:58 p.m., the heat index was 100°F, which is still in the danger section. The next heat index recorded is 103°F at 1:53 p.m. LC-1 arrived at the Clarks’s house around 2:20 p.m.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Over the course of approximately 2 hours and 55 min</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">utes (subtracting the 15-minute break from the time LC-1 clocked out to the street at 11:10 a.m. until 2:20 p.m.), LC-1 drove her LLV as heat index values hovered between 103°F and 105°F, which the heat index chart places in the extreme caution and danger<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sections. Nothing adduced by the Secretary in the Martinsburg and national hearings assists in making the determination whether this exposure was prolonged. One definition of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prolonged</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is “continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1356 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> ed. 2005). “Long time,” “longer than usual,” and “lengthy” are relative terms that provide no guidance for ascertaining what standard of measurement an employer should use to calculate at what point exposure becomes prolonged. LC-1 generally completed he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r route in 5 or 6 hours (Tr. 70). Exposure to hot weather for less than 3 hours is not “longer than usual.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission held that if the Secretary relies on the heat index chart to prove an employee was exposed to the hazard of exc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">essive heat, he must show either “prolonged exposure” to specified heat index values on the chart or “strenuous activity” on the part of the employee at those heat indexes. Dr. Tustin, the Secretary’s expert, testified he relied on the NWS and OSHA heat in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dex charts in concluding there was a heat stress hazard in each of the five Postal Service cases (Tr. 583-84). The Court determines the Secretary has<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">failed to establish prolonged exposure.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">7. Strenuous Activity</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>“Strenuous activity” is the second phrase<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">from the heat index chart that lacks clear meaning.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Strenuous</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>means “requiring or using great exertion.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">The New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1676 (2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nd<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed. 2005). Again, no criteria values are provided by the heat index chart to help determine when activity becomes strenuous. Some clarity is found, however, in Dr. Tustin’s testimony regarding the metabolic heat generated by letter carriers as they deliver</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the mail.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">I read the descriptions of the activities that [the letter carriers] were doing, specifically their physical activities in terms of whether they were walking or whether they were seated driving a vehicle, for example. I compared their physical<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">activities to tables found in [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#222222; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists] [(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ACGIH)] heat stress documents. They give a table where they categorize workload as either light, moderate, heavy or very heavy, and they give examples of different<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">activities within the category.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 302)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin testified the metabolic workload of LC-1 on August 13, 2016, issue was light (Tr. 449-50). A workload characterized as “light”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">does not equate to strenuous activity.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he chart states the color-cod</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ed categories are used specifically to denote the “Likelihood of Heat Disorders<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">with</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Activity.” (emphasis added) The Secretary failed to establish either of the two metrics the chart identifies as correlatives of the likelih</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ood of heat disorders at the given heat index values. The Court determines the Secretary failed to establish LC-1 was engaged in strenuous activity while working on August 13, 2016. As in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Secretary has not met his burden of establishing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the worker identified in the Citation’s AVD engaged in either prolonged exposure or strenuous activity at specific heat indexes listed on the chart.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">8. Significant Risk of Harm</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>To establish a cited condition or activity presents a hazard in the workplace,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Secretary must prove the condition or activity<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposed employees to a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">See Beverly Enters., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1161, 1170-1172 (No. 91-3144, 2000) (consolidated); </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">see also </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1983139073&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_63&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_63"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney Aircraft v. Donovan,</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>715 F.2d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 1983)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (holding that a “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">significant</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">risk</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> can be established by showing a “meaningful possibility” of injury); </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1978119394&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_541&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_541"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Titanium Metals Corp. v. Usery</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 579 F.2d 536, 541 (9th Cir. 1978)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (the possibility of harm resulting must be “upon other than a freakish or utterly implausible concurrence of circumstances”);</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1973112769&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=If8d65bc3563a11e9bc5d825c4b9add2e&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_1265&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_350_1265"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat'l Realty & Constr. Co. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d 1257, 1265 n.33 (D.C. Cir. 1973)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:10.667px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quick Transp. of Arkansas,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 33717, at *3.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Agency's responsibility to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">determine, in the first instance, what it considers to be a “significant” risk. Some risks are plainly acceptable and others are plainly unacceptable. If, for example, the odds are one in a billion that a person will die from cancer by taking a drink of ch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lorinated water, the risk clearly could not be considered significant. On the other hand, if the odds are one in a thousand that regular inhalation of gasoline vapors that are 2% benzene will be fatal, a reasonable person might well consider the risk signi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ficant and take appropriate steps to decrease or eliminate it. Although the Agency has no duty to calculate the exact probability of harm, it does have an obligation to find that a significant risk is present before it can characterize a place of employmen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t as “unsafe.”</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>448 U.S. 607, 655 (1980) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argues he has established excessive heat exposure presents a significant risk of harm to letter carriers generally. He points to the test</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imony of Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard regarding the statistical correlation between the number of heat-related fatalities and illnesses and higher temperatures.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Screening Levels</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks the number of annual occupational<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related deaths and nonfatal heat-related illnesses in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). From 2011 to 2016, the CFOI reported an annual average of 36 heat-related fatalities and 3,500 nonfatal heat-related illnesses (NH Tr. 267-68). Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Tustin reviewed employer reports to OSHA of heat-related hospitalizations over a three-year period. The employers reporting the most hospitalizations were the United Parcel Service (UPS) (63 hospitalizations) and the Postal Service (49 hospitalizations).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nationwide, UPS and the Postal Service accounted for 14 percent of all reported occupational heat-related hospitalizations over a 3-year period (NH Tr. 270).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes threshold limit</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>values (TLVs) for hazards to which a worker can be exposed on a daily basis without adverse effects. Dr. Tustin testified the ACGIH and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) implement “screening levels.” “If the environmental<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat is above the screening level, then there’s a hazard and the employer should take additional steps to try to reduce the hazard to protect workers.” (NH Tr. 280)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref190" href="#ftn190">190</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on his research, Dr. Tustin concluded, “[A] screening threshold of about 80°F se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">emed appropriate for using the heat index to screen for hazardous conditions.” (NH Tr. 285)</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref191" href="#ftn191">191</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> He conceded some workers may experience heat-related illnesses even if the TLV for outdoor temperature is not exceeded, perhaps due to predisposing conditions. “Predisposing conditions are medical conditions or medications that could increase the risk of</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>heat-related illness.” (NH Tr. 577-78)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>A dose-response relationship is the relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) to a substance or condition and the resulting changes (response) in body function. He believes there is dose-response relationsh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ip between heat indexes above 80°F and heat stress—the higher the heat index, the greater the heat stress hazard. He conducted a meta-analysis of 570 heat-related deaths dating back to 1947 (NH Tr. 287). He calculated the heat index for each case. A heat i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ndex of less than 80°F did not appear to present a heat stress hazard. A higher heat index increased the risk of heat stress (NH Tr. 291-92).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A heat index between 80 -- when the heat index was between 80 and 90, there definitely seemed to be more risk. I t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hink about 10 to 20 percent of all the fatalities happened when the heat index was between 80 and 90. Then when the heat index was over 90, there seemed to be higher risk in the sense that I think about 80 percent of the fatalities occurred when the heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">index was over 90. So we concluded that a heat index of about 80 °F seemed to be a reasonable screening threshold for figuring out whether there was a heat stress hazard present.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 292) He concluded, “[T]here's a hazard when the heat index is over 80</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for the type of work that city carriers are doing.” (NH Tr. 581)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Thomas Bernard also testified regarding the effects of heat stress on outdoor workers. The Court found Dr. Bernard qualified, “based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">education,” to testify as an expert “in the areas of industrial hygiene and specifically regarding industrial heat stress.” (NH Tr. 808) Dr. Bernard testified LC-1was exposed to hazardous levels of heat stress (NH Tr. 981-83).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Number of Heat-Related Incid</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ents Among Carriers</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary contends the significant risk of harm from excessive heat to which carriers are exposed is made manifest if the Court expands the scope of reported heat-related illnesses beyond the date and location of the Citation’s AVD</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in this case. If consideration of heat-related<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">illnesses is expanded nationwide, the Secretary believes the significant risk to carriers of excessive heat exposure is evident.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">According to Respondent’s records ([NH] Ex. C-127), the number of heat-related<span><span></span>
					</span>incidents per year (since 2015) classified by Respondent on its official accident reports (PS Form 1769/301) as caused by “GEN-EXPOSURE EXTREME TEMP-HOT” are: 378 for 2015 ([NH] 1670:9-18); 564 for 2016 ([NH] 1670:19-22); 399 for 2017 ([NH] 1670:23-1671:1); and 631 for 2018 ([NH] 1671:2-5). This is a total of 1,972 heat-related incidents over 4 years. ([NH] 1668:13-1669:16). The 1,972 heat-related incidents came from 1,258 different Respondent facilities across the country and resulted in carriers missing<span>
					</span>a total of 8,757 days away from work. ([NH] Ex. C-127) Respondent reported to the president of the NRLCA that its carriers suffered 19 injuries in 2015, 29 injuries in 2016, and 23 injuries in 2017. ([NH] Exhs. C-157 and 157)</p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 22)</p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e Postal Service counters that the number of carriers reporting heat-related illnesses is miniscule when compared to the number who did not report heat-related illnesses. Rodman Harvey stated, "On August 13, 20[16], there were 1,284 other rural carriers wo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rking in the postal district that includes Martinsburg, West Virginia, and there was only one alleged heat-related illness reported.” (NH Tr. 2887)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service retained Dr. Joshua Gotkin to analyze its data on heat-related accidents.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref192" href="#ftn192">192</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court q</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ualified Dr. Gotkin as an expert “in the field of economics, with specific expertise in the field of statistical analysis and the application of statistics in sampling.” (NH Tr. 1631-32) Dr. Gotkin reviewed data on the number of heat-related incidents inv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">olving letter carriers that had occurred from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2019 (NH Tr. 1632-33). For that 4-year period, he found 1,023 reported heat-related injuries to letter carriers and compared those to the total number of letter carrier workdays.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“[Y]ou really just divide the number of events into the total number of carrier days, and that gives you a 1 in 308,000 workdays in terms of the odds of having a heat-related stress incident. . . . I also restricted it to the warmer summer months, and the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>odds are then reduced to 1 in 142,000 workdays.” (NH Tr. 1651) Dr. Gotkin stated, “[T]hese odds are so small that the probability associated with those are nearly zero.” (NH Tr. 1652-53)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Linda DeCarlo is the manager of safety and OSHA compliance programs</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for the Postal Service. She is its highest ranking safety officer (Tr. 1245). DeCarlo tracks trends of hazards as part of her duties. DeCarlo estimated that, since 2015, approximately 500 to 600 Postal Service employees (including letter carriers) annuall</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y have reported heat-related occupational injuries<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1257-59). The number of heat-related injuries does not cause her concern. “We have close to 120,000 accidents, incidents, near misses and customer events that take place in any given year. Thirty t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">housand of those are related to motor vehicles. Maybe 20,000 slip, trips, and falls. Seven thousand dog bites. So 500 heat-related claims only which of half are recordable is not a major concern when there are other opportunities that we have in front of u</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s.” (NH Tr. 1261)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary argues the small percentage of letter carriers affected with heat-related illnesses does not disprove excessive heat hazards existed on the days they were affected. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Ind.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employer argued different e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mployees were affected differently by the ergonomic activity cited as a hazard. The Commission held susceptibility to illness or injury alone is not a basis for finding no hazard exists.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Pepperidge further points out, however, and the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Secretary's experts agree, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">non-workplace factors may cause or contribute to the illnesses at issue, and that individuals differ in their susceptibility to potential causal factors. However, such characteristics (and the inability to determine threshold of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">harm) are not unique to putative ergonomic hazards but inhere in other workplace hazards as well. For example, some or all of these characteristics obtain for many chemical, toxic and other workplace hazards. Thus, to preclude the application of section 5(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a)(1) to a hazard with the characteristics cited by Pepperidge would be to preclude the use of Section 5(a)(1) for many occupational ills. To be clear, characteristics such as those identified by Pepperidge may (as discussed later) bear on questions of cau</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sation or feasibility of abatement. They do not, however, </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ipso facto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> preclude the possibility of regulation under Section 5(a)(1).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 89-265, 1997 WL 212599, at *23 (OSHRC Apr. 26, 1997). The Secretary also contends he is not required to state the temperature or heat index at which heat becomes excessive. “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While knowledge of the threshold for injury may be essential in some cases, h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">owever, the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to regulation under the general duty clause.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1997 WL 212599, at *22.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Secretary’s burden to prove it is likely a heat-relate</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d illness will occur at certain temperatures, only that if such an illness occurs the letter carrier would be exposed to a significant risk of harm. “[T]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">here is no requirement that there be a ‘significant risk’ of the hazard coming to fruition, only that i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the hazardous event occurs, it would create a ‘significant risk’ to employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 322–25 (5th Cir.1984).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Waldon Health Care Ctr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, No. 89-2804, 1993 WL 119662, at *11 (OSHRC April 2, 1993). The Secre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tary must prove, therefore, that if “excessive heat” occurs, it would create a significant risk to letter carriers delivering mail that day. “[I]n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>order to prove the existence of a hazard within the meaning of the general duty clause, the Secretary cannot<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">merely show that there may be some degree of risk to employees. He must show, at a minimum, that employees are exposed to a significant risk of harm.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986 WL 5351412, at * 5 (OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Magnitude of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Risk</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin was unable to quantify the degree of risk to which outdoor workers would be exposed in 100°F weather. Counsel for the Postal Service cross-examined Dr. Tustin regarding a scenario in which 1000 letter carriers are working on a day when the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>temperature is 100°F:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me in that scenario how many employees -- what percentage of employees working in that 100-degree day would experience a heat-related illness?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: You can't tell me how likely it is?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>can't give you an exact number as far as a number of employees who will have an illness, no.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: When you say you can't give me an exact number; can you give me any number?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I can tell you, like I said before, that there's a dose-response rel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ationship, and it's --from the data that I've seen, it's more likely that employees will become sick on a 100-degree day compared to an 80-degree day. But I can't give you an exact number.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Can you tell me, on a 100-degree day with 1,000<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employees working outside under identical conditions, what percentage will sustain a heat-related illness that is "serious" by your definition?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: No.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do you recall during your deposition giving testimony about the likelihood that a cohort o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f workers would experience heat-related illness? . . . [Reading from deposition]: QUESTION: "The employees that would develop an illness, what sort of characteristics would you expect to see in those employees, if any?" ANSWER: "Like I said, I can't predic</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t. If you gave me a cohort of workers at the beginning of the day, and so predict which workers are going to develop a heat-related illness, I don't think I can do that -- I could do that." Do you recall giving that testimony?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Do yo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">u agree with it?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 546-47)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin’s testimony establishes incidents of heat-related illness are likely to increase as the heat index rises above 80°F, but it does not establish the magnitude of the risk or its significance. Dr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tustin stated the severity of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat-related illnesses varies. Some, such as heat stroke, can be deadly, but others (such as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">heat rash and dehydration) can be minor (NH Tr. 261). Dr. Tustin reviewed spreadsheets compiled by the Postal Service when he was pr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eparing his expert report. They listed heat-related incidents reported by Eastern Area Postal Service employees in the summers of 2017 and 2018 (NH Exh. C-162 & C-163).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. So you testified earlier that there are incidents in the data that clearly weren't<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reportable; is that correct, just from your review?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I mean, just looking at the spreadsheet there are some that say the person felt dizzy and remained working, so yes. I mean, that doesn't seem to be a reportable incident.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And is it</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>your understanding that these reports could include situations like an employee calling their supervisor and saying, "I feel really hot, I'm going to sit down for a while," and drinking a bottle of water and then continuing working?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: Yes, it a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ppears that there are some like that.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: I mean, there's one in there that just says, "I feel hot," right?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: I don't know. There might be.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, if that employee sits down and drinks a lot of water and says, "Hey, I feel<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">great, I'm going to go back to work," do they have a heat illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin: They may have -- they might have had symptoms that would cause them to stop working, so that could be a mild heat illness, yes.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you characterize that as serious?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Tustin: No</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 628-29)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Determination of causation is also an issue. In recording injuries from vehicular accidents, falls, or dog bites, there is little doubt of the actual cause of the injury. Not all conditions diagnosed as heat-related are, h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">owever, heat-related. Dr. Tustin conceded the symptoms of heat exhaustion, either separately or in combination, are also symptoms of other conditions and their presence may be unrelated to heat (NH Tr. 538-541).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Tolerability of Heat Stress</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At one point,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard compared ACGIH’s TLV levels for heat to OSHA’s occupational noise exposure standard. Section 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise exposure during an 8-hour day to 90 dBA for all workers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The PEL for noise is 90 dBA. And y</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ou might argue a little bit about what the number is, but [there] generally are between 20 and 25 percent of the population will suffer an occupational hearing loss at 90 dBA. So that's the reason for the hearing conservation amendment where you have audio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">grams. That's your way of catching somebody who will be less tolerant of the noise. Even with the ACGIH TLV at 85 dBA, there's a small percentage of people who will still have an occupational hearing loss. So again, the audiograms are a way of catching tha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(NH TR. 994-95)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Counsel for the Postal Service returned to the subject on cross-examination.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: If we think about people being exposed to noise levels of 90 dBA or higher, you or somebody like you could tell us at those ranges this percentage of wor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">kers would lose hearing; is that fair?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: With these TLVs would you agree that even at levels below the TLV there will be certain workers who will have heat-related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: And you would agree with me that at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">levels above the TLV, perhaps significantly above the TLV, there will be workers that will not have heat- related illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: [W]e know that above 90 dBA there's a certain percentage who are pretty likely to lose hearing; do we<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">not? That's why OSHA set the limit at 90?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Would you agree with me that the TLVs are designed -- currently designed such that 99 percent of workers exposed at levels below the TLVs will keep their core body temperatures at 38.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: The final question on ACGIH, the ACGIH guidelines are set not to prevent heat illness. They're set to -- the goal of them, if you will, is to keep the core body temperature at 38.3°C or below?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and more importantly -- or more specifically so that you can maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So again, those are unlike, for example, the noise standard which is set to prevent hearing loss? This is set to maintain thermal equilibrium.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: So it's not set to prevent an illness?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Not directly.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Well, I mean, you already agreed that certainly you will have some unspecified percentage of workers who will experience a heat illness even when working at levels below the TLV</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yes.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1056-59)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with heat exposure, noise exposure affects different people differently. A certain percentage of workers will suffer some hearing loss at a level below the PEL, and a certain percentage may not register hearing los</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s at certain levels above the PEL. The difference is employers know at what level OSHA, for the purpose of compliance, has determined noise presents a hazard. Section 1910.95 establishes a regulatory baseline that provides notice to employers of the PEL fo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r noise exposure and the requirements for hearing monitoring and testing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Quantification of “Excessive” Heat</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary must show a condition or activity in the workplace presents a hazard. Here, the condition and the alleged hazard are identical. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>condition of excessive heat presents an alleged hazard of excessive heat. The precise temperature at which regular heat becomes excessive heat is, however, unclear. OSHA has been urged to promulgate a heat stress standard since shortly after the Act went<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">into effect.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992) (“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In 1972, NIOSH recommended that OSHA adopt a standard governing exposure to heat, and a panel appointed by OSHA endorsed that recommendation in 1974.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Nevertheless, OSHA has not adopted a heat stress regulation[.]”).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The local and national hearings in the Postal Service cases establish people tolerate environmental heat at different levels, and other factors, such as underlying medical conditions or me</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dication use, can affect their usual tolerability. Dr. Tustin and Dr. Bernard agree that some people may sustain a heat-related illness at temperatures below 80°F, their recommended screening level. The statistical evidence from the national hearing establ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ishes the vast majority of letter carriers completed their routes without incident on the dates the heat-related illnesses cited by the Secretary occurred. Without a temperature- or heat index-specific standard, it is difficult for employers to know when h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eat is “excessive.” Chairman Sullivan commented on the lack of a uniform measurement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. “The Secretary’s failure to establish the existence of an excessive heat hazard here illustrates the difficulty in addressing this issue in the absence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of an OSHA standard.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *5, n.8.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In her concurring opinion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">former Chairman MacDougall addresses the nebulous phrase “excessive heat.”<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Excessive heat” is a condition that is inherent in the performance of outdo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or work and one that only presents the possibility for harm, not an employment condition that by itself necessarily carries a significant risk of harm.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mo. Basin Well Serv., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 26 BNA OSHC at 2316 n. 5 (MacDougall, Chairman) (“As the Commission obse</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rved in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pelron,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an employer cannot reasonably be expected to free its workplace of inherent risks that are incident to its normal operation.”). This vague definition also neither identifies a condition or practice over which an employer can reasonably be e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">xpected to exercise control nor provides an employer with fair notice of what it is required to do to protect its employees.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *15.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Whether there exists a significant risk depends on both the severity of the potential harm and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the likelihood of its occurrence, but there is an inverse relationship between these two elements. As the severity of the potential harm increases in a particular situation, its apparent likelihood of occurrence need not be as great.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weirton Steel Corp,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">No. 98-0701, 1999 WL 34813785, at *5 (OSHRC July 31, 2003).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The record demonstrates the difficulty of accurately determining the etiology of illnesses presumed to be heat-related. The Secretary has not shown the incidence of carriers’ self-reported heat-re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">lated illnesses establishes a “significant” risk of harm, either in the statistical likelihood of occurrence or in the severity of potential harm.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Conclusion</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="line-height:1.5; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court concludes the Secretary did not establish the cited weather conditions exposed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Martinsburg letter carriers to a significant risk of harm from excessive heat on August 13, 2016.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref193" href="#ftn193">193</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "> The Secretary has not met his burden to establish a condition or activity presented a hazard.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref194" href="#ftn194">194</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "> The Citation is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">B. Feasible and Effective Means<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">to Eliminate or Materially Reduce the Hazard</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assuming the Secretary had established the heat index values on August 13, 2016, presented an excessive heat standard, as well as the elements of industry or employer recognition, likelihood of death or serious</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>physical injury, and knowledge, the Court finds he failed to establish the element relating to feasible and effective means of abatement.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish the feasibility of a proposed abatement measure, the Secretary must ‘demonstrate both that the measure[</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">] [is] capable of being put into effect and that [it] would be effective in materially reducing the incidence of the hazard.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Arcadian,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>20 BNA OSHC at 2011 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Beverly Enters. Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 19 BNA OSHC at 1190). Where an employer has undertaken measures to add</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ress a hazard alleged under the general duty clause, the Secretary must show that such measures were inadequate.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">U.S. Postal Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 21 BNA OSHC 1767, 1773-74 (No. 04-0316, 2006).” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2019 WL 1099857, at *8.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">1. Alternative Means of Abatement</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission stated,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Before addressing this element of proof, however, we must first determine whether the Secretary proposed each measure as an alternative means of abatement, in which case implementing any one of them would constitute</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>abatement of the alleged violation, or as a component of a single means of abatement, in which case all of the measures must be implemented to abate the violation. If the former, the Secretary can prevail on this element only if he proves that Sturgill im</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">plemented none of the measures. . . . If the latter, he need only show a failure to implement one of them.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citation presents six proposed methods of abatement (the sixth proposed method includes ten subparts proposing ad</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ditional methods of abatement) for the alleged excessive heat exposure hazard:</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of hazard abatement include:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(i) Providing a climate-controlled environment or vehicle where heat-affected employees may take<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">their breaks and/or recover when signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses are recognized,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(ii) Acclimatizing employees returning to work after an extended absence to working in the heat or beginning a new route,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(iii) Training supervisors and other emp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">loyees in the proper response to employees reporting heat-induced illness symptoms, which includes stopping work, getting to a cool place, and providing help, evaluation and medical assistance,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(iv) Requiring trained supervisors to go into the field and co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nduct in-person evaluations of employees complaining of heat-induced symptoms [and] arranging for medical attention or other assistance as necessary,</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(v) Establishing work rules and practices that encourage employees to seek assistance and evaluation when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">experiencing heat stress symptoms, and<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(vi) Establishing a heat stress management program which incorporates guidelines from the ACGIH’s threshold limit values and biological exposure indices and/or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (N</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">IOSH) document, “Working in Hot Environments”; such a program should be tailored to the particulars of the employer’s work, and may include the following:</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>1. Training for supervisors and workers to prevent, recognize, and treat heat-related illness</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Implementing a heat acclimatization program for workers</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>3. Providing for and encouraging proper hydration with proper amounts and types of fluids</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>4. Establishing work/rest schedules appropriate for the current heat stress conditions</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>5. Ensuring access t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o shade or cool areas</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>6. Monitoring workers during hot conditions</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>7. Providing prompt medical attention to workers who show signs of heat-related illness</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>8. Monitoring weather reports daily and rescheduling jobs with high heat exposure to cooler times<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">of the day</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Here, the language used to introduce the proposed abatement list (“Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of hazard abatement include”) is similar to the formulation used by the Secretary in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when introducing the list o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f proposed abatement methods (“Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include but are not limited to”). The Commission found</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> portion of the citation . . . begins with a sentence that uses and references the plural word “methods</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”: “</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Feasible</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> and acceptable </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">methods</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> to abate this hazard include, but </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">are</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> not limited to: ...,” suggesting that each measure is an </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">alternative</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> means of </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">abatement</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (emphasis added).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at *9, n. 17.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Default style_Default " style="line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In his post-hearing brief, the Secretary acknowledges the proposed abatement methods are distinct alternatives, and not components of a single abatement method. “[T]he evidence shows that Respondent could have taken<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">many steps</span><span><span></span>
					</span>to abate or materially reduce the heat stress hazard its employees faced.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">These steps include</span><span><span></span>
					</span>an adequate work/rest cycle, use of air-conditioned LLVs, an adequate emergency response program, analyzing existing data on employees’ heat-related illnesses, employee monitoring, reducing outdoor exposure time, and proper training.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">By failing to impleme</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">nt these or equally effective abatement measures,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Respondent exposed its workers to dangerous heat stress hazards.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 44) (emphasis added)<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Having found the Secretary proposed alternate methods of abatement in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ssion concludes, “[I]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f the record shows that Sturgill implemented any one of the Secretary's proposed measures, or is equivocal in that regard, the abatement element of the Secretary's burden of proof has not been established.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 2019 WL 1099857, at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">*9. So it is here. If the Postal Service implemented any one of the Citation’s six proposed abatement methods, the Secretary cannot meet his burden on this element.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">2. Training in Heat-Related Illness Symptoms and Prevention of Heat-Related Illness</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Secretary’s sixth proposed means of abatement is</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(vi) Establishing a heat stress management program which incorporates guidelines from the ACGIH’s threshold limit values and biological exposure indices and/or National Institute for Occupational Safety</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and Health (NIOSH) document, “Working in Hot Environments”; such a program should be tailored to the particulars of the employer’s work, and may include the following:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>3. Training employees about the effect of heat-related illness symptoms and how<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to prevent heat-related illnesses.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is undisputed Martinsburg Post Office supervisors provided heat stress training, including the recognition of heat stress symptoms and the prevention of heat-related illness, to letter carriers prior to the August 13</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2016, incident at issue. Martinsburg supervisors and letter carriers testified on this issue (Tr. 197-98, 407, 487-88, 565-68, 600-05, 645-48).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Postmaster TT, who was the postmaster for the Martinsburg Post Office in the summer of 2016, testified, “We h</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ad service talks regarding how to dress, how to stay hydrated, you know, getting good sleep the night before, avoiding alcohol, being mindful of any medications that you took that heat may be a factor of, reminding them to take water, reminding them when t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hey came back off the street to drink as well.” (Tr. 600) Topics included how to prevent heat-related illness, recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, providing help to those with heat illness, and reporting heat illness (Exhs. R-6, R-7</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, R-9, R-10, R-12, R-13; Tr. 232, 407).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court finds the Postal Service trained Martinsburg letter carriers in heat stress symptom recognition and prevention prior to the arrival of “excessively hot weather conditions,” in accordance with the Secretary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">’s proposed method of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">3. Economic Infeasibility</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Finally, the Secretary failed to establish its proposed abatement methods regarding work/rest cycles, acclimatization programs, and additional paid breaks are economically feasible. It is the Sec</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">retary’s burden to show his “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proposed abatement measures are economically feasible. . . . In cases involving the general duty clause, the Commission has generally held that an abatement method is not economically feasible if it ‘would clearly threaten the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">economic viability of the employer.’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">National Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1266 n.37. ” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beverly Enterprises, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 91-3144, 92-238, 92-1257, 93-724, 2000 WL 34012177, at *34-35 (OSHRC Oct. 27, 2000).</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref195" href="#ftn195">195</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Two of the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods listed in the Martinsburg Citation are:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(ii) Acclimatizing employees returning to work after an extended absen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ce to working in the heat or beginning a new route.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(vi) Establishing a heat stress management program which incorporates guidelines from the ACGIH’s threshold limit values and biological exposure indices and/or National Institute for Occupational Sa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fety and Health (NIOSH) document, “Working in Hot Environments”; such a program should be tailored to the particulars of the employer’s work, and may include the following:</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2.) Provide a work/rest regimen.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . .</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>4.) Including a heat acclimatizati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on program for new employees or employees returning to work from absences of three or more days.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . .<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>9.) Allowing employees to modify their work schedules in the summer months to begin an hour to two hours earlier and end their shift one to two hours</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>later.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>At the national hearing, the issues of acclimatization schedules, work/rest cycles, and early workday start times were also addressed, along with extra paid breaks. All of these proposals would require the Postal Service to pay for time during wh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ich letter carriers are not working or pay additional carriers at regular or overtime rates.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref196" href="#ftn196">196</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Tustin testified regarding abatement measures that he recommends the Postal Service implement to reduce its employees’ exposure to excessive heat. Safety or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ganizations used the concept of hierarchy of controls to prioritize measures to reduce hazardous exposure. The first and most effective measure is elimination of the hazard, followed by substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and perso</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nal protective equipment (PPE) (NH Tr. 498-500). Dr. Tustin stated elimination of the hazard (hot weather) is not an option for the Postal Service, nor is substitution.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Work/Rest Cycles</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed, as an administrative control,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work/rest cycles to lower the postal worker’s metabolic heat. “[T]he employer would give workers rest breaks . . . and they would increase in either frequency or duration as the temperature increases.” (NH Tr. 508) He advocated for a “protocol for giving m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ore frequent breaks” such as “when the temperature reaches a certain level, workers might break for 15 minutes out of every hour and rest in a cooler location. As the temperature increases even more, there might be another threshold where they have to rest</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>even more than 15 minutes per hour—maybe 30 minutes per hour.” (NH Tr. 509)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin believes the most effective use of the work/rest cycle is to require mandatory breaks. “[F]or heat-related illnesses in particular, . . . if it’s progressing to heat s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">troke that can cause disorientation and confusion, mental status changes. So somebody who is progressing to heat stroke might not realize that they need a rest break. So relying on the worker to take a rest break could be dangerous in that situation.” (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 513) He does not think the Postal Service’s policy of allowing comfort breaks to be an effective administrative control. “To be honest it didn’t even really appear sincere to me. The testimony that I reviewed indicated that sometimes supervisors said t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat workers were allowed to take extra rest breaks but then when workers either reported symptoms or said they wanted extra rest breaks; they were . . . either disciplined or supervisors became angry.” (NH Tr. 514) It is Dr. Tustin’s opinion, to a reasonab</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">le degree of medical certainty, that exposure to excessive heat “would have been significantly reduced in all seven incidents [cited in the five Postal Service cases before the Court] if a work/rest cycle program had been implemented.” (NH Tr. 514)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Acclimatization</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Tustin discussed three types of acclimatization in the context of abatement measures. First, a worker may not be acclimatized if he or she is newly hired and has not been exposed to the work environment. “In that case allowing the pers</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on to become acclimatized to heat stress is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">thought to be helpful.” (NH Tr. 515) Second, a worker who has taken time off work, either due to vacation or illness, “might lose acclimatization or when the worker comes back the heat stress might be higher when</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the worker left. So allowing that worker to gradually acclimatize, . . . if the absence has been more than about two weeks, is helpful.” (NH Tr. 515-16) The third case involves “situations where essentially the entire workforce is unacclimatized if it’s,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. . . for example, a heat wave. Protecting the entire workforce somehow during a heat wave can materially reduce the hazard.” (NH Tr. 516)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Noting temperatures typically are highest between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Dr. Tustin recommended the Postal Service</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>could adjust its delivery schedule, so letter carriers are not working during the hottest hours in the afternoon. “[I]f you shifted the work hours that they finish by 1:00 p.m. then [the letter carriers] would be exposed to both lower levels of environmen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tal heat overall. So the level of heat would be lower and the amount of time that they were exposed to a hazardous level of environmental heat would be shorter.” (NH Tr. 518)</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard recommended newly hired letter carriers and letter carriers returnin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g after a work break follow an acclimatization schedule that builds up daily to increased heat exposure (NH Exh. C-312). He believes his recommended acclimatization is technically feasible for the Postal Service. “[I]t's with the preplanning that goes into</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>things. And they do plan their routes. They do have unexcused absences and others. So there's a capability of managing how you can assign routes and a workload, so I think this fits into that possibility.” (NH Tr. 837)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard acknowledged on cross-e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">xamination he did not know realistically how the Postal Service could implement his recommended acclimatization plan.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: In those scenarios where, you know, you're going to have in your opinion workers who cannot be on the street working outside because</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they returned from that 3-week vacation, you said they can be productive in other ways. Given what you know about the Postal Service operation, what are they going to do during that time?</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Well, I don't know.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.: Okay. So you don't know if<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they can be productive or not?<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dr. Bernard: Yeah, I mean, I can create scenarios and the Post Office will laugh at me. You know, so this isn't my business, but the Post Office knows their business. . . . But the goal is, you know, is some sort of progres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sive increase. The classic one is 50 percent on day one. 60, 80, 100. . . . And that is the outdoor portion, the casing doesn't count.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1080-81)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Funding for Proposed Abatement Methods</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary presented no witnesses, expert or otherwise, to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">show funding the proposed additional rest/recovery/acclimatization time is economically feasible. Instead, the Secretary argues the Postal Service could simply raise prices for competitive products, such as packages, or borrow $4 billion from the U.S. Trea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sury (Secretary’s brief, p. 61). These suggestions are<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">speculative and presented without evidence of their efficacy. The Secretary also claims the Postal Service is not actually operating at a deficit because it has defaulted on its financial obligations f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or several years.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The 2018 Presidential task force report provides a clear snapshot demonstrating six consecutive years of postal profits totaling $3.8 billion in revenue. (DC Ex. C-135 at p.19) All of Respondent’s claimed losses are merely paper losses. A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fter nine years of not paying into the Retiree Health Benefits Fund (“RHBF”), it is clear the prefunding mandate of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (“PAEA”) is not a true expense because the act has no mechanism to enforce payment, Respondent</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>suffers no penalty from default, and it intentionally chooses to spend its revenue elsewhere.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary’s brief, p. 60)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service, in contrast, presented a detailed analysis explaining why the Secretary’s proposed time-related abatements are u</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">nworkable.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">David Williams Jr., Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for the Postal Service, testified at length regarding its precarious financial condition resulting from increased competition and the obligation to prefund the RHBF (NH Tr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1751-52). He described how the complex network of employees, contractors, facilities, airplanes, trucks, and other vehicles coordinate nationwide to meet the timetable imposed by 24-hour clock, and how one snag could create a bullwhip effect (NH Tr. 1760,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1780-81, 1783-84, 1791-92, 1795-97). Williams stated, “Every step depends on the previous step. And if we change one thing, we change another.” (NH Tr. 1814)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Williams testified the Secretary’s recommendations for work/rest cycles and unlimited paid break</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s were economically (as well as technically) infeasible.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If you think about the 24 hour clock that I talked about the need for our carriers to get back by 6:00 p.m. so that we could meet the dispatch schedules and start that whole process around our operat</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing plan to insure that we achieve the service expectations of our customers, when an employee can take an unlimited break for work 75 percent of the time that means that for -- at least for the one where the heat said 45 minutes work 15 minutes break for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">every hour, that’s significant.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>That impacts our ability to deliver mail on time to make the 24 hour clock. If you think about 50 percent of the time where a carrier is working 30 minutes out of every hour, totally infeasible in terms of our ability to p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rovide prompt, reliable and efficient service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And then if you think of 15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of break, totally infeasible. Then the unlimited breaks, I don’t know of any business, any business that provides unlimited breaks whenever anybody<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">would want to take a break.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>. . . [W]e’re hemorrhaging money every day. And the costing that was performed on this analysis is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We can’t afford it.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 1911-13)</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The parties stipulated that the Postal Service’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">net losses were in the billions for 2016, 2017, and 2018:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1. In the following Fiscal Years (FY), the Postal Service’s total revenue was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $71.498 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $69.636 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $70.660 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Service’s total operating expenses were:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $76.899 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $72.210 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $74.445 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3. In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2016 $5.591 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2017 $2.742 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>2018 $3.913 billion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">J-100)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Do Yeun Sammi Park, financial economist for the Postal Service, testified regarding the financial impact of implementing the abatement methods proposed by the Secretary related to paid worktime.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref197" href="#ftn197">197</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The Court determined Dr. Park was qualified “i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n terms of her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education” as an expert in economics with a “specialized expertise in cost modeling.” (Tr. 1559-60)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>She explained her process for developing a costing model to determine how much proposed changes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in CBAs would cost the Postal Service. CBAs usually expire after 3 or 5 years, and then the terms have to be renegotiated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[W]henever we do the negotiation, the major portion is an economic proposal, which is determining the wage increase, the general wa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ge increase or COLA increase or step increase. Those are the three main parts of the wage increase.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So whenever we do the negotiation, there's a lot of proposals going on, and we – my task was to cost each economic proposal, how much it's going to cost<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to the USPS. . . . So I developed a fairly complicated model, the costing model. And so I polish up the model, develop it and prove it and update it before the negotiations start. And whenever the negotiation is actually going on, the main spokesperson tal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ks to the union's head, and then they discuss – they bounce each other the proposals, and they let me -- tell me I need to cost what it's going to cost USPS 1.3 percent of general increase next year or throughout the 3-year contract. And I have to cost --<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for example, it's going to cost $800 million to the USPS. . . . So a costing model consists of basically wages and benefit part. . . . So the general increases on . . . the salaries, so that comes into it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The benefit part, we also have to -- so whenever</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>we increase a salary, that also affects the benefit, and we have to cost that part out. Mainly, the cost part of the benefit is -- we look at the proportion of how much, if we increase salary -- the basic salary goes up, then what's the proportion of bene</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fit goes up with it. So those are the main big components of the costing model.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Tr. 1556-58)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August of 2018, the Postal Service asked Dr. Park to determine the cost of two proposed changes designed to reduce the exposure of letter carriers to exces</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sive heat: an acclimatization program and an additional paid 5-minute break. For the acclimatization program, Dr. Park assumed the targeted letter carriers are returning to work after a 3-day layoff and after a 7-day layoff. For both layoff periods, Dr. P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ark assumed the letter carriers’ return schedule would start the first day with restricting them to working only 2 hours outdoors, then 4 hours the second day, and then 6 hours the third day. On the fourth day, the letter carriers can return to their regul</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ar schedules. Dr. Park relied on the acclimatization analyses developed by Robert Mullin, a data analyst in field staffing and support for the Postal Service, to perform her cost modeling the proposed changes (NH Tr. 1473, 1560-63).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Park used a “cons</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">olidated rate” to calculate the cost. The consolidated rate is determined by combining the various wage rates for full-time, part-time, and non-career postal employees into one wage rate. She also reviewed the CBAs for city and rural letter carriers for de</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tails relating to guaranteed hours the Postal Service is contractually obligated to pay (NH Tr. 1564-68). Based on her analyses of six hypothetical situations, Dr. Park determined the total costs of the acclimatization program and the paid 5-minute break:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(1) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$333,877,519</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$487,864,332</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(2) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$209,293,069</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$312,124,391</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(3) Cost of 3 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$179,628,7</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">24</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$263,267,664</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(4) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 4/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$126,620,282</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$188,428,747</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(5) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—10/1/2017, for All Carriers:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$87,849,671</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$130,815,782</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(6) Cost of 7 Day Acclimatization and Paid Break, 6/1/2017—9/1/2017, for All Carriers: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Straight Time--$67,536,663</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Overtime--$100,540,277</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(NH Exh. R-202, pp. 6-8; NH Tr. 1599-1602)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary argue</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s these figures are inflated.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref198" href="#ftn198">198</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:67.2px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The calculation is a gross over-estimation of costs as acclimatization is not needed after a mere three or seven days off; rather, it is necessary for new workers and workers returning from a two to three week absence. There</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fore the group selected for costing was over-inclusive. Further, acclimatization is generally only needed when the heat index is at least 91°F, so calculating for every single day inside a three month time period is also grossly over inclusive.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Secretary</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">’s brief, p. 61, n. 28)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>It is not the Postal Service’s burden to establish the Secretary’s proposed abatement methods are economically feasible. The Postal Service has presented the analysis of a cost modeling specialist who projected the cost of implemen</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ting specified extra break and acclimatization schedules. The Secretary had the opportunity to rebut the projected costs with his own expert or to cross-examine Dr. Park more extensively on the accuracy of her projections.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“OSHA is not required to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">prove economic feasibility with certainty but is required to use the best available evidence and to support its conclusions with substantial<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">evidence.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">American Iron & Steel Institute v. OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">939 F.2d 975, 980–81 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead II)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. OSHA must als</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o provide “a reasonable estimate of compliance costs and demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that these costs will not threaten the existence or competitive structure of an industry, even if it does portend disaster for some marginal firms.” [</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">United Steelw</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">orkers of America, AFC-CIO-CLC,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>647 F.2d 1189, 1272 (D.C. Cir. 1960),</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Lead I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">N. Am.'s Bldg. Trades Unions v. Occupational Safety & Health Admin.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>878 F.3d 271, 296 (D.C. Cir. 2017).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">It is the Secretary’s burden to prove the economic feasibility of hi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s proposed abatements.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or demonstrate a reasonable likelihood compliance costs would not threaten the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Restrictions Imposed by the CBA f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">or City Letter Carriers</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president for the Postal Service, was asked about financing the proposed acclimatization and paid break programs. He stated, “We don’t have sufficient funds to even pay our</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>existing obligations. So, no, we do not have funds to pay additional obligations. . . . We just don’t have sufficient cash. We—we can’t.” (NH Tr. 2383-84)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Alan Moore has been the Postal Service’s manager of labor relations since 2007(NH Tr. 2211). He is responsible for contract administration for the NALC and for managing the labor relations process when rules are created or changed (NH Tr. 2214-15). His tes</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">timony illustrates how the CBA creates further obstacles to feasibly implementing the Secretary’s proposed time-based methods of abatement.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Reorganization Act requires the Postal Service to bargain with its employees’ labor unions. The parties</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>bargain over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions (NH Tr. 2216). Generally, when a contract is set to expire, the parties have an approximately 90-day window to bargain. They jointly establish the ground rules, including what discussions will be</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>off the record. They set up bargaining teams who work on proposals (NH Tr. 2218). The Postal Service looks at the total cost of any proposed contract. “[G]enerally there’s a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quid pro quo<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">process. So if the union . . . wants something, then we get somethin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g in return.” (NH Tr. 2219) During the term of the CBA, the Postal Service cannot unilaterally change wages, hours, benefits, or working conditions of the contract (MH Tr. 2225-26).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA does not permit the Postal Service to divide a city letter carrie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r’s assignment so part of it is worked in the morning and part in the late afternoon. “[T]here’s a requirement that full-time assignments are either 8 or 9 hours within 10 hours.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref199" href="#ftn199">199</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> [T]he 8 hours within 9 hours . . .<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is in offices with a hundred employees<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or something. There’s a baseline there. . . . So the biggest gap you can have in a regular assignment is 2 hours.” (NH Tr. 2234-35)</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CBA guarantees full-time city letter carriers 8 hours of work or 8 hours’ worth of pay daily. If a full-time city lette</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r carrier works only 2 hours during a day’s assignment, the Postal Service still owes the city letter carrier for 8 hours’ pay (NH Tr. 2235-36). The Postal Service must assign overtime work first to full-time employees who have signed up for the overtime-d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">esired list. If the Postal Service assigns an employee who is not on the list to work overtime, it must also pay the employee on the overtime-desired list for the same work (NH Tr. 2237-38).</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Postal Service has demonstrated the Secretary’s proposed tim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e-based abatement methods<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">threaten its economic viability. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Court concludes the Secretary has failed to establish his proposed abatements relating to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>are economically feasible.</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VII. CONCLUSION</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Secretary has not met his burden of proving the cited conditions presented a hazard of excessive heat exposure to Martinsburg letter carriers on June 13, 2016. He has not shown the Postal Service failed to i</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mplement any of the alternative methods of abatement he proposed. And he has failed to establish the economic feasibility of his proposed abatement methods related to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ay start times.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Because the Court finds the Secretary did not prove a violation of the general duty clause, it is not necessary to address the Secretary’s request for enterprise-wide abatement of excessive heat exposure for letter carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Citatio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n is vacated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VIII. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The foregoing decision constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IX. ORDER</span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the foregoing decision, it is hereby<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDERED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Item</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1 of the Citation, alleging a serious violation of § 5(a)(1), is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATED</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and no penalty is assessed.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">SO ORDERED.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">___________________________<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span> Sharon D. Calhoun</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; ">Dated: July 29, 2020</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Administrative Law Judge, OSHRC</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Washington, DC</span></p>
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				<p>
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
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				<p>
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Two of the citations (Docket Nos. 16-1713, 16-1872) were initially characterized as serious but later amended to repeat.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn2" href="#ftnref2"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">2 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Although the citations do not uniformly use the term “excessive heat,” both on review and in the proceedings below, the Secretary claims that the basis for each citation is exposure to an “excessive heat” hazard, which he states is “also referred to as hea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">t stress.” </span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">3 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In amended complaints filed in each case, the Secretary alleges that Postal Service employees have also been affected by excessive heat “nationwide,” and he requests “an order of enterprise</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">wide abatement against Respondent compelling its c</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ompliance with Section 5(a)(1) of the Act at all of Respondent’s facilities . . . .” The Secretary’s request is moot given our decision to vacate the citations. In response to this request, the Postal Service has asked the Commission to issue a declarato</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry order stating that a mandate of this sort is impermissible, which it contends is warranted regardless of whether the citations are vacated because such an order could potentially save the Postal Service litigation resources in the future. The Postal Se</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rvice’s request is denied. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See, e.g.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ohio Forestry Ass’n, Inc. v. Sierra Club</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 523 U.S. 726, 734-35 (1998) (litigation cost saving does not justify deciding unripe issues). </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">4 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>According to the citations, the violations occurred on these dates in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2016: June 13 and 15 (San Antonio); June 9 and July 21 (Des Moines); June 10 (Benton); June 17 (Houston); and August 13 (Martinsburg).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn5" href="#ftnref5"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">5 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Since we reach a different outcome in the Des Moines case (16-1813), that citation is addressed in a separate decision</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>also issued today.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn6" href="#ftnref6"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">6 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>We note that the judge did not address the other elements of the Secretary’s burden of proving a general duty clause violation and given our conclusion that abatement has not been established, we need not reach these elements.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn7" href="#ftnref7"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">7 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The P</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ostal Service suggests on review that the Secretary’s use of the term “excessive heat” fails to provide notice of the conditions at issue and that the term “violates Commission precedent,” citing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1818 n.16. We reject any claim by<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the Postal Service that it lacked adequate notice of the nature of the hazard or workplace conditions at issue. The Secretary has made clear throughout these proceedings that he is alleging that the environmental and metabolic heat conditions present on s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">pecific dates when specific carriers worked put them at risk of experiencing a heat-related illness. In each case, the Secretary described those conditions in detail—emphasizing the temperature and humidity levels in particular—and in all but one case arg</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ued that they caused the carrier to experience heat exhaustion or another heat-related illness. The Postal Service obviously understood the Secretary’s allegation, as it called two heat stress experts as witnesses and elicited testimony from both relating</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to the potential for environmental and metabolic heat conditions to cause heat-related illnesses. In fact, the Postal Service repeatedly asked one of its experts to specifically evaluate whether the particular heat conditions present during the cited inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">idents caused the carriers’ illnesses. The Postal Service similarly questioned the Secretary’s heat stress experts. Moreover, the Postal Service does not claim that its ability to litigate these cases was prejudiced because it did not understand the natu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">re of the hazard or conditions at issue, nor does it point to any support for such a claim.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Its other assertion—that the term “excessive heat” “violates”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill—</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">is also groundless. In the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">footnote it cites in support</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Commission did not di</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">scuss the Secretary’s use of that term or say that using it in a citation would be fatal. 27 BNA OSHC at 1818 n.16. The Commission simply noted that industry documents referencing the potential for “heat” to pose a hazard did not show that the industry r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ecognized that the cited climatological conditions were hazardous. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "> We note that in each case at issue here, the judge addressed the concerns raised by then Chairman MacDougall in her<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>concurring opinion, as well as those of Commissioner Sulli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">van, namely that “excessive heat” is too vague a description to provide notice to an employer of the “specific, concrete environmental conditions” alleged to have put employees at risk of harm. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">at 1815 n.14, 1822-23. But neither expressed that a lack</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of notice from a citation’s use of that term could not be cured by more precisely setting forth the nature of the conditions alleged to have been hazardous in other filings or at a hearing, or that the use of that term is fatal to the Secretary’s case reg</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ardless of whether the employer has an actual understanding of the conditions at issue or whether the employer’s ability to defend itself was prejudiced. Here, the Secretary provided sufficient notice of the specific workplace conditions alleged to be haz</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ardous and the Postal Service’s ability to challenge that allegation was not prejudiced.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Although Commissioner Laihow agrees that the Secretary has provided sufficient notice to the Postal Service of the specific workplace conditions at issue in these case</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s, and as discussed below also agrees that those conditions were shown to be hazardous, she is mindful of the concerns raised by former Chairman MacDougall and former Commissioner Sullivan in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>regarding the Secretary’s use of the term “excessive he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at.”  In her view, “excessive heat” is a vague term (one yet to be defined by regulation), making it difficult for employers to predict what workplace heat conditions the Secretary will treat as “excessive” under the general duty clause.  A myriad of facto</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rs, such as the geographical area where the work is being performed and the nature of the tasks involved, can impact the meaning of this term.  What might be considered “excessive heat” in Maine may not be considered such in Texas.  In short, this term lea</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ves employers guessing.  <span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Therefore, Commissioner Laihow emphasizes that her conclusion in this case is limited by the instant record, which only supports a finding that the specific heat conditions that existed at the time of the specific incidents at is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">sue in these citations were proven to pose a hazard.  It does not mean she would necessarily reach the same conclusion in a future case involving similar environmental or metabolic conditions. <span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf. Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1814-15 (expert’s opinion that al</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">leged heat conditions could have caused heat-related illness was premised on unexplained assumptions that were inconsistent with other evidence in the record)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In other words, Commissioner Laihow does not view today’s decision as establishing any sort of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">criteria for determining when “excessive heat” may be present.  That will presumably be accomplished by the Secretary once an OSHA standard prescribing such requirements is promulgated.  29 U.S.C. § 655(b) (procedures for promulgating most new standards);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also Kastalon, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 12 BNA OSHC 1928, 1928-29 (No. 79-5543, 1986) (consolidated) (“Congress intended that the Secretary would primarily rely on specific standards, rather than the broad mandate of the general duty clause, to seek the correction of wor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">kplace hazards.”);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Reich v. Arcadian Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 110 F.3d 1192, 1196 (5th Cir. 1997) (“Courts have held that enforcement through the application of standards is preferred because standards provide employers notice of what is required under the OSH Act.”). <span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 3395 (Cal/OSHA standard regarding “Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor Places of Employment”).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn8" href="#ftnref8"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">8 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In the Benton case, the judge went further and found that heat did not cause the carrier’s illness. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn9" href="#ftnref9"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">9 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>According to the judge, both o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">f these experts are highly credentialed and appeared “confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy[.]” Tustin is a medical officer in OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing. The judge found him qualified as an expert in “occupational medicine,”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“heat stress exposure assessment and the epidemiology of heat-related illnesses.” Conibear owns OMS, a company that provides various medical services to corporate clients, such as employee “fitness-for-duty” evaluations, where she also serves as a “senior</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>physician.” She is also the president and majority owner of Carnow Conibear and Associates, a company that conducts lead and asbestos inspections and designs remediation projects. The judge found Conibear qualified as an expert in “occupational medicine</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, with specialized expertise in heat stress and abatement measures that may materially reduce the hazard of excessive heat.”</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn10" href="#ftnref10"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">10 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In the Benton case, however, the judge appeared to credit Conibear’s opinion that the incident was not caused by heat, which Tust</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">in did not dispute. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn11" href="#ftnref11"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">11 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The NWS chart<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">classifies heat index danger levels,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">assigning them to four categories—“Caution,” “Extreme Caution,” “Danger,” and “Extreme Danger”—representing the “Likelihood of Heat Disorders with Prolonged Exposure or Strenuous Ac</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">tivity.” The heat index is a measurement that combines temperature and humidity levels. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn12" href="#ftnref12"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">12 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Bernard has a Ph.D. in occupational health and is a professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, where he teaches courses on occupationa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">l safety and health. The judge found Bernard qualified as an expert in “industrial hygiene” and “industrial heat stress.” </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn13" href="#ftnref13"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">13 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Gotkin supervises a team at Economic Research Services, a firm that provides consulting services “in the area of labor and employ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ment.” He described himself as a “labor economist” and “applied econometrician.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The judge found Gotkin qualified as an expert in “the field of economics, with specific expertise in the field of statistical analysis and the application of statistics in s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ampling.”</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn14" href="#ftnref14"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">14 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>As noted, Tustin and Conibear disagreed over whether the environmental and metabolic heat conditions played a “causal role” in the carriers’ illnesses. Because we find that the Secretary has established the existence of a hazard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">regardless of the causes of these incidents, we need not resolve this dispute. We cannot ignore, however, that some of Conibear’s testimony in this regard is quite dubious. When asked if heat “played a role” in one of the incidents, Conibear replied: “I</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>don’t know what ‘played a role’ means.” But she did not express the same confusion when twice asked the same question at her deposition, where she herself stated that heat “may have played a role” in a carrier’s illness. When asked at the hearing what s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">he thought the phrase meant at the time of her deposition, she replied: “I really can’t tell you.” When asked if she understood what it meant when she used it herself at her deposition, she replied: “Probably not.” Conibear also testified that heat exh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">austion is “not considered to be serious,” but on cross-examination admitted saying essentially the opposite at the hearing in a previous Commission case, in which she testified that it is “not usually a fatal illness” but “certainly should be considered a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>serious illness . . . .” These inconsistencies raise questions about the credibility of Conibear’s medical opinions, such as that one of the San Antonio carriers’ profuse sweating was “not related in any way” to his having walked five miles while carryin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">g a thirty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">pound satchel when the heat index was above 100°F, and her claim that he would have started profusely sweating that same afternoon even if he had been sitting at home in air conditioning. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn15" href="#ftnref15"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">15 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tustin’s response to a single question he was asked at</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the hearing about the NWS chart does not support rejecting his repeated testimony</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that his opinion was based on his own studies and those from other authors that he has reviewed. Tustin had just explained that the NWS chart and a similar OSHA chart “esse</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ntially come to the same conclusions [regarding the risk levels associated with different heat index ranges] I’ve come to,”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">when he was asked: “So you did in fact rely on the NWS heat index chart . . . ?” His response (“Yes, that’s one of the things I re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">lied on.”) aligns contextually with his testimony as a whole, which reflects that he primarily based his opinion on other sources and merely found that the NWS chart provided additional, corroborating support for his independent conclusions.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn16" href="#ftnref16"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">16 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the Supreme Court added</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that the Secretary is not required to support the presence of a significant risk “with anything approaching scientific certainty,” does not need to “wait for deaths to occur before taking any action,” and can make “conservative assu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">mptions” that err “on the side of overprotection rather than underprotection.” 448 U.S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">at 655-56. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn17" href="#ftnref17"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">17 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>As a college professor,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Bernard has taught courses in occupational safety and health for almost thirty years and has published sixteen peer-reviewed art</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">icles, most of which concern heat stress including “several looking at the risk profiles associated with heat stress.” He regularly gives presentations on heat stress to other professionals, is a consultant for private employers on their heat stress plans</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, and has been retained as an expert on heat stress in at least two other litigations. Bernard is also a member of the Physical Agents Committee of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and wrote portions of heat stress gui</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">delines published by the organization.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn18" href="#ftnref18"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">18 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The judge found Harvey, who manages an industrial hygiene group at Conibear’s environmental health and safety consulting firm, Carnow Conibear & Associates, qualified as an expert an “industrial hygiene, with specia</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">lized expertise in assessing the risk of exposure to excessive heat.” </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn19" href="#ftnref19"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">19 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Service implies that its experts testified that the conditions were not hazardous, but the testimony it relies on provides no support for any such claim. In the transcrip</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">t pages it cites, Harvey was asked about heat “Threshold Limit Values” (TLVs) published by the ACGIH. Harvey said that the TLVs are intended to mark wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) levels at which the human body will be able to maintain its core tempera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ture below 38°C. At the Postal Service’s prompting, Harvey read a passage from a non-admitted publication stating that “[the TLV] appears to have a margin of protection of about 3 degrees Celsius WBGT, but this margin of protection has not been sufficientl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">y demonstrated to merit change [of the TLV] at this time.” The Postal Service then asked Harvey to add 3°C to the TLVs listed for each carrier identified in the citations on a chart—also not admitted into evidence and referred to as a “demonstrative” exhib</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">it—which in addition to the TLVs purports to display the WBGTs during the citation incidents as well as “WBGT-CAV[s]” (clothing-allowance values); the latter are 8°F lower than the purported actual WBGT for one of the incidents and 2°F lower for all of the r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">emaining incidents. Harvey responded that adding 3°C to the TLVs shown on that chart would result in higher figures than the WBGT-CAVs displayed on the chart for three of the incidents (and equal or lower figures for the remaining). In other words, in thi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">s rather convoluted testimony relied on by the Postal Service, Harvey did not say that the WBGTs present when the carriers worked were below the ACGIH’s TLVs or that the heat conditions were not hazardous. Moreover, Harvey said that the TLVs “are not desi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">gned to prevent heat illness,” that “you certainly can have heat illnesses below the TLV level,” and that he recommends employers take heat illness prevention steps even when the WBGT is below the TLV. He added that he “certainly” would expect some heat-r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">elated illnesses to occur when the WBGT is below the TLV plus the 3°C increase that the Postal Service’s counsel instructed him to add.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn20" href="#ftnref20"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">20 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The judge did not admit Harvey’s report, but allowed him to read excerpts into the record.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn21" href="#ftnref21"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">21 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Gotkin appeared to calcul</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ate the number of “letter carrier days” in these periods by multiplying the total number of Postal Service carrier “workdays” in each period by the total number of carriers employed by the Postal Service in those periods. However, much of Gotkin’s testimo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ny, including his description of how he calculated a “letter carrier day,” lacks context or background information that Gotkin apparently presumed would be understood. Gotkin repeatedly referenced—as did the Postal Service—his expert reports, despite thos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">e reports not being in evidence. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn22" href="#ftnref22"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">22 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Houston citation, which the Postal Service agrees<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">does not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>propose alternatives, states: “Among other methods, one . . . method . . . is to follow the guidelines contained in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">[multiple OSHA and NIOSH publications]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">: [followed by list of measures].” </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn23" href="#ftnref23"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">23 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Martinsburg post-hearing brief uses “many steps” rather than “several steps.”<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn24" href="#ftnref24"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">24 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sturgill</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, the Commission mentioned in a footnote that a citation’s use of “the plural word ‘methods’ ” in the phrase “methods . </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">. . include, but are not limited to,” could “suggest” that each measure was intended as an alternative means of abatement. 27 BNA OSHC at 1818 n.17. But the Commission did not say that the mere use of the word “methods” means that the Secretary is propos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ing alternative methods. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Westwood</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 2022 WL 774272, at *8 (whether alternatives were proposed turns in part on parties’ understanding reflected in record as a whole).</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn25" href="#ftnref25"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">25 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The Postal Service argues for the first time on review that the Secretary is a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">lso required to show that the “expected costs” of his proposed measures are “reasonably related to their expected benefits” to establish their feasibility. As this argument was not raised below, we decline to address it. Commission Rule 92(c), 29 C.F.R.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">§ 2200.92(c) (“The Commission will ordinarily not review issues that the Judge did not have an opportunity to pass on.”). </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn26" href="#ftnref26"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">26 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In the San Antonio and Benton cases, the Secretary referred to “Emergency Response and Employee Monitoring” as a single category of abatement measure. In the Houston and Martinsburg cases, the Secretary treated “Emergency Response” and “Employee Monitorin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">g” as separate categories. </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn27" href="#ftnref27"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">27 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The citations include a few other proposed measures that the Secretary did not discuss in his post-hearing briefs and therefore, we do not address them. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Peacock Eng’g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 26 BNA OSHC at 1593 (not addressing measures listed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">in citation that Secretary did not defend to judge);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Roberts Pipeline Constr., Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 2029, 2030 (No. 91-2051, 1994) (Commission not obligated to “develop arguments not articulated by the parties . . . .”),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 85 F.3d 632 (7th Cir. 1996) (un</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">published).</span></p>
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						</span>The judge specifically identified these time-based measures as<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">“relating to acclimatization programs, additional paid breaks, work/recovery cycles, and earlier workday start times[.]” While the Secretary did not identify “additional paid bre</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">aks” as a separate abatement category, his work/rest cycles, reducing time outdoors, and acclimatization proposals all involve giving carriers additional paid rest time. The Secretary proposed earlier workday start times as one manner of accomplishing his</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>reducing time outdoors proposal. </span></p>
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						</span>At the hearing, Park said she had been employed as a “financial economist” at the Postal Service for one month, and prior to that had worked as a “labor economist” for the Postal Service. Her duties in the latter role</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>included providing cost estimates for potential wage increases during union negotiations.</span></p>
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						</span>Nor did the Secretary provide estimates of the costs for any of his other proposed abatement measures, which we address below, though he does rely on the fact that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Postal Service is already planning to purchase air-conditioned vehicles to support the economic feasibility of that particular proposal.</span></p>
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						</span>Williams further testified as follows: </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Q. In 2024 is it your prediction that the Post Office is going out of business? </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">A. That’s my best guess. That’s just a guess.  . . . </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Q. And the organization could literally die? </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">A. It could. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Q. And Congress will let that happen in your opinio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">n? </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">A. I don’t know. I can’t predict what Congress may or may not do.  . . . My best guess is that we will get some kind of legislative relief before that happens. But I don’t know. I can’t predict that.</span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn32" href="#ftnref32"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">32 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>On April 12, 2018, President Trump signed an</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>executive order that established this Task Force and charged it with evaluating the Postal Service’s operations and finances, and issuing recommendations for the organization to achieve a sustainable business model. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn33" href="#ftnref33"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">33 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Postal Service’s 2018 Annual Re</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">port to the SEC (Form 10-K) states that the organization can raise rates on services with approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, though its “market-dominant” services are subject to a price cap based on the consumer price index. The report also s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">tates that the Postal Service can borrow money as long as its debt does not exceed $15 billion (a maximum imposed by statute), and that its total existing debt in 2018 was $13.2 billion. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn34" href="#ftnref34"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">34 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">According to Corbett, an investment review committee decides wha</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">t projects to prioritize—for example, if a roof were leaking or at risk of collapsing, replacing it would be made a priority. At the same time, he said that the Postal Service has imposed a general moratorium on purchasing furniture. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn35" href="#ftnref35"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">35 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Postal Servi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ce has a CBA with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), a union that represents all “city letter carriers.” It has a separate CBA with the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, which represents all “rural letter carriers.” </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn36" href="#ftnref36"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">36 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If reduc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ing time outdoors were accomplished by structuring carrier schedules to avoid the hottest part of the day (e.g., having carriers begin their routes earlier), rather than through additional break time, it might not slow down delivery schedules. But it woul</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">d require ad hoc schedule alterations with similar technical challenges.</span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn37" href="#ftnref37"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">37 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">Regarding work/rest cycles, we find that the Secretary also failed to establish this method would be materially effective because he does not explain what this measure would specifi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">cally entail. He claims that the Postal Service, which already provides carriers with rest breaks, should give more breaks when heat conditions are hazardous, but does not say how many more or under what particular heat conditions such breaks should be gi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ven. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mid South Waffles</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 27 BNA OSHC at 1786 (Secretary’s proposal that employer clean grease drawer without saying how often to do so proposed a result to be achieved, not a specific abatement method);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nat’l Realty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">, 489 F.2d at 1268</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">(“[T]he Secretary<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">must be constrained to specify the particular steps a cited employer should have taken to avoid citation . . . .”). Bernard testified that he included a chart with work/rest guidelines in his expert report, but the Secretary did not propose that the Posta</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">l Service adopt those guidelines and Bernard’s report was not admitted into the record. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn38" href="#ftnref38"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">38 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In the San Antonio, Houston, and Martinsburg cases, the Postal Service stated that it also monitors carriers by having supervisors sometimes go out on routes to ch</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">eck on them. And in the Benton case, it said that carriers are “adequately monitored to ensure adequate hydration and rest,” but did not say how they are monitored. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn39" href="#ftnref39"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">39 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">In a footnote in his San Antonio Post-Hearing Brief, the Secretary stated that superv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">isors could also use a GPS tracking system to identify carriers who are moving slowly and call to check on them. In response, the Postal Service argued that this proposal is too vague and cited testimony that it would be infeasible for supervisors to watc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">h a monitor throughout the day to determine whether any of the many carriers delivering mail had stopping moving. The judge did not address these arguments. In any event, we agree that the Secretary did not show this measure was feasible or that it would</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>have been materially effective. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn40" href="#ftnref40"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">40 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pepperidge Farm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission held that the Secretary may propose that an employer engage in a “process” to determine whether particular actions will abate a hazard. 17 BNA OSHC 1993, 2034 (No. 89-265, 1997). But</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>it made clear that the Secretary still must at least show that the underlying actions that are the subject of such a process have “some . . . efficacy”: “We prefer the term ‘process’ . . . because experimentation may be read to imply the application of a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">batement methods the efficacy of which have not been established . . . . [W]e would not require employers to adopt abatement methods without some showing of their efficacy.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">at 2033 n.112. In any event, the Secretary did not allege that the Postal S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ervice should have analyzed its data in order to engage in a “process” to find the best abatement approach. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn41" href="#ftnref41"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">41 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Both San Antonio carriers had air-conditioned vans, as did the Houston carrier. The other carriers involved in the citation incidents all drove</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">LLVs without air-conditioning</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn42" href="#ftnref42"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">42 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The “Southern Area” is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">one of seven areas in which the Postal Service divides its operations. Houston is in the Southern Area, though Martinsburg is not. The Southern Area consists of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklaho</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">ma, Mississippi, Florida, and a portion of Georgia. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The other six areas are: Northeast Area, Eastern Area, Western Area, Pacific Area, Great Lakes, and Capital Metro.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn43" href="#ftnref43"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">43 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>As Bernard acknowledged, the record shows that the Postal Service provided an “extens</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ive” amount of heat safety training at the Astrodome Station as part of its Southern Campaign. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On April 26, 2016, the Southern Area safety manager informed all Southern Area Districts about the “Heat Stress Campaign” in a letter and required them to certi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">fy that all employees had viewed a video on heat safety by May 13, to certify that supervisors also completed a “Heat Stress Prevention Program training for Supervisors and Managers,” and to provide safety talks on heat stress “throughout the summer months</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">” that are tracked. The Astrodome Station “safety captain” testified that he was responsible for conducting many of the station’s safety talks and over his five years with the station, had given typically twenty or thirty each summer, with the main topic<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">covered being heat safety. In addition to these talks, he said that all carriers were required to watch a video about heat safety, and that he had posted some heat-related safety information on a bulletin board. Screen savers on monitors located where ca</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rriers sort mail also display heat-related safety messages. An Astrodome Station supervisor testified that he had worked at Houston stations since 1984 and that employees were always given heat safety talks every summer. And a safety specialist for stati</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ons in the Houston area (including the Astrodome Station) testified that he provides an orientation for all new hires that includes training on heat safety.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn44" href="#ftnref44"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">44 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">The sign-in sheets show that carriers at the Astrodome station were given the following heat safety trainings in the summer of 2016: “Heat Stress Symptoms” (June 24), “Tips for Working In the Heat” (July 5), “Heat Stress and Hydration (July 6), “Stay Heal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">thy in the Heat” (July 9), “Heat Related Illnesses” (July 11), “Heat Stress – Do’s and Don’ts” (August 4), “Beat the Heat” (August 9), and “Heat Related Illness and Medication” (September 20).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:10.667px; ">
					<a name="ftn45" href="#ftnref45"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">45 </span></a>The Secretary initially characterized the alleged violation as serious. The Secretary subsequently amended the Citation and complaint to characterize the alleged violation as repeat (Tr. 7-8; National Hearing (NH) Tr. 1149-61, 1337-41).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:10.667px; ">
					<a name="ftn46" href="#ftnref46"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">46 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Item 2 of the Citation alleged a serious violation of § 1910.141(b)(1)(i), which provides:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:10.667px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Potable water shall be provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food p</span><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">reparation or processing premises, and personal service rooms.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">At the San Antonio hearing, the Secretary’s counsel stated, “[I]t’s our position that providing water should be bottled water, especially in these cases where the letter carriers require a sign</span><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ificant volume of water.” (Tr. 578) Because the Secretary did not withdraw Item 2 until after the close of the San Antonio hearing, much of the testimony in this proceeding relates to the issue of providing bottled water to carriers. The Secretary’s withdr</span><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">awal of Item 2 renders this issue moot.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="color:#333333; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn47" href="#ftnref47"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">47 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The five cases arose from incidents in Benton, Arkansas (No. 16-1872); San Antonio, Texas (the present case) (No. 16-1713); Houston, Texas (No. 17-0023); Martinsburg, West Virginia (No. 17-0279); and Des Moines,<span><span></span>
					</span>Iowa (No. 16-1813).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn48" href="#ftnref48"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">48 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the national hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">NH</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number(s).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn49" href="#ftnref49"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">49 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>One additional witness relevant to this proceeding testified during the hearing for Docket No. 17-0023 in Houston, Texas. His testimony is admitted as part of the record in the present case, the Houston case, and the Benton, Arkansas, case (No. 16-1713) (Tr. 297-98, 574-75).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn50" href="#ftnref50"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">50 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraph 2 of Exhibit J-1 provides: “By virtue of<span>
					</span>the Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act of 1970, the OSH Act became applicable to Respondent in the same manner as any other employer. Pub. No. 105-241, 112 Stat. 1572-1575 (1998); see also 29 USC Section 652(5).”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn51" href="#ftnref51"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">51 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Exhibit J-1 stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action and the Act covers the Postal Service.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn52" href="#ftnref52"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">52 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Pseudonyms are used in this Decision and Order to preserve the privacy of the San Antonio Postal Service employees and former employees.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn53" href="#ftnref53"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">53 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In this decision and order, the Court refers to respondent as “the Postal Service” or “USPS.” The Court uses “post office” to refer to the supervisory personnel at the Beacon Hill Station or the physical building, depending on context.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn54" href="#ftnref54"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">54 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Brian Renfroe, executive vice presi</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">dent of NALC, stated carriers call the extra route portion by various names in the different areas. “Some call it a piece, a pivot. I've heard a loop. That's what it's called where I'm from. A drag. Pigtail. I've heard some words that are not appropriate f</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">or this Court to describe, you know. But they all mean the same thing: It's a portion of another assignment that I'm going to do in addition to the other work that I have for that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">d</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ay</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(NH Tr. 168)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn55" href="#ftnref55"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">55 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Casing<span>
						</span></span>is using a shelving system to sort mail for one<span>
					</span>route into delivery sequence by placing mail for each address into designated slots, or cells, on the shelves (Tr. 346-47).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn56" href="#ftnref56"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">56 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CCA1 testified he told the Beacon Hill Station manager before he left the post office that morning he was not feeling well. He stated, “She told me to deliver the route as best as possible and to call later in the day if I needed help and I would speak to the supervisors.” (Tr. 76-77) The station manager denied this conversation took place, stating she was not working at the Beacon<span>
					</span>Hill Station that week, but was working on a project at another post office (Tr. 783-84). The Court credits the station manager’s testimony on this point. CCA1 displayed a spotty, selective memory and contradicted his deposition testimony several times. He<span><span></span>
					</span>stated that in his short tenure at the Beacon Hill Station (he transferred to another station after 3 months), he once worked 11 days in a row, even though his time records indicate otherwise (Exh. R-13; Tr. 68, 117). His gave confusing testimony regarding the number of miles he walked on average a week (Tr. 64, 85-87). He could not recall the year the Postal Service hired him, the month he started, the position he started in, or the date he resigned (Tr. 97-98). His demeanor was defensive and combative at<span><span></span>
					</span>times, while the station manager was calm and matter-of-fact.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn57" href="#ftnref57"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">57 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In an email sent June 14 to the union steward for Beacon Hill Station, CCA1 recounted the incident the day before and stated, “Around 5pm I had to call the supervisors back because I wouldn’t stop throwing up and I almost fainted. I had to call an ambulance.” (Exh. R-15) CCA1 did not list vomiting among the symptoms he experienced when he arrived at the urgent care facility.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn58" href="#ftnref58"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">58 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Supervisor SG testified he was the A.M. supervisor that day, and his shift was from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. He was not on duty when LC2 texted him. He stated he did not receive LC2’s texts (Tr. 642) He was asked, “When you heard that [LC2] had allegedly texted you the day of the incident, did you check your own cell phone<span><span></span>
					</span>records to see if you had a text from her?” He replied, “No.” (Tr. 677)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn59" href="#ftnref59"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">59 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the Houston hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">No. 17-0023</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn60" href="#ftnref60"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">60 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>“Destinating plant” is Postal Service nomenclature for the facility receiving mail that will be sorted and transported to local post offices and from there delivered to its intended address.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn61" href="#ftnref61"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">61 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Jim Sauber is the chief of staff to the president of NALC since 2002, first for Bill Young (until he retired in 2009) and then for Fred Rolandro. He manages NALC’s professional staff, which includes staff in the areas of politics, legislation, communications and<span><span></span>
					</span>media relations, and research. Sauber is familiar with all publicly available information about the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the collective bargaining rights and benefits programs of carriers (NH Tr. 871-74).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn62" href="#ftnref62"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">62 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties sti</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">pulate, “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was: 2016: $5.591 billion; 2017: $2.742 billion; 2018: $3.913 billion.” (NH Exh. J-100, ¶ 3)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn63" href="#ftnref63"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">63 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard testified in the national hearing of the Postal Service cases before the Co</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">urt.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:0px; ">
					<a name="ftn64" href="#ftnref64"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">64 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Judge Ball found the Postal Service committed a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) by exposing its employees “to recognized hazards related to working outside during periods of excessive heat” and assessed a penalty of $70,000. The Commission declined to direct the case for review, and the decision became a final order.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, but voluntarily dismissed its appeal on May 28, 2015 (NH Exh. C-189).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn65" href="#ftnref65"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">65 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The carriers in the five Postal Service cases did not appear to be aware that Form 3996 overtime requests were automatically approved if a supervisor failed to address the requests.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn66" href="#ftnref66"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">66 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>At the beginning of the hearing, counsel for the Postal Service requested a standing objection “to any reference to the hazard as being anything other than excessive heat, as defined in the citation.” (Tr. 20-21) The Court granted the Postal Service’s request. At the national<span>
					</span>hearing, the Court ruled that in the context of the five Postal Service cases, references to “excessive heat,” “heat stress,” or similar formulations are “all the same issue regarding the § 5(a)(1) citations that have been alleged.” (NH Tr. 1339) The Commission has also recognized these phrases are interchangeable in the context of § 5(a)(1) cases alleging exposure to the hazard of excessively high temperatures.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Duriron Co., Inc.</span>, No. 77-2847, 1983 WL 23869 (OSHRC April 27, 1983) (“heat stress,” “excessive heat,” “extreme heat”);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span>No. 88-348, 1989 WL 88787 (OSHRC April 21, 1992) (“heat stress,” “excessive exposure to heat”).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn67" href="#ftnref67"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">67 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In 1998, Dr. Aaron W. Tustin received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute o</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">f Technology. He received a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Harvard University in 2000 (NH Tr. 229). After working for a time in the private sector, Dr. Tustin attended Vanderbilt University Medical School and received a medical degree in 2012 (</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">NH Tr. 230). After completing a year of residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he went to Peru for a year to conduct research in epidemiology and biostatistics for the University of Pennsylvania (NH Tr. 231). He then completed a two-year residency program in</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and received a master’s degree in public health in 2015 (NH Tr. 233-34). Dr. Tustin is board certified in occupational medicine and is a member of the American Coll</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ege of Occupational Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). He serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Uniform Services University of Health Sciences (NH Tr. 236-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August 2016, Dr. Tustin began working in Washington, D.C., as a medical officer for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) (NH Tr. 226). He described OOMN’s priorities as (1) “supporting OSHA field officers with their investigations” as expert consultants; (2) reviewing annual medical exams of CSHOs to assess their fit</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ness for duty; and (3) “analyzing OSHA’s internal data to try to improve [OOMN’s] guidance that we give to workers and employers.” (NH Tr. 226-27) Dr. Tustin has conducted research and written approximately a dozen peer-reviewed published articles relating</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to occupational health, including articles published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">MMWR</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">), published by the Centers for Disease C</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ontrol and Protection (CDC) (NH Tr. 240-47). He has lectured at medical conferences, including the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) and the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) (NH Tr. 247-50).</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn68" href="#ftnref68"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">68 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Conibear is the preside</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">nt of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She received a medical degree in 1976 and a Master of Public Health degree. She is board-certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine (NH Tr. 2967-68). She is president and part owner<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She owns its sister company OMS, where she works as a senior physician, performing physical exams and fitness-for-duty evaluations in regulated entities (NH Tr. 2972-73). She also supervises “athletic trainers who are embed</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ded in industry, using what’s called the industrial athlete model.” (NH Tr. 2974) Dr. Conibear is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and is on the Resident Advisory Committee there (NH Tr. 2982). For almost a decade, she was the director of</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>programs and medicine in the educational resource center, “which NIOSH established to train nurses, safety professionals, industrial hygienists, and physicians in occupational health and safety.” (NH Tr. 2984) She is a member of the National Advisory Comm</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ittee for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) (NH Tr. 2985).</span></p>
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					<a name="ftn69" href="#ftnref69"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">69 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The decision states, “For the most part, it appears Respondent does not contest the existence of a violation of the general duty clause—almost all of Respondent’s brief is directed towards<span><span></span>
					</span>the willful characterization. . . . There is no real dispute that [Independence carriers] were exposed to extreme heat on July 23 and 24, and that such heat was a hazard.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>2014 WL 5528391, at *14.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn70" href="#ftnref70"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">70 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In its entirety, footnote<span><span></span>
					</span>14 in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span>states:</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>While the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to a general duty clause violation,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">see Beverly Enters., Inc</span>., 19 BNA OSHC at 1172, knowledge of the “significant risk of harm” cannot be based on the hidden characteristics of an “eggshell” employee; the risks resulting from such characteristics do not fit within the confines of a realistic possibility or the consideration of the best available evidence.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitne</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">y</span>, 649 F.2d at 104 (the Act “is intended only to guard against significant risks, not ephemeral possibilities”).<span>
					</span></p>
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					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Commissioner Sullivan agrees with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as “excessive heat.” He also finds, however, that the Secretary must prove that Sturgill could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all of the facts available to it prior to the incident and not simply that there was a “risk of harm” based on an expert’s later opinion as to what constitutes a “heat-related exposure risk.”</p>
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					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
					</span>In Commissioner Sullivan’s view, the Commission should return to an interpretation put forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney,<span>
						</span></span>8 BNA OSHC 1329 (No. 13591, 1980),<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d in part, rev’d in part, remanded,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>649 F.2d 96, 101 (2d. Cir. 1981), and Bomac Drilling, 9 BNA OSHC 1681 (No. 76-0450, 1981) (consolidated), overruled<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">by U.S. Steel Corp</span>., 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982). In those cases, the Commission held that the Secretary must prove that an incident is “reasonably foreseeable” when citing under the general duty clause<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1334. The reasoning underlying this test was a concern that general duty clause cases were wrongly focusing on the particular incident causing the injury in the case, rather than the hazard in general. Commissioner Sullivan views the focus of the current case to be the same as it was in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney</span>—what happened specifically to<span><span></span>
					</span>the employee (MR), rather than whether the employer (Sturgill) could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all the other conditions at the time of the incident. As such, in his view, the Commission should again embrace the “reasonably foreseeable” test as set forth by the Commission in those cases, an interpretation which the Commission pointed out is consistent with the definition of a “serious” violation under section 17(k) of the Act.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1335; 29 U.S.C. §<span>
					</span>666(k). When evaluating the general duty clause, the Secretary must establish that a truly “meaningful” and “significant” possibility of harm existed, and that “employers receive adequate notice of their legal responsibilities under the general duty clause.” See 5 BERKELEY J. EMP. & LAB. L. at 305. Since the Secretary failed to make this showing here, Commissioner Sullivan finds that the Secretary failed to establish the existence of a hazard.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span>2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn71" href="#ftnref71"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">71 </span></a>A black and white copy of<span><span></span>
					</span>the NWS Heat Index Chart appears on page 20 of NH Exhibit C-144, which was admitted into the record at the national hearing for the San Antonio case only (NH Tr. 415-17). Reproduced here is the chart in color, from the NWS website at<span>
					</span><a href="https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:underline ;">https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index</span></a>.<span>
					</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn72" href="#ftnref72"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">72 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Rodman Harvey is the director of client services for Carnow Conibear & Associates, an environmental health and safety consulting firm i</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">n Chicago. He manages the company’s industrial hygiene group (NH Tr. 2750-51). Harvey received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lawrence University in 1983, and a master’s in environmental engineering in 1986 from the Illinois Institute of Technology (N</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">H Tr. 2745). He is a certified industrial hygienist (NH Tr. 2747-49).</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:-1.27cm; "> </p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn73" href="#ftnref73"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">73 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">This case arose in the Fifth Circuit. Under the Act, an employer may seek review in the court of appeals in the circuit in which the violation occurred, the circuit in which the empl</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">oyer’s principal office is located, or the District of Columbia Circuit. 29 U.S.C. § 660(a). The Secretary may seek review in the circuit in which the violation occurred or in which the employer has its principal office. 29 U.S.C. § 660(b). “[I]n general,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">‘[w]here it is highly probable that a Commission decision would be appealed to a particular circuit, the Commission has ... applied the precedent of that circuit in deciding the case—even though it may differ from the Commission's precedent.’”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Dana Contain</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">er, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 09- 1184, 2015 WL 749426, at *3, n. 10 (OSHRC Nov. 19, 2015),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, 847 F.3d 495 (7th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to extend the significant risk test to the general duty clause in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> 729 F.2d 317 (5th Cir. 1984)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Commission disagreed with that conclusion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">We note that the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that the significant risk test should not be applied in enforcing the general duty clause</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Kelly Springfield Ti</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">re Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 323–24 (5th Cir.1984). We respectfully disagree with that court's conclusion. The Fifth Circuit reasoned that the </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene Case</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> dealt with the promulgation of standards and was therefore of limited relevance in the different</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>context of the general duty clause. We believe, however, that the Supreme Court's conclusion that the Act was not intended to create risk-free workplaces applies equally to the enforcement of the general duty clause as to the promulgation of standards. As</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>we have stated, Congress did not intend for the general duty clause to provide broader protection than could be achieved through the promulgation of standards. Thus, a limitation on the Secretary's authority to issue standards necessarily also limits the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">scope of the general duty clause.</span></p>
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				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986 WL 53514, at *5, n.7 (OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Because<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>raises doubt as to whether the Commission would apply the precedent of the Fifth Circuit should it direct this case<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">for review, the Court will analyze the issue of significant risk.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn74" href="#ftnref74"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">74 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Denoting temperatures of<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">80°F or higher as hazardous is Dr. Tustin’s benchmark. The Secretary has declined to “</span>explicitly enumerate a range of temperatures at which heat becomes hazardous.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 29)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn75" href="#ftnref75"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">75 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Thomas Bernard is a professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. He has taught there for 30 years. He is the director of the university’s NIOSH- supported education research center (NH</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 793-94). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in occupational health from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (NH Tr. 795-98</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">). He worked for a time for the United States Bureau of Mines in the post-disaster survival and rescue section. Dr. Bernard worked for 11 years as a senior engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Research and Development Center, focusing on heat stress manag</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ement in the power industry (NH Tr. 795-96). At the University of South Florida, he teaches master’s degree level students in, he stated, “classes related, broadly speaking, to occupational health and safety, specifically a class in ergonomics, one in phys</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ical agents and controls. I teach a class in occupational health and safety management systems and other administrative kinds of topics. . . . I've done a few guest lectures in the intro to industrial hygiene, a couple of laboratory lectures, and I also ha</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ve a few lectures in service class for the college.” (NH Tr. 794)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard is certified as an industrial hygienist and as a safety professional (NH Tr. 797). He is a fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is on the Physical Agents Committee for ACGIH. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Loughbo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">rough University in London. He has published approximately 16 peer-reviewed papers in the past decade, most of them on some aspect of heat stress, and has also contributed chapters to scientific handbooks. Dr. Bernard presents talks and webinars to occupat</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ional health researchers and professionals on the topic of heat stress. He has worked with private employers to develop heat stress programs for their employees (NH Tr. 799-802).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn76" href="#ftnref76"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">76 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Joshua Gotkin is the director of ERS Group, a consulting firm specializing in labor and employment economics (NH Tr. 1623). Dr. Gotkin received an undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics and a graduate degree in economics in applied econometrics, economic history, and labor economics. He received a PhD in economics from the University of Arizona in 1995 (NH Tr. 1619-20). ERS Group hired Dr. Gotkin in 1996. He became its director in 2011 (NH Tr. 1622-23). He uses applied econometrics to develop models for analyzing statistics (NH Tr. 1622-26).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn77" href="#ftnref77"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">77 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>This conclusion is n</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ot intended to minimize the general physical discomfort of carriers delivering mail in hot weather (Tr. 137-38, 522-23). As the Commission noted in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">International Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">heat is an unavoidable feature of some workplaces (such as the open air in summer). “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Wh</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ile the employee testimony regarding the difficulties they experienced because of the hot working conditions troubles us because it clearly shows that this is an uncomfortable working environment and that employees do suffer from the effects of the heat, t</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">he citation's identification of the hazard as excessive heat stress suggests that the Secretary recognizes that some degree of discomfort is inherent in the job.” </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn78" href="#ftnref78"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">78 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Bernard testified cooling towels and similar products “provide a sense of comfort but they’re not going to materially control heat stress.” (NH Tr. 1114)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn79" href="#ftnref79"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">79 </span></a>The Secretary acknowledges he has the burden of proving economic feasibility of proposed abatement methods in § 5(a)(1) cases but argues an exception should be made here since the Postal Service “is unique among employers subject to OSHA’s enforcement jurisdiction, because its existence is subject to Congressional oversight.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 47) The Court disagrees. The<span>
					</span>burden of proof remains with the Secretary.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn80" href="#ftnref80"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">80 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Park works as a financial economist for the Postal Service. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Missouri Columbia. In 2009, she received a PhD in economics f</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">rom Purdue University. Dr. Park taught as a graduate instructor at both universities and was an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching principles of micro- and macroeconomics. She also taught as a visiting professor at Sungshin University in Seo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ul, South Korea, teaching world economics and industrial organization (NH Tr. 1550-54).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn81" href="#ftnref81"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">81 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary takes issue with the projected acclimatization costs but does not address other proposed time-based abatement costs not covered in Dr. Park’s analysis. Dr. Bernard proposed a work/rest recovery cycle which would require carriers to rest for 15, 30, or 45 minutes per hour, depending on the temperature. Dr. Bernard testified he did not consider the Postal Service’s 24-hour clock model, the CBA provisions,<span><span></span>
					</span>or the number of replacement workers required to complete timely mail delivery when proposing this abatement method (NH Tr. 1117-18). The Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or the effects of the costs on the existence or competitive<span><span></span>
					</span>structure of the Postal Service for Dr. Bernard’s proposal.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn82" href="#ftnref82"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">82 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The 9- or 10-hour block of time includes the 30-minute lunch break and the 10-minute morning and afternoon breaks, as well as any comfort stops (NH Tr. 2236).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn83" href="#ftnref83"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">83 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary initially characterized the alleged violation as serious. The Secretary subsequently amended the Citation and complaint to characterize the alleged violation as repeat (Tr. 9; National Hearing (NH) Tr. 1149-61, 1337-41).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn84" href="#ftnref84"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">84 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The five cases arose from incidents in Benton, Arkansas (the present case) (No. 16-1872); San Antonio, Texas (No. 16-1713); Houston, Texas (No. 17-0023); Martinsburg, West Virginia (No. 17-0279); and Des Moines, Iowa (No. 16-1813).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn85" href="#ftnref85"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">85 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the national hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">NH</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number(s).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn86" href="#ftnref86"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">86 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>One additional witness relevant to this proceeding testified at the hearing for Docket No. 17-0023 in Houston, Texas. His testimony is admitted as part of the record in this case, the Houston case, and the San Antonio case (No. 16-1713) (Tr. 1005).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn87" href="#ftnref87"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">87 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraph 2 of Exhibit J-1 provides: “By virtue of the Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act of<span>
					</span>1970, the OSH Act became applicable to Respondent in the same manner as any other employer. Pub. No. 105-241, 112 Stat. 1572-1575 (1998); see also 29 USC Section 652(5).”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn88" href="#ftnref88"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">88 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Exhibit J-1 stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action, and the Act covers the Postal Service.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn89" href="#ftnref89"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">89 </span></a>Pseudonyms are used in this Decision and Order to preserve the privacy of the Benton Postal Service employees and former employees.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn90" href="#ftnref90"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">90 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In this decision and order, the Court refers to respondent as “the Postal Service” or “USPS.” The Court uses “post office” to refer to supervisory personnel at the Benton Post Office or the physical building, depending on context.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn91" href="#ftnref91"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">91 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Brian Renfroe, executive vice president of NALC, stated carriers call the extra route portion</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by various names in the different areas. “Some call it a piece, a pivot. I've heard a loop. That's what it's called where I'm from. A drag. Pigtail. I've heard some words that are not appropriate for this Court to describe, you know. But they all mean the</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>same thing: It's a portion of another assignment that I'm going to do in addition to the other work that I have for that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">d</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ay</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(NH Tr. 168)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn92" href="#ftnref92"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">92 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The former postmaster acknowledged she and the supervisor were present at the Benton Post Office when the carrier<span><span></span>
					</span>became upset. She denied photographing or laughing at the carrier (Tr. 820). The Court credits the testimony of LC-2 over the postmaster’s denial.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn93" href="#ftnref93"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">93 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>No one at the Benton Post Office was monitoring incoming MDD messages on June 10, 2016. Later, the post office found the three messages from LC-1 in the inbox for the MDDs, timestamped 1:01 p.m. (“IMDOWNSENDHELP123OLIVE”), 1:21 p.m. (“NOW127OLIVENEEDHELPNOW”), and 1:30 p.m. (“Police/Postal Inspection Emergency”) (Exh. C-15; Tr. 754-55).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn94" href="#ftnref94"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">94 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Shirley Conibear,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>who reviewed LC-1’s medical records, stated at the national hearing the actual diagnosis was labyrinthitis. “The labyrinth is three circular tubes that are near your ear and it’s the way that you sense where you are in space. So they . . . help you balanc</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">e, basically.” (NH Tr. 3016) Vertigo is a symptom of labyrinthitis. “It is the sensation that either you’re moving or the world is moving, kind of like when you get off the merry-go-round, except it’s there all the time.” (NH Tr. 3016)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn95" href="#ftnref95"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">95 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary did not move to admit the NWS heat index chart in this proceeding. It was admitted in the other four proceedings and was the subject of expert testimony at the national hearing.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn96" href="#ftnref96"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">96 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the Houston hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">No. 17-0023</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn97" href="#ftnref97"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">97 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>“Destinating plant” is Postal Service nomenclature for the facility receiving mail that will be sorted and transported to local post offices and from there delivered to<span>
					</span>its intended address.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn98" href="#ftnref98"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">98 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Jim Sauber is the chief of staff to the president of NALC since 2002, first for Bill Young (until he retired in 2009) and then for Fred Rolandro. He manages NALC’s professional staff, which includes staff in the areas of politics, legislation, communications and media relations, and research. Sauber is familiar with all publicly available information about the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the collective bargaining rights and benefits programs of carriers (NH<span>
					</span>Tr. 871-74).</p>
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					<a name="ftn99" href="#ftnref99"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">99 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties stipulate, “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was: 2016: $5.591 billion; 2017: $2.742 billion, 2018: $3.913 billion.” (NH Exh. J-100, ¶ 3)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn100" href="#ftnref100"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">100 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard testified in the national hearing of the Pos</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">tal Service cases before the Court.</span></p>
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					<a name="ftn101" href="#ftnref101"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">101 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Judge Ball found the Postal Service committed a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) by exposing its employees “to recognized hazards related to working outside during periods of excessive heat” and assessed a penalty of $70,000. The Commission declined to direct the case for review, and the decision became a final order.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the<span>
					</span>Eighth Circuit, but voluntarily dismissed its appeal on May 28, 2015 (NH Exh. C-189).</p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn102" href="#ftnref102"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">102 </span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Thomas Bernard is a professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. He has taught there for 30 years. He is the director of the univer</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">sity’s NIOSH- supported education research center (NH Tr. 793-94). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in occupational health from the University of Pitts</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">burgh Graduate School of Public Health (NH Tr. 795-98). He worked for a time for the United States Bureau of Mines in the post-disaster survival and rescue section. Dr. Bernard worked for 11 years as a senior engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Research<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">and Development Center, focusing on heat stress management in the power industry (NH Tr. 795-96). At the University of South Florida, he teaches master’s degree level students in, he stated, “classes related, broadly speaking, to occupational health and sa</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">fety, specifically a class in ergonomics, one in physical agents and controls. I teach a class in occupational health and safety management systems and other administrative kinds of topics. . . . I've done a few guest lectures in the intro to industrial hy</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">giene, a couple of laboratory lectures, and I also have a few lectures in service class for the college.” (NH Tr. 794)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard is certified as an industrial hygienist and as a safety professional (NH Tr. 797). He is a fellow of the American Industria</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">l Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is on the Physical Agents Committee for ACGIH. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Loughborough University in London. He has published approximately 16 peer-reviewed papers in the past decade, most of them on some aspect of h</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">eat stress, and has also contributed chapters to scientific handbooks. Dr. Bernard presents talks and webinars to occupational health researchers and professionals on the topic of heat stress. He has worked with private employers to develop heat stress pro</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">grams for their employees (NH Tr. 799-802).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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					<a name="ftn103" href="#ftnref103"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">103 </span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In 1998, Dr. Aaron W. Tustin received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Harvard University in 200</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">0 (NH Tr. 229). After working for a time in the private sector, Dr. Tustin attended Vanderbilt University Medical School and received a medical degree in 2012 (NH Tr. 230). After completing a year of residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he went to Peru for</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a year to conduct research in epidemiology and biostatistics for the University of Pennsylvania (NH Tr. 231). He then completed a two-year residency program in occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">received a master’s degree in public health in 2015 (NH Tr. 233-34). Dr. Tustin is board certified in occupational medicine and is a member of the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). He serves as an adjunct assistant professor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">at the Uniform Services University of Health Sciences (NH Tr. 236-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August 2016, Dr. Tustin began working in Washington, D.C., as a medical officer for OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) (NH Tr. 226). He described OOMN’s prio</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">rities as (1) “supporting OSHA field officers with their investigations” as expert consultants; (2) reviewing annual medical exams of CSHOs to assess their fitness for duty; and (3) “analyzing OSHA’s internal data to try to improve [OOMN’s] guidance that w</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">e give to workers and employers.” (NH Tr. 226-27) Dr. Tustin has conducted research and written approximately a dozen peer-reviewed published articles relating to occupational health, including articles published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environm</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">ental Medicine</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">MMWR</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) (NH Tr. 240-47). He has lectured at medical conferences,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">including the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) and the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) (NH Tr. 247-50).</span></p>
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					<a name="ftn104" href="#ftnref104"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">104 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Rodman Harvey is the director of client services for Carnow Conibear & Associates, an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">environmental health and safety consulting firm in Chicago. He manages the company’s industrial hygiene group (NH Tr. 2750-51). Harvey received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lawrence University in 1983, and a master’s in environmental engineering in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1986 from the Illinois Institute of Technology (NH Tr. 2745). He is a certified industrial hygienist (NH Tr. 2747-49).</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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					<a name="ftn105" href="#ftnref105"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">105 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Court finds the Phoenix test report to be unreliable and accords it no weight. In addition to the flaws pointed out by Rodman Harvey, the record establishes the Phoenix testing conditions do not reflect the actual working conditions of carriers who drove LLVs in Benton, Arkansas.</p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court does credit the testimony of the carriers in this proceeding who testified temperatures in t</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">he interiors of LLVs are hotter in the summertime than outside temperatures. The evidence, however, falls short of establishing the existence of an excessive heat hazard in LLVs in this case for two reasons. First, there is no evidence in the record verify</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ing the accuracy of the carriers’ subjective estimates of the LLVs’ increased interior temperatures in comparison to the outside temperatures. There is, therefore, no evidence establishing the magnitude of the increase in the interior temperatures of the L</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">LVs on the days referred to by the carriers.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Second, the Citation alleges the Postal Service employees were exposed to hazards “while walking and delivering mail in an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">outdoor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">environment.” (emphasis added) The testimony of the carriers establishes the c</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">onditions that make driving an LLV uncomfortable and potentially hazardous (including the greenhouse effect created by the large windows and the engine heat rising from the floor) are separate from the conditions attendant to delivering mail outdoors on fo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ot.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">“The Secretary must draft a </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">citation</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-size:10pt; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:10pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">‘with sufficient </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">particularity</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> to inform the employer of what he did wrong, i.e., to apprise reasonably the employer of the issues in controversy.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">’ </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=2002478509&pubNum=0000506&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_506_261&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_506_261"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Alden Leeds, Inc. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, 298 F.3d 256, 261 (3d Cir. 2002)</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> (quoted case omitted); see </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=L&pubNum=1000546&cite=29USCAS658&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RB&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_8b3b0000958a4"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_counderline style_counderline " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">29 U.S.C. § 658(a)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> (requiring that </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">citations</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> “describe with </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">particularity</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> the nature of the violation”).” </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=2017253772&pubNum=0000999&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RP&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; ">L & L Painting Co., Inc., No. 05-0050, 2008 WL 4542427, at *4 (OSHRC September 29, 2008)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">. The Court concludes evidence relating to the alleged hazard of excessive heat or high heat levels in LLVs is not probative of an alleged excessive or high heat hazard related to working outside.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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					<a name="ftn106" href="#ftnref106"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">106 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The carriers in the five Postal Service cases did not appear to be aware that Form 3996 overtime requests were automatically approved if a supervisor failed to address the requests.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn107" href="#ftnref107"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">107 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>At the beginning of the hearing, counsel for the Postal Service requested a standing objection “to any reference of the hazard in this case as being anything other than excessive heat, which is the terminology used in the citation.” (Tr. 17) The Secretary was not opposed, and the Court granted the Postal Service’s request for a standing objection to “any reference to the hazard as being anything other than excessive heat.” (Tr. 18) At the national hearing, the Court ruled that in the context of the five Postal Service cases, references to “excessive heat,” “heat stress,” or similar formulations are “all the same<span><span></span>
					</span>issue regarding the § 5(a)(1) citations that have been alleged.” (NH Tr. 1339) The Commission has also recognized these phrases are interchangeable in the context of § 5(a)(1) cases alleging exposure to the hazard of excessively high temperatures.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Dur</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">iron Co., Inc.</span>, No. 77-2847, 1983 WL 23869 (OSHRC April 27, 1983) (“heat stress,” “excessive heat,” “extreme heat”);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span>No. 88-348, 1989 WL 88787 (OSHRC April 21, 1992) (“heat stress,” “excessive exposure to heat”).</p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn108" href="#ftnref108"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">108 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Conibear is the pre</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">sident of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She received a medical degree in 1976 and a Master of Public Health degree. She is board-certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine (NH Tr. 2967-68). She is president and part ow</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ner of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She owns its sister company OMS, where she works as a senior physician, performing physical exams and fitness-for-duty evaluations in regulated entities (NH Tr. 2972-73). She also supervises “athletic trainers who are e</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">mbedded in industry, using what’s called the industrial athlete model.” (NH Tr. 2974) Dr. Conibear is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and is on the Resident Advisory Committee there (NH Tr. 2982). For almost a decade, she was the directo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">r of programs and medicine in the educational resource center, “which NIOSH established to train nurses, safety professionals, industrial hygienists, and physicians in occupational health and safety.” (NH Tr. 2984) She is a member of the National Advisory<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) (NH Tr. 2985).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court determined Dr. Conibear was qualified, based on her knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, to testify as an expert “in occupational medicine, with specialized e</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">xpertise in heat stress and abatement measures that may materially reduce the hazard of excessive heat.” (NH Tr. 3013)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn109" href="#ftnref109"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">109 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The decision states, “For the most part, it appears Respondent does not contest the existence of a violation of the general duty clause—almost all of Respondent’s brief is directed towards the willful characterization. . . . There is no real dispute that [Independence carriers] were exposed to extreme heat on July 23 and 24, and that such heat was a hazard.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>2014 WL 5528391, at *14.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn110" href="#ftnref110"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">110 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In its entirety, footnote 14 in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span>states:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>While the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to a general duty clause violation,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">see Beverly Enters., Inc</span>., 19 BNA OSHC at 1172, knowledge of the “significant risk of harm” cannot be based on the hidden characteristics of an “eggshell” employee; the risks resulting from such characteristics do not fit within the confines of a realistic possibility or the consideration of the best available evidence.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 649 F.2d at 104 (the Act “is intended only to guard against significant risks, not ephemeral possibilities”).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Commissioner Sullivan agrees with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her<span>
					</span>concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as “excessive heat.” He also finds, however, that the Secretary must prove that Sturgill could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all of the facts available to it prior to the incident and not simply that there was a “risk of harm” based on an expert’s later opinion as to what constitutes a “heat-related exposure risk.”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
					</span>In Commissioner Sullivan’s view, the Commission should return to an interpretation put forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pr</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">att & Whitney,<span>
						</span></span>8 BNA OSHC 1329 (No. 13591, 1980),<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d in part, rev’d in part, remanded,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>649 F.2d 96, 101 (2d. Cir. 1981), and Bomac Drilling, 9 BNA OSHC 1681 (No. 76-0450, 1981) (consolidated), overruled<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">by U.S. Steel Corp</span>., 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982). In those cases, the Commission held that the Secretary must prove that an incident is “reasonably foreseeable” when citing under the general duty clause<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1334. The reasoning underlying this test was a concern that general duty clause cases were wrongly focusing on the particular incident causing the injury in the case, rather than the hazard in general. Commissioner Sullivan views the focus of the current case to be the same as it was in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney</span>—what happened<span>
					</span>specifically to the employee (MR), rather than whether the employer (Sturgill) could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all the other conditions at the time of the incident. As such, in his view, the Commission should again embrace the “reasonably foreseeable” test as set forth by the Commission in those cases, an interpretation which the Commission pointed out is consistent with the definition of a “serious” violation under section 17(k) of the Act.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1335; 29 U.S.C. § 666(k). When evaluating the general duty clause, the Secretary must establish that a truly “meaningful” and “significant” possibility of harm existed, and that “employers receive adequate notice of their legal responsibilities under the general duty clause.” See 5 BERKELEY J. EMP. & LAB. L. at 305. Since the Secretary failed to make this showing here, Commissioner Sullivan finds that the Secretary failed to establish the existence of a hazard.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span>2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn111" href="#ftnref111"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">111 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Commi</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ssion has been reluctant to hold that exceeding levels published by a third-party organization constitute a hazard:</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">We must note that we would be hesitant to hold that exceeding those levels is, in and of itself, proof of exposure to a hazard. The Secreta</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ry asserts that they are the dominant guidelines on heat stress and are followed by all professional industrial hygienists. . . . While it would be very appropriate for the Secretary to include a safety margin in an OSHA standard, the presence of a safety<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">margin in the documents [he] relied on to prove a hazard here gives us reservations as to whether evidence that the limits in the NIOSH document were exceeded would, in fact, prove that there was a hazard. . . . We therefore have considerable reservations<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">about basing a violation of section 5(a)(1) on those guidelines. Because we are deciding this case based on the insufficiency of the Secretary's evidence, however, we need not decide whether a violation of section 5(a)(1) would have been established </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">if</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> the</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Secretary had proved that the limits in the documents had been exceeded.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *14, n. 11<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn112" href="#ftnref112"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">112 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Denoting temperatures of<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">80°F or higher as hazardous is Dr. Tustin’s benchmark. The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Secretary has declined to “</span>explicitly enumerate . . . a range of temperatures at which heat becomes hazardous.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 29)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn113" href="#ftnref113"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">113 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Joshua Gotkin is the director of ERS Group, a consulting firm specializing in labor and employment<span>
					</span>economics (NH Tr. 1623). Dr. Gotkin received an undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics and a graduate degree in economics in applied econometrics, economic history, and labor economics. He received a PhD in economics from the University of Arizona in 1995 (NH Tr. 1619-20). ERS Group hired Dr. Gotkin in 1996. He became its director in 2011 (NH Tr. 1622-23). He uses applied econometrics to develop models for analyzing statistics (NH Tr. 1622-26).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn114" href="#ftnref114"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">114 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">This conclusion is not intended to minimize the ge</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">neral physical discomfort of carriers delivering mail in hot weather (Tr. 137-38, 522-23). As the Commission noted in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">International Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">heat is an unavoidable feature of some workplaces (such as the open air in summer). “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">While the employee testimony reg</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">arding the difficulties they experienced because of the hot working conditions troubles us because it clearly shows that this is an uncomfortable working environment and that employees do suffer from the effects of the heat, the citation's identification o</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">f the hazard as excessive heat stress suggests that the Secretary recognizes that some degree of discomfort is inherent in the job.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn115" href="#ftnref115"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">115 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Bernard testified cooling towels and similar products<span>
					</span>“provide a sense of comfort but they’re not going to materially control heat stress.” (NH Tr. 1114)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn116" href="#ftnref116"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">116 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Benton Citation does not mention air-conditioned vehicles or analyzing existing heat-related illness data in its list of proposed abatement methods.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn117" href="#ftnref117"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">117 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary argues the<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Southern Area Heat Stress Campaign 2016</span><span><span></span>
					</span>was inadequate but he does not dispute Benton post office supervisor regularly communicated heat stress information to carriers in standup safety talks (Secretary’s brief, p. 34).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn118" href="#ftnref118"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">118 </span></a>The Secretary acknowledges he has the burden of proving economic feasibility of proposed abatement methods in § 5(a)(1) cases but argues an exception should be made here since the Postal Service “is unique among employers subject to OSHA’s enforcement jurisdiction, because its existence is subject to Congressional oversight.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 45) The Court disagrees. The burden of proof remains with the Secretary.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn119" href="#ftnref119"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">119 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Park works as a financial economist for the Postal Service. She received undergraduate<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Missouri Columbia. In 2009, she received a PhD in economics from Purdue University. Dr. Park taught as a graduate instructor at both universities and was an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, t</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">eaching principles of micro- and macroeconomics. She also taught as a visiting professor at Sungshin University in Seoul, South Korea, teaching world economics and industrial organization (NH Tr. 1550-54).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn120" href="#ftnref120"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">120 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary takes issue with the projected acclimatization costs but does not address other proposed time-based abatement costs not covered in Dr. Park’s analysis. Dr. Bernard proposed a work/rest recovery cycle which would require carriers to rest for 15, 30, or 45 minutes per hour, depending on the temperature. Dr. Bernard testified he did not consider the Postal Service’s 24-hour clock model, the CBA provisions, or the number of replacement workers required to complete timely mail delivery when proposing this abatement method (NH Tr. 1117-18). The<span><span></span>
					</span>Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or the effects of the costs on the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service for Dr. Bernard’s proposal.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn121" href="#ftnref121"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">121 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The 9- or 10-hour block of time includes the 30-minute lunch break and the<span><span></span>
					</span>10-minute morning and afternoon breaks, as well as any comfort stops (NH Tr. 2236).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn122" href="#ftnref122"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">122 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The five cases arose from incidents in Benton, Arkansas (No. 16-1872); San Antonio, Texas (No. 16-1713); Houston, Texas (the present case) (No. 17-0023); Martinsburg, West Virginia (No. 17-0279); and Des Moines, Iowa (No. 16-1813).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn123" href="#ftnref123"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">123 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the national hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">NH</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number(s).</p>
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					<a name="ftn124" href="#ftnref124"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">124 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraph 3 of Exhibit J-1<span>
					</span>provides: “By virtue of the Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act of 1970, the OSH Act became applicable to Respondent in the same manner as any other employer. Pub. No. 105-241, 112 Stat. 1572-1575 (1998); see also 29 USC Section 652(5).”</p>
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					<a name="ftn125" href="#ftnref125"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">125 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraphs<span>
					</span>1, 2, and 3 of Exhibit J-1 stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action and the Act covers the Postal Service.</p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn126" href="#ftnref126"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">126 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Pseudonyms are used in this Decision and Order to preserve the privacy of the Astrodome Postal Service employees and former employees.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn127" href="#ftnref127"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">127 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>A Postal Service plant manager who was the Area 5 customer service operations manager in Houston in June of 2016, stated, “June, July and August is historically the lowest mail volume period of the year. People are on vacation. Schools are<span>
					</span>closed. Business mailers know that, so they're not apt to start sending a lot of advertisements through the mail during those summer months. So that typically, every year, is the lowest period of time that we have volume for the employees.” (Tr. 818)</p>
			</div>
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					<a name="ftn128" href="#ftnref128"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">128 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>LC1<span><span></span>
					</span>and route examiner GJ gave slightly differing accounts of when she became aware LC1 was experiencing muscle cramps and whether she offered to stop the route examination (Tr. 69-70, 78, 200-01, 204). The discrepancies are minor and the Court attributes them to the differing perspectives of LC1, who was focused stoically on finishing his route despite the pain, and route examiner GJ, who was keeping time, checking addresses, and entering data as she walked with LC1. The discrepancies do not affect the credibility of LC1 and GJ, both of whom the Court found to be sincere and trustworthy in their testimony.</p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn129" href="#ftnref129"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">129 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>According to the Form 3999 that route examiner GJ completed on June 17, 2016, LC1 completed his last delivery at 4:26 p.m. (Exh. C-20; Tr. 198). The 7 minute discrepancy is not significant and has no bearing on the issues in this proceeding.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn130" href="#ftnref130"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">130 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>It is LC1’s understanding his diagnosis at the hospital was heat exhaustion although that diagnosis does not appear in his medical records for his stay at the hospit</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">al from June 17 to 19, 2016 (Exh. C-12; NH Exh. C-180; Tr. 180-81). LC1 went to Nova Medical Center on June 21, 2016 (NH Exh. C-178; Tr. 178). At the hearing, after LC1 stated he had not received a diagnosis from Nova Medical Center, Secretary’s counsel a</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">sked him if it would refresh his memory to look at his medical records from Nova (Tr. 179-80). He responded, “No, because Nova pretty much wrote—when I went to my regular doctor, they just went along with what the regular doctor said and wrote that down. T</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">hey didn’t give me an exact diagnosis. It was from my doctor’s diagnosis.” (Tr. 180) When asked how he came to understand he had been diagnosed with heat exhaustion, LC1 replied, “From when I went to Methodist [Hospital].” (Tr. 181) The medical records fro</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">m Houston Methodist Hospital do not reflect that diagnosis.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn131" href="#ftnref131"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">131 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>LC1, route examiner GJ, and CCA1 submitted handwritten statements recounting the events of June 17, 2016, at the direction of supervisor GW (Exhs. C-12, C-11, and C-10, respectively; Tr. 76, 252, 842). Counsel for the respective parties attempted to undermine the testimony of GJ and CCA1 by questioning them regarding details to which they testified but left out of their handwritten statements (Tr. 213-15, 235-37, 845-48). A review of the handwritten statements shows the employees took a minimalist approach to the assignment, each writing a bare-bones account of the day’s events. The statements were written by laypersons to the legal profession and without an eye towards litigation. The Court draws no adverse inference from their statements’ omissions of details elicited by extensive examination and cross-examination at the hearing. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn132" href="#ftnref132"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">132 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">On July 14, 2016, letter carrier LC2, began to feel unwell as she delivered an Express package. LC2 did not have<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">a regular route but was on limited duty due to health reasons (Tr. 264, 432). LC2 was sitting in her LLV when a woman working in a nearby office noticed her and came out to check on her. LC2 asked the woman to call a supervisor at the Astrodome Post Office</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">. Supervisor GW drove to LC2’s location, where she told him she was not feeling well and could not complete the delivery (Tr. 263, 433). CSHO Weatherall did not interview her and LC2 did not testify at the hearing (Tr. 901). No medical records relating to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">this incident were presented at the hearing.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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					</span></p>
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					<a name="ftn133" href="#ftnref133"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">133 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The record is silent on whether CCA1 was admitted to the hospital, how long she was at the emergency room, what treatment she received, or whether she missed any workdays due to this incident. CSHO Weatherall did not interview CCA1 regarding this incident. CCA1 did not release her medical records to OSHA. CSHO Weatherall stated she received “some” records, which she requested because she “wanted to know what the diagnosis was from the hospital visit.” (Tr. 905-06) No medical records for CCA1 were presented at the hearing.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
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					<a name="ftn134" href="#ftnref134"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">134 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>“Destinating plant” is Postal Service nomenclature for the facility receiving mail that will be sorted and transported to local post offices and from there delivered to its intended address.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn135" href="#ftnref135"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">135 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Jim Sauber is the chief of staff to the president of NALC since 2002, first for Bill Young (until he retired in 2009) and then for Fred Rolandro. He manages NALC’s professional staff, which includes staff in the areas of politics, legislation, communications and media relations, and research. Sauber is familiar with all publicly available information about the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the collective bargaining rights and benefits programs of letter carriers (NH Tr. 871-74).</p>
			</div>
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				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn136" href="#ftnref136"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">136 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties stipulate, “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was: 2016: $5.591 billion; 2017: $2.742 billion; 2018: $3.913 billion.” (NH Exh. J-100, ¶ 3)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn137" href="#ftnref137"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">137 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard testified in the national hearing of the Postal Service</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>cases before the Court.</span></p>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn138" href="#ftnref138"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">138 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Judge Ball found the Postal Service committed a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) by exposing its employees “to recognized hazards related to working outside during periods of excessive heat” and assessed a penalty of $70,000. The<span>
					</span>Commission declined to direct the case for review, and the decision became a final order.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, but voluntarily dismissed its appeal on May 28, 2015 (NH Exh. C-189).</p>
			</div>
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					<a name="ftn139" href="#ftnref139"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">139 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The carriers in the five Postal Service cases did not appear to be aware that Form 3996 overtime requests were automatically approved if a supervisor failed to address the requests.</p>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn140" href="#ftnref140"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">140 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In 1998, Dr. Aaron W. Tustin received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Harvard University in 2000 (NH Tr. 229). After working for a tim</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">e in the private sector, Dr. Tustin attended Vanderbilt University Medical School and received a medical degree in 2012 (NH Tr. 230). After completing a year of residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he went to Peru for a year to conduct research in epidemio</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">logy and biostatistics for the University of Pennsylvania (NH Tr. 231). He then completed a two-year residency program in occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and received a master’s degree in public he</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">alth in 2015 (NH Tr. 233-34). Dr. Tustin is board certified in occupational medicine and is a member of the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). He serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Uniform Services University of H</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ealth Sciences (NH Tr. 236-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August 2016, Dr. Tustin began working in Washington, D.C., as a medical officer for OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) (NH Tr. 226). He described OOMN’s priorities as (1) “supporting OSHA field of</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ficers with their investigations” as expert consultants; (2) reviewing annual medical exams of CSHOs to assess their fitness for duty; and (3) “analyzing OSHA’s internal data to try to improve [OOMN’s] guidance that we give to workers and employers.” (NH<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Tr. 226-27) Dr. Tustin has conducted research and written approximately a dozen peer-reviewed published articles relating to occupational health, including articles published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupat</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">ional and Environmental Hygiene</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">MMWR</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) (NH Tr. 240-47). He has lectured at medical conferences, including the American Occupational Health<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Conference (AOHC) and the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) (NH Tr. 247-50).</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn141" href="#ftnref141"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">141 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Conibear is the president of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She received a medical degree in 1976 and a Master of Public Health degree. She is board-cer</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">tified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine (NH Tr. 2967-68). She is president and part owner of Carnow Conibear & Associates. She owns its sister company OMS, where she works as a senior physician, performing physical exa</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ms and fitness-for-duty evaluations in regulated entities (NH Tr. 2972-73). She also supervises “athletic trainers who are embedded in industry, using what’s called the industrial athlete model.” (NH Tr. 2974) Dr. Conibear is an adjunct professor at the Un</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">iversity of Illinois and is on the Resident Advisory Committee there (NH Tr. 2982). For almost a decade, she was the director of programs and medicine in the educational resource center, “which NIOSH established to train nurses, safety professionals, indus</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">trial hygienists, and physicians in occupational health and safety.” (NH Tr. 2984) She is a member of the National Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) (NH Tr. 2985).</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn142" href="#ftnref142"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">142 </span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Secretary argues Dr. Conibear contradicted herself in co</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ncluding LC1’s pre-existing condition was “exercise-associated<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">heat<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">cramps” rather than muscle cramps (Secretary’s brief, pp. 32-33). Heat is not, however, a product only of environmental factors. Dr. Tustin testified, “Metabolic heat is heat that the huma</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">n body generates. We all generate heat all the time, even if we're at rest, and the word metabolic refers to the chemical reactions that sustain life and those chemical reactions generate heat. But when people do physical activity, their bodies generate ev</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">en more heat[.]” (NH Tr. 255) There is no contradiction in Dr. Conibear’s statement. </span></p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn143" href="#ftnref143"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">143 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Myopathy is “a defect in muscle metabolism.” (NH Tr. 3158)</p>
			</div>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn144" href="#ftnref144"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">144 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Neither Dr. Tustin nor Dr. Conibear was questioned regarding the incidents involving CCA1 on June 17,<span>
					</span>2016, or LC2 on July 14, 2016. No medical records were admitted for either employee. The Court determines testimony in the Houston hearing regarding the incidents has no probative value with regard to the issue of the existence of a workplace hazard.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn145" href="#ftnref145"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">145 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The<span><span></span>
					</span>decision states, “For the most part, it appears Respondent does not contest the existence of a violation of the general duty clause—almost all of Respondent’s brief is directed towards the willful characterization. . . . There is no real dispute that [Independence letter carriers] were exposed to extreme heat on July 23 and 24, and that such heat was a hazard.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>2014 WL 5528391, at *14.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn146" href="#ftnref146"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">146 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In its entirety, footnote 14 in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span>states:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>While the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to a general duty clause violation,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">see Beverly Enters., Inc</span>., 19 BNA OSHC at 1172, knowledge of the “significant risk of harm” cannot be based on the hidden characteristics of an “eggshell” employee; the risks resulting from such characteristics do not fit within the confines of a realistic possibility or the consideration of the best available evidence.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 649 F.2d at 104 (the Act “is intended only to guard against significant risks, not ephemeral possibilities”).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Commissioner Sullivan agrees with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as “excessive heat.” He also finds, however, that the Secretary must prove that Sturgill could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all of the facts available to it prior to the incident and not simply that there was a “risk of harm” based on an expert’s later opinion as to what constitutes a “heat-related exposure risk.”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
					</span>In Commissioner Sullivan’s view, the Commission should return to an interpretation put forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney,<span>
						</span></span>8 BNA OSHC 1329 (No. 13591, 1980),<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d in part, rev’d in part, remanded,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>649 F.2d 96, 101 (2d. Cir. 1981), and Bomac Drilling, 9 BNA OSHC 1681 (No. 76-0450, 1981) (consolidated), overruled<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">by U.S. Steel Corp</span>., 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982). In those cases, the Commission held that the Secretary must prove that an incident is “reasonably foreseeable” when citing under the general duty clause<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1334. The reasoning underlying this test was a concern that general duty clause cases were wrongly focusing on the particular incident causing the injury in the case, rather than the hazard in general. Commissioner Sullivan views the focus of the current case to be the same as it was in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney</span>—what happened specifically to the employee (MR), rather than whether the employer (Sturgill) could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all the other conditions at the time of the incident. As such, in his view, the Commission should again embrace the “reasonably foreseeable” test as set forth by the Commission in those cases, an interpretation which the Commission pointed out is consistent with the definition of a “serious” violation under section 17(k) of the Act.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1335; 29 U.S.C. § 666(k). When evaluating the general duty clause, the Secretary must establish that a truly “meaningful”<span><span></span>
					</span>and “significant” possibility of harm existed, and that “employers receive adequate notice of their legal responsibilities under the general duty clause.” See 5 BERKELEY J. EMP. & LAB. L. at 305. Since the Secretary failed to make this showing here, Commissioner Sullivan finds that the Secretary failed to establish the existence of a hazard.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span>2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn147" href="#ftnref147"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">147 </span></a>Exhibit C-13 is a copy of the NWS heat index chart. Reproduced here is the chart from the NWS website at<span>
					</span><a href="https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:underline ;">https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index</span></a>.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn148" href="#ftnref148"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">148 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Rodman Harvey is the director of client services for Carnow Conibear & Associates, an environmental health and safety</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>consulting firm in Chicago. He manages the company’s industrial hygiene group (NH Tr. 2750-51). Harvey received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lawrence University in 1983, and a master’s in environmental engineering in 1986 from the Illinois Institut</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">e of Technology (NH Tr. 2745). He is a certified industrial hygienist (NH Tr. 2747-49).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:-1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn149" href="#ftnref149"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">149 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">This case arose in the Fifth Circuit. Under the Act, an employer may seek review in the court of appeals in the circuit in which the violation occurred, the circuit</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in which the employer’s principal office is located, or the District of Columbia Circuit. 29 U.S.C. § 660(a). The Secretary may seek review in the circuit in which the violation occurred or in which the employer has its principal office. 29 U.S.C. § 660(b</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">). “[I]n general, ‘[w]here it is highly probable that a Commission decision would be appealed to a particular circuit, the Commission has ... applied the precedent of that circuit in deciding the case—even though it may differ from the Commission's precede</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">nt.’”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Dana Container, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>No. 09- 1184, 2015 WL 749426, at *3, n. 10 (OSHRC Nov. 19, 2015),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, 847 F.3d 495 (7th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to extend the significant risk test to the general du</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ty clause in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> 729 F.2d 317 (5th Cir.1984)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Commission disagreed with that conclusion in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">We note that the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that the significant risk<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">test should not be applied in enforcing the general duty clause</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Kelly Springfield Tire Co. v. Donovan,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> 729 F.2d 317, 323–24 (5th Cir.1984). We respectfully disagree with that court's conclusion. The Fifth Circuit reasoned that the </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Benzene Case</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> dealt with<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">the promulgation of standards and was therefore of limited relevance in the different context of the general duty clause. We believe, however, that the Supreme Court's conclusion that the Act was not intended to create risk-free workplaces applies equally<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">to the enforcement of the general duty clause as to the promulgation of standards. As we have stated, Congress did not intend for the general duty clause to provide broader protection than could be achieved through the promulgation of standards. Thus, a li</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">mitation on the Secretary's authority to issue standards necessarily also limits the scope of the general duty clause.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon, Inc.,</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Nos. 79-5543 & 79-3561, 1986 WL 53514, at *5, n.7 (OSHRC July 23, 1986).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Because<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Kastalon</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>raises doubt as to whether the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Commission would apply the precedent of the Fifth Circuit should it direct this case for review, the Court will analyze the issue of significant risk.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; line-height:1; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn150" href="#ftnref150"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">150 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Commission has been reluctant to hold that exceeding levels published by a third-party<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">organization constitute a hazard:</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">We must note that we would be hesitant to hold that exceeding those levels is, in and of itself, proof of exposure to a hazard. The Secretary asserts that they are the dominant guidelines on heat stress and are followed b</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">y all professional industrial hygienists. . . . While it would be very appropriate for the Secretary to include a safety margin in an OSHA standard, the presence of a safety margin in the documents [he] relied on to prove a hazard here gives us reservation</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">s as to whether evidence that the limits in the NIOSH document were exceeded would, in fact, prove that there was a hazard. . . . We therefore have considerable reservations about basing a violation of section 5(a)(1) on those guidelines. Because we are de</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ciding this case based on the insufficiency of the Secretary's evidence, however, we need not decide whether a violation of section 5(a)(1) would have been established </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">if</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> the Secretary had proved that the limits in the documents had been exceeded.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">al Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *14, n. 11<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn151" href="#ftnref151"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">151 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Denoting temperatures of<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">80°F or higher as hazardous is Dr. Tustin’s benchmark. The Secretary has declined to “</span>explicitly enumerate[] a range of temperatures at which heat<span>
					</span>becomes hazardous.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 29)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn152" href="#ftnref152"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">152 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Thomas Bernard is a professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. He has taught there for 30 years. He is the director of the university’s NIOSH- supported education rese</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">arch center (NH Tr. 793-94). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in occupational health from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(NH Tr. 795-98). He worked for a time for the United States Bureau of Mines in the post-disaster survival and rescue section. Dr. Bernard worked for 11 years as a senior engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Research and Development Center, focusing on he</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">at stress management in the power industry (NH Tr. 795-96). At the University of South Florida, he teaches master’s degree level students in, he stated, “classes related, broadly speaking, to occupational health and safety, specifically a class in ergonomi</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">cs, one in physical agents and controls. I teach a class in occupational health and safety management systems and other administrative kinds of topics. . . . I've done a few guest lectures in the intro to industrial hygiene, a couple of laboratory lectures</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, and I also have a few lectures in service class for the college.” (NH Tr. 794)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard is certified as an industrial hygienist and as a safety professional (NH Tr. 797). He is a fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is on</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Physical Agents Committee for ACGIH. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Loughborough University in London. He has published approximately 16 peer-reviewed papers in the past decade, most of them on some aspect of heat stress, and has also contributed c</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">hapters to scientific handbooks. Dr. Bernard presents talks and webinars to occupational health researchers and professionals on the topic of heat stress. He has worked with private employers to develop heat stress programs for their employees (NH Tr. 799-</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">802). </span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn153" href="#ftnref153"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">153 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Joshua Gotkin is the director of ERS Group, a consulting firm specializing in labor and employment economics (NH Tr. 1623). Dr. Gotkin received an undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics and a graduate degree in economics in applied econometrics, economic history, and labor economics. He received a PhD in economics from the University of Arizona in 1995 (NH Tr. 1619-20). ERS Group hired Dr. Gotkin in 1996. He became its director in 2011 (NH Tr. 1622-23). He uses applied econometrics<span><span></span>
					</span>to develop models for analyzing statistics (NH Tr. 1622-26).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn154" href="#ftnref154"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">154 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">This conclusion is not intended to minimize the general physical discomfort of letter carriers delivering mail in hot weather (Tr. 137-38, 522-23). As the Commission noted in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">International Gla</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">ss,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">heat is an unavoidable feature of some workplaces (such as the open air in summer). “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">While the employee testimony regarding the difficulties they experienced because of the hot working conditions troubles us because it clearly shows that this is an unc</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">omfortable working environment and that employees do suffer from the effects of the heat, the citation's identification of the hazard as excessive heat stress suggests that the Secretary recognizes that some degree of discomfort is inherent in the job.” </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">I</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">d.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn155" href="#ftnref155"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">155 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The only reference to air conditioning in the Citation is paragraph</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">7, which states: “Establish or designate air-conditioned areas along the delivery route where heat-affected<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">employees may take their breaks and/or recover.” It is undisputed there were air-conditioned businesses on Route 36 where LC1 could stop and take a break, including an office building where he took his comfort breaks. He regularly took his 10-minute break</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">s and 30-minute lunch break in his van with the engine on and the air conditioning running (Tr. 121-23). There is no issue in this proceeding regarding LC1’s access to air conditioning.</span></p>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn156" href="#ftnref156"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">156 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary acknowledges he has the burden of proving economic feasibility of proposed abatement methods in § 5(a)(1) cases but argues an exception should be made here since the Postal Service “is unique among employers subject to OSHA’s enforcement jurisdiction, because its existence is subject to Congressional oversight.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 54) The Court disagrees. The burden of proof remains with the Secretary.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn157" href="#ftnref157"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">157 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Park works as a financial economist for the Postal Service. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Miss</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ouri Columbia. In 2009, she received a PhD in economics from Purdue University. Dr. Park taught as a graduate instructor at both universities and was an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching principles of micro- and macroeconomics. She also tau</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ght as a visiting professor at Sungshin University in Seoul, South Korea, teaching world economics and industrial organization (NH Tr. 1550-54).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn158" href="#ftnref158"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">158 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary takes issue with the projected acclimatization costs but does not address other proposed time-based abatement costs not covered in Dr. Park’s analysis. Dr. Bernard proposed a work/rest recovery cycle which would require letter carriers to rest for 15, 30, or 45 minutes per hour, depending on the temperature. Dr. Bernard testified he did not consider the Postal Service’s 24-hour clock model, the CBA provisions, or the number of replacement workers required to complete timely mail delivery when proposing this abatement method (NH Tr. 1117-18). The Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or the effects of the costs on the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service for Dr. Bernard’s proposal.</p>
			</div>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn159" href="#ftnref159"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">159 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The 9- or 10-hour block of time includes the 30-minute lunch break and the 10-minute morning and afternoon breaks, as well as any comfort stops (NH Tr. 2236).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn160" href="#ftnref160"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">160 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The five cases arose from incidents in Benton, Arkansas (No. 16-1872); San Antonio, Texas (No. 16-1713); Houston, Texas (No. 17-0023); Martinsburg, West Virginia (the present case) (No. 17-0279); and Des Moines, Iowa (No. 16-1813).</p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn161" href="#ftnref161"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">161 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>References in this decision to testimony and exhibits from the national hearing are indicated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">NH</span><span><span></span>
					</span>followed by the transcript page(s) or exhibit number(s).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn162" href="#ftnref162"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">162 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraph 2 of Exhibit J-1 provides: “By virtue of the Postal Employees Safety<span>
					</span>Enhancement Act of 1970, the OSH Act became applicable to Respondent in the same manner as any other employer. Pub. No. 105-241, 112 Stat. 1572-1575 (1998); see also 29 USC Section 652(5).”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn163" href="#ftnref163"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">163 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Exhibit J-1 stipulate the Commission has jurisdiction over this action, and the Act covers the Postal Service.</p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn164" href="#ftnref164"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">164 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Pseudonyms are used in this Decision and Order to preserve the privacy of the Martinsburg Postal Service employees and former employees.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn165" href="#ftnref165"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">165 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Park and loop routes primarily require walking delivery. The carrier parks at a designated park point and exits the vehicle, carrying mail for one loop. The carrier delivers mail on one side of the street, crosses, and delivers mail on the other side of the street on the way back to the vehicle. The<span><span></span>
					</span>carrier then drives to the next park point and repeats the process (Tr. 587, 637-38). Centralized delivery is delivery to a cluster box, “the big box were every customer has their own key and the carrier would distribute the mail in the back and then lock<span><span></span>
					</span>it up.” (Tr. 587-88)</p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn166" href="#ftnref166"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">166 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>RLC-1 testified he bought a digital thermometer from Walmart and used it to measure interior temperatures of the LLV on certain days when the exterior temperature exceeded 90°F (Tr. 265-69). He believes he bought the thermometer in<span><span></span>
					</span>the early 2000s. He does not recall the brand of the thermometer (Tr. 269, 272). He did not calibrate the thermometer. “It was just a simple thermometer. You turn it on. . . . [T]here’s no calibrating on it. . . . It either reads right or it doesn’t.” (Tr. 274) RLC-1 did not record the temperature readings or tell anyone about the temperature readings at the time (Tr. 277-78). Based on the vagueness of RLC-1’s testimony relating to the brand of the thermometer, the date he purchased it, the dates he took the temperature readings, the exterior temperatures on the days he took the interior readings, and the absence of calibration data or a contemporaneous record of the readings, the Court determines RLC-1’s testimony regarding interior temperature readings of<span><span></span>
					</span>the LLV is unreliable and gives it no weight.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn167" href="#ftnref167"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">167 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>It is not clear why the Martinsburg Post Office told LC-1 and LC-2 they could no longer drive their personal vehicles to deliver mail. At the national hearing, it was established that approximately 47 percent of rural carriers drive personally-owned vehicles (POVs), for which they receive an equipment maintenance allowance (EMA) (NH Tr. 2479).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn168" href="#ftnref168"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">168 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>LC-3 recounted an incident from “[a]round 2006” when she began to feel unwell while driving an LLV in the afternoo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">n and eventually sought treatment at an urgent care center (Tr. 224-25, 240). The alleged violation description (AVD) of the Citation alleges the Postal Service exposed its employees in Martinsburg to the hazard of excessive heat “[o]n August 13, 2016,” wh</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">en the afternoon heat index was 103</span>°<span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">F. The Court determines LC-3’s testimony regarding the incident, which occurred a decade before the hospitalization that gave rise to this proceeding and for which no temperature readings or medical records were presente</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">d, lacks probative value and is accorded no weight.</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn169" href="#ftnref169"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">169 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>RLC-2 was on the overtime list and sometimes exceeded the 8 hour daily base time (Tr. 291).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn170" href="#ftnref170"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">170 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The DOIS program generates daily workload status reports that calculate “how many hours it should take the<span>
					</span>carriers to case up their mail, what time approximately they should leave, and what time approximately they should return.” (Tr. 641)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn171" href="#ftnref171"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">171 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>LC-1 did not formally resign or retire. She took leave for a surgical procedure and never returned or contacted the Mart</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">insburg Post Office. LC-1 received a Notice of Removal and several other letters from the Postal Service, to which she did not respond (TR. 96-97). She stated, “I found it hard to return because, prior to going out, I felt I had been harassed: why I couldn</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">'t get back in time, why I wasn't meeting my evaluation. I just -- on a daily basis they would come to me and ask me why I couldn't be as fast as I used to be, why I wasn't getting done in time.” (Tr. 68)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn172" href="#ftnref172"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">172 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Rural carriers do not have a uniform policy (Tr. 346).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn173" href="#ftnref173"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">173 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>“Destinating plant” is Postal Service nomenclature for the facility receiving mail that will be sorted and transported to local post offices and from there delivered to its intended address.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn174" href="#ftnref174"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">174 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Thomas Bernard is a professor in the College of</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Public Health at the University of South Florida. He has taught there for 30 years. He is the director of the university’s NIOSH- supported education research center (NH Tr. 793-94). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in occupational health from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (NH Tr. 795-98). He worked for a time for the United States Bureau of Mines in the post-disaster sur</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">vival and rescue section. Dr. Bernard worked for 11 years as a senior engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Research and Development Center, focusing on heat stress management in the power industry (NH Tr. 795-96). At the University of South Florida, he te</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">aches master’s degree level students in, he stated, “classes related, broadly speaking, to occupational health and safety, specifically a class in ergonomics, one in physical agents and controls. I teach a class in occupational health and safety management</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>systems and other administrative kinds of topics. . . . I've done a few guest lectures in the intro to industrial hygiene, a couple of laboratory lectures, and I also have a few lectures in service class for the college.” (NH Tr. 794)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dr. Bernard is cer</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">tified as an industrial hygienist and as a safety professional (NH Tr. 797). He is a fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is on the Physical Agents Committee for the [</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#222222; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists] [(</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ACGIH)]. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Loughborough University in London. He has published approximately 16 peer-reviewed papers in the past decade, most of them on some aspect of heat stress, and has also contributed chapters to scientific handbooks.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard presents talks and webinars to occupational health researchers and professionals on the topic of heat stress. He has worked with private employers to develop heat stress programs for their employees (NH Tr. 799-802).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
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					<a name="ftn175" href="#ftnref175"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">175 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In 1998, Dr. Aaron W. Tustin received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Harvard University in 2000 (NH Tr. 229). After working for a time in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">private sector, Dr. Tustin attended Vanderbilt University Medical School and received a medical degree in 2012 (NH Tr. 230). After completing a year of residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he went to Peru for a year to conduct research in epidemiology and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">biostatistics for the University of Pennsylvania (NH Tr. 231). He then completed a two-year residency program in occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and received a master’s degree in public health in 2</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">015 (NH Tr. 233-34). Dr. Tustin is board certified in occupational medicine and is a member of the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). He serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Uniform Services University of Health Sci</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ences (NH Tr. 236-38).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In August 2016, Dr. Tustin began working in Washington, D.C., as a medical officer for OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) (NH Tr. 226). He described OOMN’s priorities as (1) “supporting OSHA field officers wi</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">th their investigations” as expert consultants; (2) reviewing annual medical exams of CSHOs to assess their fitness for duty; and (3) “analyzing OSHA’s internal data to try to improve [OOMN’s] guidance that we give to workers and employers.” (NH Tr. 226-27</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">) Dr. Tustin has conducted research and written approximately a dozen peer-reviewed published articles relating to occupational health, including articles published in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">The Journal of Occupational and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Environmental Hygiene</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">MMWR</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) (NH Tr. 240-47). He has lectured at medical conferences, including the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC)</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) (NH Tr. 247-50).</span></p>
			</div>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn176" href="#ftnref176"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">176 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Rodman Harvey is the director of client services for Carnow Conibear & Associates, an environmental health and safety consulting firm in Chicago. He manages the company’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">industrial hygiene group (NH Tr. 2750-51). Harvey received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lawrence University in 1983, and a master’s in environmental engineering in 1986 from the Illinois Institute of Technology (NH Tr. 2745). He is a certified indus</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">trial hygienist (NH Tr. 2747-49).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:-1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:-1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn177" href="#ftnref177"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">177 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Court finds the Phoenix test report to be unreliable and accords it no weight. In addition to the flaws pointed out by Rodman Harvey, the record establishes the Phoenix testing conditions do not reflect the<span>
					</span>actual working conditions of carriers who drove LLVs in Martinsburg, West Virginia.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn178" href="#ftnref178"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">178 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Jim Sauber is the chief of staff to the president of NALC since 2002, first for Bill Young (until he retired in 2009) and then for Fred Rolandro. He manages NALC’s professional staff, which includes staff in the areas of politics, legislation, communications and media relations, and research. Sauber is familiar with all publicly available information about the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the collective bargaining rights and benefits programs of letter carriers (NH Tr. 871-74).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn179" href="#ftnref179"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">179 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties stipulate, “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">In the following Fiscal Years, the Postal Service’s net loss was: 2016: $5.591 billion; 2017: $2.742 billion; 2018: $3.913 billion.” (NH Exh.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">J-100, ¶ 3)<span>
						</span></span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn180" href="#ftnref180"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">180 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Bernard testified in the national hearing of the Postal Service cases before the Court.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn181" href="#ftnref181"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">181 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Judge Ball found the Postal Service committed a willful violation of § 5(a)(1) by exposing its employees “to recognized hazards related to working<span><span></span>
					</span>outside during periods of excessive heat” and assessed a penalty of $70,000. The Commission declined to direct the case for review, and the decision became a final order.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>No. 13-0217, 2014 WL 5528391 (OSHRC Oct. 24, 2014). The Postal Service appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, but voluntarily dismissed its appeal on May 28, 2015 (NH Exh. C-189).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn182" href="#ftnref182"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">182 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">David Heather is on leave without pay from his position as a rural letter carrier in Kansas City</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, Missouri, while he works as the director for labor relations for the NRLCA (NH Tr. 175-76). His duties include overseeing “all labor relations issues with the Postal Service, including the grievance and arbitration procedure, national arbitrations, area<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">arbitrations, [and] the steward system in the field.” (NH Tr. 177)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn183" href="#ftnref183"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">183 </span></a>The Postal Service offers an incentive of $1,000 to rural carriers to buy a right-hand drive vehicle as a POV. It offers an incentive of $500 for purchase of a conversion kit to modify a<span>
					</span>left-hand drive vehicle so it can be driven from both sides (NH Tr. 2480). Boldt testified the conversion incentive is “very limited in today’s world. . . Airbags have kind of prevented that from happening because to put that steering wheel on the right side, you now interfere with the safety of the vehicle, so it’s pretty much a nonevent in today’s world.” (NH Tr. 2480)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn184" href="#ftnref184"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">184 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The carriers in the five Postal Service cases did not appear to be aware that Form 3996 overtime requests were automatically approved if a supervisor failed to address the requests.</p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn185" href="#ftnref185"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">185 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>At the beginning of the hearing, counsel for the Postal Service requested a standing objection “to any reference to the hazard as being anything other than excessive heat, as defined in the citation.” (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>14-17) The Court granted the Postal Service’s request. At the national hearing, the Court ruled that in the context of the five Postal Service cases, references to “excessive heat,” “heat stress,” or similar formulations are “all the same issue regarding<span>
					</span>the § 5(a)(1) citations that have been alleged.” (NH Tr. 1339) The Commission has also recognized these phrases are interchangeable in the context of § 5(a)(1) cases alleging exposure to the hazard of excessively high temperatures.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Duriron Co., Inc.</span>, No. 77-2847, 1983 WL 23869 (OSHRC April 27, 1983) (“heat stress,” “excessive heat,” “extreme heat”);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span>No. 88-348, 1989 WL 88787 (OSHRC April 21, 1992) (“heat stress,” “excessive exposure to heat”).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn186" href="#ftnref186"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">186 </span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Conibear is the president of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Carnow Conibear & Associates. She received a medical degree in 1976 and a Master of Public Health degree. She is board-certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine (NH Tr. 2967-68). She is president and part owner of Car</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">now Conibear & Associates. She owns its sister company OMS, where she works as a senior physician, performing physical exams and fitness-for-duty evaluations in regulated entities (NH Tr. 2972-73). She also supervises “athletic trainers who are embedded in</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>industry, using what’s called the industrial athlete model.” (NH Tr. 2974) Dr. Conibear is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and is on the Resident Advisory Committee there (NH Tr. 2982). For almost a decade, she was the director of progr</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ams and medicine in the educational resource center, “which NIOSH established to train nurses, safety professionals, industrial hygienists, and physicians in occupational health and safety.” (NH Tr. 2984) She is a member of the National Advisory Committee<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) (NH Tr. 2985).</span></p>
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			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn187" href="#ftnref187"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">187 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The decision states, “For the most part, it appears Respondent does not contest the existence of a violation of the general duty clause—almost all of Respondent’s brief is directed towards the willful characterization. . . . There is no real dispute that [Independence letter carriers] were exposed to extreme heat on July 23 and 24, and that such heat was a hazard.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">United States Postal Service,<span>
						</span></span>2014 WL 5528391, at *14.</p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; ">
					<a name="ftn188" href="#ftnref188"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">188 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In its entirety, footnote 14 in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">A.H. Sturgill<span>
						</span></span>states:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>While the Commission has never held that certainty as to the threshold level for injury is a prerequisite to a general duty clause violation,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">see Beverly Enters., Inc</span>., 19 BNA OSHC at 1172, knowledge of the “significant risk<span>
					</span>of harm” cannot be based on the hidden characteristics of an “eggshell” employee; the risks resulting from such characteristics do not fit within the confines of a realistic possibility or the consideration of the best available evidence.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitn</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">ey</span>, 649 F.2d at 104 (the Act “is intended only to guard against significant risks, not ephemeral possibilities”).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Commissioner Sullivan agrees with the concerns expressed by Chairman MacDougall in her concurring opinion in connection with defining the hazard in this case as “excessive heat.” He also finds, however, that the Secretary must prove that Sturgill could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all of the facts available to it prior to the incident and not simply that there was a “risk of harm” based on an expert’s later opinion as to what constitutes a “heat-related exposure risk.”</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
					</span>In Commissioner Sullivan’s view, the Commission should return to an interpretation put forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney,<span>
						</span></span>8 BNA OSHC 1329 (No. 13591, 1980),<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">aff</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">’d in part, rev’d in part, remanded,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>649 F.2d 96, 101 (2d. Cir. 1981), and Bomac Drilling, 9 BNA OSHC 1681 (No. 76-0450, 1981) (consolidated), overruled<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">by U.S. Steel Corp</span>., 10 BNA OSHC 1752 (No. 77-1796, 1982). In those cases, the Commission held that the<span><span></span>
					</span>Secretary must prove that an incident is “reasonably foreseeable” when citing under the general duty clause<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">. Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1334. The reasoning underlying this test was a concern that general duty clause cases were wrongly focusing on the<span>
					</span>particular incident causing the injury in the case, rather than the hazard in general. Commissioner Sullivan views the focus of the current case to be the same as it was in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Pratt & Whitney</span>—what happened specifically to the employee (MR), rather than whether the employer (Sturgill) could have reasonably foreseen the incident occurring given all the other conditions at the time of the incident. As such, in his view, the Commission should again embrace the “reasonably foreseeable” test as set forth by the Commission in those cases, an interpretation which the Commission pointed out is consistent with the definition of a “serious” violation under section 17(k) of the Act.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Pratt & Whitney</span>, 8 BNA OSHC at 1335; 29 U.S.C. § 666(k). When evaluating the general duty clause, the Secretary must establish that a truly “meaningful” and “significant” possibility of harm existed, and that “employers receive adequate notice of their legal responsibilities under the general duty clause.” See 5 BERKELEY J. EMP. & LAB. L. at<span><span></span>
					</span>305. Since the Secretary failed to make this showing here, Commissioner Sullivan finds that the Secretary failed to establish the existence of a hazard.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; "><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span>2019 WL 1099857, at *7, n. 14.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn189" href="#ftnref189"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">189 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Exhibit C-23 is a copy of the heat index chart admitted at the<span><span></span>
					</span>hearing. Reproduced here is the chart from the NWS website at https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn190" href="#ftnref190"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">190 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Commission has been reluctant to hold that exceeding levels published by a third-party organization constitute a hazard:</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">We must note that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">we would be hesitant to hold that exceeding those levels is, in and of itself, proof of exposure to a hazard. The Secretary asserts that they are the dominant guidelines on heat stress and are followed by all professional industrial hygienists. . . . While</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>it would be very appropriate for the Secretary to include a safety margin in an OSHA standard, the presence of a safety margin in the documents [he] relied on to prove a hazard here gives us reservations as to whether evidence that the limits in the NIOSH</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>document were exceeded would, in fact, prove that there was a hazard. . . . We therefore have considerable reservations about basing a violation of section 5(a)(1) on those guidelines. Because we are deciding this case based on the insufficiency of the Se</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">cretary's evidence, however, we need not decide whether a violation of section 5(a)(1) would have been established </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">if</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> the Secretary had proved that the limits in the documents had been exceeded.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Industrial Glass,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *14, n. 11<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn191" href="#ftnref191"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">191 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Denoting temperatures of<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">80°F or higher as hazardous is Dr. Tustin’s benchmark. The Secretary has declined to “</span>explicitly enumerate a range of temperatures at which heat becomes hazardous.”<span>
					</span>(Secretary’s brief, p. 29)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn192" href="#ftnref192"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">192 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Dr. Joshua Gotkin is the director of ERS Group, a consulting firm specializing in labor and employment economics (NH Tr. 1623). Dr. Gotkin received an undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics and a graduate degree in<span>
					</span>economics in applied econometrics, economic history, and labor economics. He received a PhD in economics from the University of Arizona in 1995 (NH Tr. 1619-20). ERS Group hired Dr. Gotkin in 1996. He became its director in 2011 (NH Tr. 1622-23). He uses applied econometrics to develop models for analyzing statistics (NH Tr. 1622-26).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:8px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn193" href="#ftnref193"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">193 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">This conclusion is not intended to minimize the general physical discomfort of letter carriers delivering mail in hot weather. As the Commission noted in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">International Glass</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">heat is an unavoidable feature of some workplaces (such as the open air in summer). “</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">While the employee testimony regarding the difficulties they experienced because of the hot working conditions troubles us because it clearly shows that this is an uncom</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">fortable working environment and that employees do suffer from the effects of the heat, the citation's identification of the hazard as excessive heat stress suggests that the Secretary recognizes that some degree of discomfort is inherent in the job.” </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, No. 88-348, 1992 WL 88787, at *12<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">(OSHRC Apr. 21, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn194" href="#ftnref194"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">194 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">The Martinsburg case is the only one of the five Postal Service cases in which the cited incident involved a carrier who delivered mail on a mounted route in an LLV. The evidence for a workplace hazard of excessive heat is more compelling in this case than</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in the cases involving carriers whose routes were primarily park and loop or who drove air-conditioned vehicles.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The Court credits the corroborative, consistent testimony of the seven carriers in this proceeding who testified temperatures in the interio</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">rs of LLVs are hotter in the summertime than outside temperatures (In the words of LC-3, “When you're outside the LLV, you have some air movement from a slight breeze, and it just feels more comfortable because you don't have the radiant heat coming at you</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">. The sidewalks don't get as hot as the floorboards.” (Tr. 227)).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The evidence, however, falls short of establishing the existence of an excessive heat hazard for two reasons. First, the only references to the interior temperatures of LLVs in Martinsburg</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>comes from RCL-1’s testimony that he used a digital thermometer sometime in the early 2000s to take temperature readings on hot days. The Court concludes his testimony is unreliable and gives it no weight. There is, therefore, no probative evidence establ</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ishing the interior temperatures of the LLVs on the days carriers experienced illnesses they attributed to excessive heat.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Second, the Citation alleges the Postal Service employees were exposed to hazards “related to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">working outside</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>during periods of exc</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">essive heat.” (emphasis added) In contrast, the AVD of the Citation states the carrier became ill as she delivered mail “from an enclosed . . . LLV without air conditioning and in the direct heat.” The Citation contradicts itself in asserting the carrier w</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">as exposed to excessive heat hazards both when she was “working outside” and when she was delivering mail from an “enclosed . . . LLV.” The testimony of the carriers establishes the conditions that make driving an LLV uncomfortable and potentially hazardo</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">us (heat rising from the motor, the greenhouse effect created by the large windows, the hot air circulated by the fan, etc.) are separate from the conditions attendant to delivering mail outdoors on foot.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">“The Secretary must draft a </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">citation</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_copinpointicon style_copinpointicon " style="font-size:10pt; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-size:10pt; "> </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">‘with sufficie</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">nt </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#252525; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">particularity</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#212121; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> to inform the employer of what he did wrong, i.e., to apprise reasonably the employer of the issues in controversy.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">’ </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=2002478509&pubNum=0000506&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_506_261&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_sp_506_261"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Alden Leeds, Inc. v. OSHRC</span></a><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">, 298 F.3d 256, 261 (3d C</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ir. 2002)</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> (quoted case omitted); see </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=L&pubNum=1000546&cite=29USCAS658&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RB&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)#co_pp_8b3b0000958a4"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_counderline style_counderline " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">29 U.S.C. § 658(a)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> (requiring that </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">citations</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> “describe with </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">particularity</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; "> the nature of the violation”).” </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=2017253772&pubNum=0000999&originatingDoc=Icffe3c13002b11eab8aeecdeb6661cf4&refType=RP&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; ">L & L P</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; ">ainting Co., Inc., No. 05-0050, 2008 WL 4542427, at *4 (OSHRC September 29, 2008)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">. The Court concludes evidence relating to the the alleged hazard of excessive heat in LLVs is not probative of an alleged excessive heat h</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">azard related to working outside.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn195" href="#ftnref195"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">195 </span></a>The Secretary acknowledges he has the burden of proving economic feasibility of proposed abatement methods in § 5(a)(1) cases but argues an exception should be made here since the Postal Service “is unique among employers subject to OSHA’s enforcement jurisdiction, because it is an executive branch agency.” (Secretary’s brief, p. 58) The Court disagrees. The burden of proof remains with the Secretary.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn196" href="#ftnref196"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; ">196 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">During the term of the CBA, the Postal Service cannot unilaterally<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">change wages, hours, benefits, or working conditions of the contract (MH Tr. 2225-26).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">
					</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
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					</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Dr. Park works as a financial economist for the Postal Service. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Missouri Columb</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">ia. In 2009, she received a PhD in economics from Purdue University. Dr. Park taught as a graduate instructor at both universities and was an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching principles of micro- and macroeconomics. She also taught as a vi</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">siting professor at Sungshin University in Seoul, South Korea, teaching world economics and industrial organization (NH Tr. 1550-54).<span>
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					<a name="ftn198" href="#ftnref198"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">198 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary takes issue with the projected acclimatization costs but does not address other proposed time-based abatement costs not covered in Dr. Park’s analysis. Dr. Bernard proposed a work/rest recovery cycle which would require letter carriers to rest for 15, 30, or 45 minutes per hour, depending on the temperature. Dr. Bernard testified he did not consider the Postal Service’s 24-hour clock model, the CBA provisions, or the number of replacement workers required to complete timely mail delivery when proposing this abatement method (NH Tr. 1117-18). The Secretary did not provide an estimate of compliance costs or the effects of the costs on the existence or competitive structure of the Postal Service for Dr. Bernard’s proposal.</p>
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					<a name="ftn199" href="#ftnref199"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">199 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The 9- or 10-hour block of time includes the 30-minute lunch break and the 10-minute morning and afternoon breaks, as well as any comfort<span>
					</span>breaks (NH Tr. 2236).</p>
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