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Anthrax |
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OSHA Recommendations for Handling Mail
These guidelines address small mailroom operations (sorting, distributing, and handling). They can be distributed to all employees who may handle mail.
For guidelines for large volume operations, see
Additional Resources - Training.
Anthrax organisms can infect the skin, the gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. To cause infection, the anthrax spores must come into contact with broken or abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine dust. However, anthrax infection can be prevented even after exposure to anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics, see
CDC Health Advisory. Anthrax spores can be dispersed in the air as a dust or can be carried on items such as mail or clothing. However, unlike the common cold or flu, anthrax infection itself is NOT spread from one person to another. These guidelines emphasize preventing the spread of anthrax spores through careful handling and isolation of suspicious packages and their contents.
General Mail Handling
- Be on the lookout for suspicious envelopes or packages, see
the FBI's
Instructional
Poster. [288 KB
PDF,
1 page]
- Do NOT open suspicious mail.
- Open all non-suspicious mail with a letter opener or another method that minimizes skin contact with the mail and is least likely to disturb contents.
- Open mail with a minimum amount of movement.
- Do not blow into envelopes.
- Keep hands away from nose and mouth while opening mail.
- Turn off fans, portable heaters, and other equipment that may create air currents.
- Wash hands after handling mail.
Characteristics of Suspicious Packages and Letters:
- Discoloration, oily stains, or an unusual odor
- Crystals, powder, or powder-like residue on the surface
- Suspicious or threatening language on the outside of package or letter
- Postmark that does not match return address or no return address
- Restrictive endorsements such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
- Distorted handwriting, block-printed or poorly typed addresses
- Excessive tape or string
- Rigid, uneven, irregular, or lopsided package
- Package with soft spots, bulges, or excessive weight
- Handwritten, block-printed or poorly typed addresses
- Excessive postage
- Title but no name or incorrect title
- Misspelled addressee’s name, title, or location
- Misspelled common words
- Addressee unknown or no longer with organization
- Protruding wires or aluminum foil
- Ticking sound
- Unexpected mail from a foreign country
If You Receive or Discover a Suspicious Package or Letter
- Do NOT open the package or letter.
- Do not shake, empty, or otherwise disturb its contents.
- Put the package down and do not handle it further.
- Do not touch or try to clean up the substance.
- Alert others nearby.
- Do not remove ANY items from area.
- Leave the area and gently close the door.
After leaving the area:
- Wash hands well with soap and water.
- Contact your supervisor, designated responder,* or other appropriate authority.
- Limit movements within the building to prevent spread of substance.
Designated responders or other appropriate authority will determine the need for further action, which may include:
- Directing further evacuation.
- Reporting the incident to building security and notifying the appropriate authorities, such as the local police or federal authorities.
- Perform additional decontamination activities as directed by the proper authorities.
- Reporting the incident to facility managers so they can cut off electrical power and shut down ventilation systems serving the potentially contaminated areas.
- Compiling a list of the names of all potentially affected individuals, including those who were in area when the suspicious mail was encountered.
- Providing this list to the appropriate authorities.
*Employers should designate individuals who are trained to respond in the event that an employee receives a suspicious mailing. As a minimum, the designated responders should know how to contact facility managers, local emergency responders, and local law enforcement officials. Additionally, the designated responders should have authority to secure potentially contaminated areas or to direct other individuals to do so.
Other Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
US Postal Service (USPS)
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Security of the Mail. Provides information on identifying and responding
to security threats in mail centers including:
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Mail Center Security Guide. Publication 166, (2002, September). Also available as a 211 KB
PDF, 44 pages. Provides general advice and recommends
protective measures to help you assess, prevent, and respond to three types
of threats: weapons of mass destruction; mail bombs and bomb threats; and
mail center theft. This guide specifies procedural responses for a
biological threat (anthrax)
delivered by mail.
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USPS Message to Customers: We Are Taking Every Possible Measure To Assure Safety Of Customers And The Mail. (2001,
October 17). Describes typical characteristics of a suspicious letter or
parcel and advises what to do if an anthrax threat is received by mail.
"Suspicious Mail Alert" posters are available for download.
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