Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center

2 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center What constitutes a suspicious letter or package? If you receive a letter or package from an unknown sender or that arouses suspicion: Stop - Don’t handle it Attempt to contact the sender or recipient Isolate it immediately Don’t open, smell, or taste If unable to resolve, notify a supervisor

3 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center

4 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Current Threats = Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive Extremely unlikely…but the fear of these materials disrupts operations, incites fear, and often diverts vital first-responder resources.

5 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center How do you prepare? Identify threats Conduct a risk assessment Develop policies Draft procedures/best practices Prepare contingency and continuity plans Communicate and train

6 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Identify threats. Domestic hate group Disgruntled employee/workplace violence Acts of nature (flood, fire, earthquake, etc.) Personal vendetta against an employee in your business

7 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Conduct a risk assessment. Your approach should reflect your company’s mission

8 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Develop policies. Policy – a plan or guiding principle Address areas identified as priorities in risk assessment Get support from key officials Examples: –Access to mail center –X-ray of packages –Opening of mail

9 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Sample policies. (Private Sector) Deliveries for senior executives Packages

10 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Sample procedure. (Private Sector) Mail and packages for senior executives: “Second Screen” bin sorting Visually inspect packages X-ray Quality control

11 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Necessary plans. Occupant emergency plans Contingency plans Continuity plans

12 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center What does suspicious mail look like?

13 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center

14 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Specific Features – Letter Bombs: At least ¼ inch thickness Bulkier than normal letters Rigid uneven appearance Springiness May have protruding wires or aluminum foil

15 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Some package bombs are more difficult to detect by appearance alone.

16 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center What made this a suspicious package?

17 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Outgoing Mailings: Notify the Postal Service of large mass mailings that might cause concern for postal employees or customers. The Inspection Service will notify police or first responders that may receive calls from addressees.

18 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center If a suspicious mail piece is located in the mail or USPS facility: Attempts are made to contact the sender and/or the addressee – often simple telephone contact provides information that leads to resolution of an incident.

19 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Training. Education and awareness are essential Employee awareness Design and vigorously monitor security program Reduces risk for all

20 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Recommendations. (Low and Moderate Risk Mail Rooms) 1.Appoint a mail security coordinator 2.Security and Disaster Standard Operation Plans 3.Train personnel on policies 4.Limit access of personnel 5.Identify and escort personnel 6.Establish contact list for emergencies

21 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Recommendations. (Low and Moderate Risk Mail Rooms) 7.HAZMAT emergency service 8.Post SOP for suspicious packages 9.Best practices 10. Intrusion detection system 11. Senior management endorsement

22 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center These are in addition to Low risk recommendations. 1.Alternate mail security coordinator 2.Mail security response team 3.Offsite copy of plans 4.Staff specialized employees 5.Equipment for team Recommendations. (High Risk Mail Rooms)

23 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center 6.Publish & distribute information, personnel updates & procedures 7.Cameras at entrances and exterior 8.Require employee attendance at mail security briefings 9.Publish After Action reports Recommendations. (High Risk Mail Rooms)

24 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Plan review. 1.Be wary of unexpected packages 2.Notify the supervisor 3.Do not shake or bump the item 4.Do not open, smell, touch or taste 5.Isolate the damaged item immediately 6.Cordon off the immediate area 7.Have employees wash hands

25 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Plan review. 8.Prepare list of affected employees 9.Isolate clothing 10.Shower

26 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center Conclusion. Mail Center must evaluate situation: Objectively weigh threat circumstances in order to render a prudent decision

27 Protecting your Employees and Securing your Mail Center US Postal Inspection Service About the US Postal Inspection Service Find us on the World Wide Web: