Des Moines postal facilities cited with serious safety violations

A Des Moines postal service facility was cited and penalized $119,900 for serious and repeated safety concerns that put workers in danger, a report says.

A December 2015 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the U.S. Postal Service at 2323 Forest Ave. exposed workers to risks of slips, falls and trip hazards in the carriers' walking path.

A mechanical fire door was found to be inoperable, and other emergency exit routes and doors were blocked by carts and parcels and were inaccessible, according to a news release. It also was cited for not educating workers on emergency action plan training.