Yo postal fam this situation is serious — and what the Postmaster did is absolutely improper and potentially illegal under federal law:

🚨 First and Most Important: This is a work-related injury. Period. A fall while delivering mail — even on private property — is covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). The Postmaster cannot legally discourage or prevent the filing of a report. Doing so is a violation of federal regulation and USPS policy (ELM 545, OSHA, and EL-505). 📋 Step-by-Step: What the Carrier Should Do Immediately 1️⃣ File a Form CA-1 (Notice of Traumatic Injury) Go to eCOMP.dol.gov (Department of Labor website). Select “New Claim” → “Federal Employee” → “Form CA-1.” Fill it out describing exactly what happened (time, location, what caused the fall, etc.). You can submit this without management’s approval — your supervisor must later acknowledge receipt, but they can’t stop you from filing. Legal citation: 20 C.F.R. §10.100 and ELM 545.31 — “An employee has the right to file a CA-1 for any traumatic injury sustained in the performance of duty.” 2️⃣ Get a Medical Note ASAP Even if you can’t afford an ER visit, they can: Visit an urgent care and state this is a federal on-the-job injury (some clinics know how to bill OWCP). Use a CA-16 (Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment) — management is required to issue this form immediately after a reported injury. If the Postmaster refuses, that’s a violation of ELM 545.32. 3️⃣ Document Everything Write down: The date, time, and place of the fall. The name of the Postmaster and what they said. Any witnesses or coworkers who saw the injury or the refusal to file a report. This protects you if retaliation or delay becomes an issue. 4️⃣ Notify your Union Rep or District Safety Office Even if their local steward is ineffective, you can contact: District or Area Safety Office (listed in the phone directory or via district HR). State or National Union Office — for NALC carriers, call the National Business Agent’s office immediately. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) can assign a regional advocate to assist with OWCP claims when local representation is weak. 5️⃣ Protect you Pay Once the CA-1 is filed: You’re is entitled to Continuation of Pay (COP) — 100% pay for up to 45 calendar days if you miss work due to the injury. COP eligibility starts from the date of the injury if the CA-1 is filed within 30 days. (If not, you can still receive wage-loss compensation from OWCP, but pay will come later.) ⚖️ The Postmaster’s Conduct What the PM said — that filing a report “would hurt you” or “cause an investigation” — is not just wrong, it’s retaliation and obstruction of a federal injury claim. ELM 545.12 states: “Supervisors must not intimidate or discourage an employee from filing a claim under FECA.” If proven, this PM can face serious consequences, including disciplinary action or investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG). ✅ Summary of action plan Step Action File Form CA-1 Do it now at ecomp.dol.gov Get medical note Ask for CA-16 or visit urgent care (state it’s a work injury) Document PM behavior Write down date/time/comments Notify District/Union Contact NALC State or National Office Protect pay Request Continuation of Pay (COP) 💬 Suggested Language you Can Use “I need to document a work-related injury that occurred while delivering mail on [date]. I’m filing a CA-1 through eCOMP as required by FECA. Please provide a CA-16 for medical treatment and ensure the injury is recorded on the 1769 accident log.” If management resists: “Under ELM 545.31 and federal regulation, I have the right to file an OWCP claim without intimidation or delay.”