I wanted to thank those of you who responded to my earlier E-mail regarding
Bio-Terrorism. Since that time I have been reading documentation provided
by the CDC (www.bt.cdc.gov) interviewing Washington County Health
officials, and federal law enforcement agencies and have their
recommendations and developed a procedure to provide direction in the event
suspicious mail has been received that may contain some bio-chemical agent.
As many of you have followed up with me expressing interest as to what I
have learned and developed, I enclosed some basic steps that you may find
useful.
This information is disseminated freely with the disclaimer that you must
review and test it for applicability within your own company before
implementation.
1. OPENING INCOMING MAIL
A. Where possible, all mail should be delivered and opened in a centralized
and confined room.
B. Handling of mail should be confined to experienced mail personnel only.
These associates have received training and are more qualified and able
to determine "normal" from "suspicious" mail. (See examples of
suspicious mail below)
1. Associates who may be called upon to handle mail when
experienced mail personnel are unavailable should be adequately
trained to detect suspicious mail.
C. The Associate determines if the mail piece should be classified as
"normal" or "suspicious."
2. DO NOT OPEN SUSPICIOUS MAIL
A. If the Associate determines the mail piece is suspicious, do not open
the mail piece.
B. The Associate should calmly place the mail piece on the desk and contact
Corporate Security who will then notify local/federal law enforcement.
C. Suspicious mail must be placed in a clear, sealed and protective plastic
bag.
3. DISCOVERY OF SUSPICIOUS CONTENTS IN OPEN MAIL
A. In the event a piece of mail contains a threatening note or a foreign
substance such as white powder, crystal, etc. calmly and gently place
the mail piece on the desk, evacuate and seal the room.
B. AVOID RELEASE OF CONTENTS INTO THE AIR, calmly and gently place the
mail piece on the desk.
C. Immediately contact Corporate Security and call 911.
1. Corporate Security will contact General Services to disengage the
air conditioner to prevent further spreading of the contaminate. (
See Corporate Security Response)
D. Associates who have touched the mail piece should thoroughly wash
their hands with soap and water.
1. As soon as it is practical, Associates who have touched the mail
piece should shower with soap and water.
i. Showers are located at...
Potentially Associates should wash infected areas (i.e. hot/cold handles on
the sink, the faucet and the sink) with soap and water after washing their
hands, and then wash their hands with soap and water again.
2. Place all items worn when in contact with the suspected mail piece
in plastic bags and have them available for law enforcement agents.
Temporary clothing is available from General Services.
3. Associates who have been in contact with the mail piece will remain
sequestered in the shower area where they are undergoing
decontamination while waiting for additional direction from
emergency medical personnel.
E. On-site managers/supervisors will obtain a list all persons who have
touched the letter and/or envelope, including contact information. (Name,
address, phone number)
4. CORPORATE SECURITY RESPONSE
A. General Services will be immediately contacted to shut down the air
conditioning system preventing possible spread of the contaminant to
other areas of the facility.
B. Corporate Security and members on the Safety Committee should remember
that their personal health, safety and security is of paramount concern,
and they must not enter, or remain in, a location containing suspicious
mail or the suspicious contents of mail under circumstances when only
qualified emergency personnel and law enforcement officers should be
present.
C. No Associate should provide details of the event. Inquiries made by
local/national news officials should be directed to Public Affairs.
5. DOCUMENTING THE INCIDENT
A. Corporate Security and Safety Committee members must be present and
document the incident by completing an incident form.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE?
Below are several common characteristics of suspicious mail:
· Restricted endorsements such as "Personal" or "Private." These
characteristics are important when the addressee does not usually
receive personal mail at the office.
· Addressee's name or title may be inaccurate.
· No return address or an apparently fictitious return address.
· Distorted handwriting or the name and address may be prepared with
homemade labels or cut and paste lettering.
· Protruding wires aluminum foil, or oil stains and may emit a peculiar
odor.
· Cancellation or postmark shows a different location than the return
address.
· Excessive postage.
· Rigid, uneven or lopsided may have an irregular shape, soft spots or
bulges.
· Unprofessionally wrapped with several combinations of tape used to
secure the package and may be endorsed "Fragile-Handle With Care" or
"Rush-Do Not Delay".
· Sloshing, buzzing or ticking sounds.
· Pressure or resistance when removing contents from envelope or package.
Jeffrey B. Korte,
Information and Physical Security Manager
FirstConsumers National Bank
Voice: 503.520.8398
Fax: 503.520.7941
Pager: 503.921.3105
The information contained in this E-mail message may be privileged,
confidential and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended
recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly
prohibited. If you think you have received this E-mail message in error,
please E-mail the sender at jeffrey_korte@private
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sun May 26 2002 - 11:27:51 PDT