NC mail carriers can vary schedules to avoid being out in oppressive heat

North Carolina post office hours won't change, but you could see your mail delivered earlier or later than usual after the death last week of a mail carrier in the Dallas area.

Eugene Gates Jr. collapsed while walking door-to-door delivering mail. His wife believes it was because of the extreme heat in Texas, where heat indices have been over 100 degrees for more than a week.

He had been a carrier in Dallas for 36 years.

After Gates' death, the United States Postal Service changed the start times for its carriers.

In North Carolina, Philip Bogenberger with USPS said, carriers already have the options to begin delivery earlier in the day during periods of high temperatures.

"All postal employees receive regular safety training throughout the year, including carriers who receive daily safety reminders," Bogenberger said.

"In North Carolina, heat safety reminders have been taking place for months. Carriers are advised to hydrate often, park their vehicle in the shade, take a break in a shaded area when needed, and to wear appropriate clothing with light colors and breathable materials. All employees are trained to recognize the signs of heat illnesses and the steps to take in those situations to help themselves, co-workers and customers."

Prior to his death, according to Texas media, Gates had been reprimanded for taking too long on his route and stopping too many times.

According to reports, Gates regularly started work at 8:30 in the morning.

"I started the same time that Eugene did," said Kame Lewis, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers branch 132. "When I first started working at the postal service, I was coming in at six o'clock," she said.

It wasn't until after Gates' death that USPS made the start time an hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. for all Texas letter carriers to help them get ahead of the heat.

While this is a step in the right direction, his widow demands more.

"At 7:30 [a.m.] it's already 88 degrees," she said.

"That's not enough. Why not six o'clock? They've done it before."