Mail Handling Precautions

Mail Handling Precautions

United States Postal Service guidelines for precautionary measures dealing with anthrax are the only guidelines in existence. There are no federal guidelines for non-postal employees.

These guidelines consist of two specific areas: machine sorting and hand sorting. People who use machine sorting equipment must wear masks while people who hand sort do not.

IAS is following the guidelines for hand sorting, and therefore, no masks are required.

Precautions to take while opening mail

  • Open the mail away from your face.
  • Wash your hands under running water with soap. Dry powder soaps and waterless hand soaps should be avoided.
  • All cuts, sores and abrasions should be covered by bandages, Band-Aids or gloves
  • For those who want to wear protective gloves, the recommended gloves are of nitrile or vinyl. Latex gloves are not recommended because of the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Gloves and Skin Protection for Staff handling bulk mail for majority of a work day.

  • All workers handling large volumes of mail should have access to gloves.
  • Nitrile or vinyl gloves offer adequate protection. For normal use, these gloves can be washed while on your hands and re-used. Latex gloves should be avoided because of the risk of developing skin sensitivity or allergy. The gloves do not need to be sterile.
  • Take care to avoid touching skin, eyes or other mucous membranes with your gloved hand.
  • Discard gloves if they are visibly torn in the regular trash..
  • Wear long-sleeved clothing to protect exposed skin. Pull gloves over the end of the sleeves.
  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water when gloves are removed, before eating, and when replacing torn or worn gloves. Soap and water will wash away most spores that may have contacted the skin, and disinfectant solutions are not needed. Do not rely on alcohol-based hand cleaners, as these cleaners will not remove spores as well as soap and water will.
  • Skin rashes and other skin conditions can develop from long-term use of gloves. If you have such a condition or are prone to skin rashes, consider wearing cotton gloves under the nitrile, or vinyl gloves.

What to do or not do with suspicious letters or package: Contact Michael Ciccone at 8219.

Don't -

  • Shake or empty the contents
  • Carry the package or envelope, show it to others, or allow others to examine it.
  • Do not try to open the package. If there is spilled powder, do not try to clean it up and do not smell, touch or taste the material.

Do -

  • Put the package or envelope on a stable surface; do not sniff, touch, taste, or look closely at it or any contents that may have spilled.
  • Alert others in the area about the suspicious package or envelope. Leave the area, close any doors, and take actions to prevent others from entering the area.. If possible, shut off the ventilation system.
  • Wash hands with soap and water to prevent spreading potentially infectious material to face or skin. Seek additional instructions for exposed or potentially exposed persons.
  • If at work, notify Michael Ciccone at ext.8219. If at home, contact the local law enforcement agency.
  • If possible, create a list of persons who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized and a list of persons who may have handled this package or letter

What constitutes a suspicious letter or parcel?

Some typical characteristics which ought to trigger suspicion include letters or parcels that:

  • Excessive postage, no postage, or non-canceled postage
  • No return address or fictitious return address
  • Improper spelling of addressee names, titles, or locations
  • Unexpected envelopes from foreign countries
  • Suspicious or threatening messages written on packages
  • Postmark showing different location than return address
  • Distorted handwriting or cut and paste lettering
  • Unprofessionally wrapped packages or excessive use of tape, strings, etc.
  • Packages marked as "Fragile - Handle with Care", "Rush - Do Not Delay", "Personal" or "Confidential"
  • Rigid, uneven, irregular, or lopsided packages
  • Packages that are discolored, oily, or have an unusual odor or ticking sound
  • Packages with soft spots, bulges, or excessive weight
  • Protruding wires or aluminum foil
  • Visual distractions