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General
Employee Notice
Implementation
Procedures for
Handling Suspicious Letters and Packages
In view of the
increased calls to investigate suspicious letters and packages, the
Capitol Post Office and the principal departments are undertaking increased
scrutiny of the receipt of mail. The Department of Health and Senior
Services has issued guidelines to the general public on the handling
of suspicious letters, packages or unexplained substances. The following
provides the procedures for State agency implementation of those guidelines.
Steps
for handling a suspicious unopened letter or package:
- Do not shake or empty the contents of the envelope or package.
- Put the envelope or package in a plastic bag or other container to prevent leakage of the contents. If a bag or container is not available, cover the envelope or package with anything (clothing, paper, trash can, etc.). Do not remove the covering.
- Leave the room and close the door or section off the area.
- Ask co-workers and others to leave and keep others from entering.
- Immediately contact your supervisor who will make an assessment and contact law enforcement if warranted.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- The supervisor will report the incident to the appropriate facility manager and will provide a list of all people within the vicinity of the suspect package or substance to law enforcement and/or public officials.
- Emergency responders will take control of the scene and make further determinations as to precautionary measures including possible evacuation and decontamination.
Steps to
follow if powder from a suspicious envelope or package has spilled out:
-
Do not try to clean up the powder.
-
Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything (clothing, paper, trash can, etc.)
-
Do not remove the covering.
-
Leave the room and close the door or section off the area. Ask co-workers and others to leave and keep others from entering.
-
Immediately contact your supervisor who will make an assessment and contact law enforcement, if warranted.
-
Wash your hands with soap and water.
-
The supervisor will report the incident to the appropriate facility manager and will provide a list of all people within the vicinity of the spilled powder to law enforcement and/or public health officials.
-
Remove heavily contaminated clothing and other personal items as soon as possible. Place it in a plastic bag or other container that can be sealed. Give the bag of clothing to emergency responders.
-
The bag should be labeled clearly with the owner's name, contact telephone number and inventory of the bag's contents.
-
Emergency responders will take control of the scene and make further determinations as to personal and scene decontamination.
-
Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
-
Leave the room and close the door or section off the area. Ask co-workers and others to leave and keep others from entering.
-
Immediately contact your supervisor.
-
The supervisor will make an assessment and if warranted, contact law enforcement and immediately contact building management to shut down the air handling system.
-
The supervisor will make a list of all people exposed to the suspected agent and provide the list to law enforcement and/or public health officials.
-
Emergency responders will take control of the scene and make determinations as to further actions including decontamination of the scene, persons and personal affects.
10/16/01
