Curbing the Potential Threats of Anthrax Attacks – Training the Postal Workers

Bioterrorism first became the topic of discussion in the parallels of US postal service industry when in October 2001, anthrax contaminated mails were received at the Brentwood facility of USPS. It killed two postal employees.

Fast forward 15 years, and the tragic event is still commemorated by the postal workers across the nation, remembering their brother-in-arms who lost their lives that day. It is an incident that happened more than a decade ago but still sends tremors among the postal service community, whenever it is recalled. As such, candidates applying for a postal service job are often found harboring fears of being part of the service industry that may yet be exposed to another such act of bioterrorism.

This blog is an attempt to sweep away their fears and reservations. We aim to highlight the steps that USPS has taken down the years to ensure the safety of its employees, laying particular emphasis on the restructuring of its postal service job training module to incorporate a respective program.

Measures Taken By USPS to Combat Potential Threats of Anthrax Attack

The USPS took a number of steps, among which the most notable ones include:

1) The Integration of Bio-Hazard Detection Systems

One of the first steps that USPS took to counter a potential anthrax attack was the integration of bio-hazard detection systems with its mail processing machines. USD 1.4 billion was invested and the systems were installed across all the facilities of the USPS. This has helped the employees working at the mail processing plants to accurately identify a suspicious package and then take necessary measures to dispel any potential danger or hazardous concerns.

2) Providing Safety Gears to Mail Processors and Handlers

Staff hired for the postal service jobs of mail processors and mail handlers are provided with safety gears that prevent them from coming into the direct contact of the virus. This includes:

• Respirators to avoid the inhalation of the virus carrying particles, which may otherwise infect employees stationed at an electronic sorting unit.

• Nitrile and vinyl gloves that protect post service workers from coming into cutaneous exposure while handling the mail and parcel packages.

3) Restructuring the Postal Service Job Training Module

The USPS has also restructured its postal service job training module by incorporating a training program for employees that equips them with the necessary knowledge to successfully manage the crisis situation. Training includes:  

• Identification of Suspicious Packages: Employees are trained on job to help them identify a suspicious package, even before it is passed through the detection system. Employees are told to treat packages with extra care that may have excessive postage, non-canceled postage, fictitious address, threat messages etc.

• Handling of Contaminated Packages and Protection Gears: This include advice on how to handle a package which has been identified to carry anthrax, how to dispose-off the safety gear which has come in contact with the virus and what actions to take if an employee comes into contact of a contaminated package.

• Educating About the Associated Symptoms: When an individual comes into contact of anthrax, the symptoms may not be visible at first. After the incubation period the virus starts showing the actual symptoms of the disease – the knowledge of which is essential for all employees.

• Emphasis on Following a Coordinated Communication Protocol: Employees are instructed to follow a communication protocol that allows all the related agencies to devise an action plan in order to tackle the threat of an anthrax attack.   

 Employees are provided scheduled training during their course of employment, while there are also drills that are conducted annually.  

Anthrax attacks present a serious danger to the postal employees and the community on whole, especially if the contaminated packages find their way in a public organization. As such, USPS has developed an effective strategy to tackle any potential threats. All candidates applying for a postal service job should be well assured.