Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314704172 - U.S. Postal Service - Oceanside, Ca

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco Ro

Investigation Summary

On May 25, 2010, Employee #1, a postal carrier, of the U.S. Postal Service in Oceanside California, received head injuries related to a dog attack that occurred while delivering mail. An eye witness to the event stated that "he heard some kind of scream and looked up and saw a big, dark colored dog barking and chasing Employee #1. The dog was able to catch up to Employee #1. An adult Rottweiler dog was near Employee #1 when he was found in the street. The dog's owner was the second person on scene. The dog owner reportedly came out of his house and took the dog back across the street and into the house. The dog owner returned to the scene and tried to revive Employee #1. Employee #1 was placed in a medically induced coma to control cerebral swelling, however efforts to treat him were unsuccessful. The cause of death was intracranial hemorrhaging and progressive brain damage as a result of the head injury suffered May 25, 2010. Employee #1 did not have his carrier's satchel bag, thereby depriving him of the ability to defend himself in the event of an animal attack as he was trained by his employer. Interviews with mail carriers revealed there is no enforcement of the U. S. Postal Service's own policy for letter carriers to use the satchel at all times on walking routes as means of a shield against dog attacks.

Keywords: HEAD, BRAIN