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Suspicious Mail
Mail Threats |
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In light of the recent events, many have
questions about how mail rooms and offices should handle questionable
mail; mail that may contain a written threat of chemical or biological
material inside, or mail that may contain some form of powder.
First, the risk of contracting any disease
from an envelope is extremely low. However, general awareness of one's
surroundings and recognition of what constitute suspicious mail is
appropriate.
The following are precautionary steps you
may take at your workplace or at home. Following these procedures
will reduce your risk of exposure, reduce the spread of contamination,
and provide great help to Emergency Response Personnel in dealing with
package removal and site clean up and decontamination.
A. General Procedure for Opening Mail.
- Learn about anthrax and other bio-hazardous substances
- Learn how to identify suspicious mail
and packages, view the FBI
Advisory Poster , or the Canadian Postal service Suspicious Mail
Alert
- DO NOT OPEN
any mail that fits the guidelines given by FBI, which contains written
threats, or which you do not trust.
- Do not open your mail
while eating, on the dining room table, on top of important documents,
by your VDT* (computer screen) or over your computer keyboard.
- Open your mail on a
flat, clean, non-porous surface only.
- Use a letter opener or
a method that is least likely to disturb the contents.
- Keep the envelope
flat on its side while opening it, and slowly remove its contents.
- If you discover
anything out of the ordinary, STOP IMMEDIATELY and follow
emergency call procedure as described in the Campus Emergency Information booklet.
- Do not
shake, smell or walk around with the envelope (mail you do not trust).
- Keep the
item in the same area where it was opened; isolate that specific area
of the workplace so that no one touches or disturbs the item.
- Evacuation
of the entire workplace is NOT necessary.
- Wash
your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.
- Immediately
report your concerns to the University Police or to 911.
- The
package will be removed from your site by trained personnel.
B. Procedure
for Opened Mail that Contains a Powder.
- If you
discover anything out of the ordinary, such as a powder or written
threats in your opened mail, STOP IMMEDIATELY.
- Do
Not Panic, Remain Calm
- Do not
walk around with the letter or shake it.
- Do not
merely discard the letter.
- Isolate
the specific area of the workplace or home where the letter was opened
so that no one disturbs the item.
- Wash
your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.
- Follow
emergency procedure as described in the Campus Emergency Information booklet.
- Call or have someone else call 911 and tell them what you
received, and what you have done with it.
- Provide your name, your physical location and
phone number.
- Indicate whether the envelope
contains any visible powder or if powder was released.
- Do not allow anyone who might
have touched the envelope to leave the office or site.
- When emergency personnel
arrive, they will provide you with further instructions on what to do.
C. General Precautions for Mailroom
Personnel:
- Do not eat, drink or smoke
around mail.
- If you have open cuts or skin
lesions on your hands, disposable gloves may be appropriate.
- Eye protection or gowns are NOT
necessary.
- Mailroom employees and police
officers responding to mail threat situations may use face masks.
Use of the masks is not mandatory.
- If you discover suspicious
envelopes while sorting mail, follow the procedures described above
- Wash your hands thoroughly with
warm water and soap before leaving the work area.
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