USPS · Safety and Procedures

You witness a workplace injury — a coworker catches a finger in equipment. What is the BEST immediate action?

Correct answer

Stop equipment immediately using emergency stop, ensure the coworker is safe (don't move them if seriously injured), call for medical help or supervisor immediately, secure the area to prevent additional injuries, and stay until trained help arrives

  1. A Continue working
  2. B Stop equipment immediately using emergency stop, ensure the coworker is safe (don't move them if seriously injured), call for medical help or supervisor immediately, secure the area to prevent additional injuries, and stay until trained help arrives
  3. C Take a photo for documentation
  4. D Move the coworker to a different area quickly

Why this is the answer

Workplace injury response is heavily scripted at USPS for employee welfare, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity. The exam is screening for: (1) STOP the equipment first — emergency stop button is right there for this; further operation can worsen the injury or cause additional injuries; (2) PRIORITIZE the injured person — don't continue normal work; (3) DON'T MOVE someone with a serious injury (especially crushing or pinning injuries — pulling can cause additional damage); (4) CALL for help — facility first aid, supervisor, 911 if serious; (5) SECURE the area — block off the equipment so other workers don't get into the same hazard; (6) STAY until trained help arrives. Continuing to work fails ethics. Photos for social media are inappropriate and potentially privacy violations (documentation by trained staff is different and procedural). Moving someone with a serious crushing injury can cause additional trauma. The right answer combines immediate stop + appropriate first aid + procedure + scene control.
Source: USPS VEA-MP, Injury Response