Internal Review of FLRA's Occupational Safety and Health

Several administrative employees who have been employees by the Federal LaborRelations Authority for more than 15 years were unaware of FLRA=s occupational safetyand health program.One FLRA Headquarters employee was injured by an engineer (mop bucket hit her leg)and was given Workman=s compensation leave. As a result of not being aware of therules of the Workman=s Compensation Act, the employee misused the leave.Three FLRA Headquarters employees who had serious non work related healthproblems stated that FLRA management accommodated their situations.Most FLRA Headquarters employees were aware that their offices maintained first aidkits but some were not aware of its location.CURRENT SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES:The current location of the FLRA Headquarters at 1400 K Street was reviewed for safetycompliance and was approved by the Federal Protective Service and the GovernmentServices Administration Washington D.C. Safety Inspectors did a walk throughinspection of the building and reported the safety level as satisfactory although severalpotential high risk deficiencies were identified and required to be corrected prior toFLRA Headquarters occupancy and to the Headquarters move. Individual officemanagers have identified some safety issues such insufficient electrical outlets, airquality, floor uneveness, and temperature controls. Most of these are being addressed.The following safety and health concerns were brought up by FLRA employees:HEADQUARTERS:Headquarters stairwells are too dark and dangerous to walk on. Lighting needs to bestrengthened. Also, the internal stairwell door knobs are round and difficult for someemployees to open. (The lighting has been addressed by management)Headquarters 3 rd floor is slanted and looks like it is leaning forward, especially in thelibrary.Headquarters offices require more than one electrical outlet.Headquarters doors are very heavy and do not open easily.Employees whose computers face windows stated that there was too much window glareon the computer screen. Flat monitors were recommended to solve this problem.Several Headquarters employees stated they were negatively affected by the drilling,dusting and placement of wallpaper in the hallways during working hours.24