A government watchdog group recently revealed that postal workers and customers in certain U.S. postal facilities may be exposed to a number of toxic agents, including exposure to asbestos.

Although the names and locations of the postal facilities subject to the investigation were not disclosed, the issue is a nationwide problem and the Postal Service may end up paying million in fines.

The Daily Caller reported that 90% of the 20 post offices investigated were found to have numerous potential Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, which pose a threat not only to postal workers, but also to customers who visit the facilities.

According to the report, “Office of Inspector General/United States Post Office,” management at each of the post offices were found in violation of maintainance and upkeep, and lack of regular cleaning.

“Eighteen facilities (90 percent) had potential OSHA building safety and security violations that could result in fines. They included locked or blocked emergency exits, asbestos and mold, improper storage of flammable materials, insect infestation, trip hazards, and exposed electrical outlets and switches.”

Part of the problem, according to the watchdog group, is that the Postal Service performs periodic inspections on building maintenance and safety, but it fails to regularly inspect buildings for cleanliness and basic repairs that should be done regularly.

In turn, these issues seem to have gotten out of control, at least in the post offices included in the investigation.

In addition to possible exposure to asbestos, many of the facilities also had other safety hazards. Although many of these safety issues are cosmetic in nature, it’s the risk of exposure to asbestos that makes this investigation so critical.

Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring but deadly mineral used in construction and insulation. Once asbestos fibers are released, they can quickly permeate through the air, causing people to unknowingly inhale and ingest them.

It’s literally impossible to know when, if, and how many fibers were ingested/inhaled, as the fibers are tiny, colorless, odorless, and undetectable.

Unfortunately, instead of proactively taking care of the asbestos problems, the Postal Service is allegedly fighting the fines associated with dealing with the asbestos and other safety issues and instead “questioned the qualifications of personnel who performed the audits.”

For instance, each violation could cost anywhere between $3,000 to $7,000, and for the more serious problems, such as exposure to asbestos, the fines could reach upwards to $70,000.

There are close to 300,000 post offices nationwide, and around 25,000 have been around for 100 years.

It’s only been a little over 30 years since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced strict regulations on asbestos use, meaning that many of these post offices were constructed during a time when asbestos was widely used in construction materials.

It is probable that the majority of older post offices contain asbestos, and if facilities aren’t properly maintained, exposure to asbestos can put people at risk for life-threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma, and asbestos lung cancer.