Indentifying a Suspicious Package
A suspicious letter or parcel might have some of the following indicators:
- Origin – Postmark or name of sender is unusual, unknown, or no further address is given.
- Postage – Excessive or inadequate postage.
- Balance – The letter is lopsided or unusually thick.
- Weight – The letter or package seems heavy for its size.
- Contents – Stiffness or springiness of contents: protruding wires or components: oily outer wrapping or envelope: feels like it contains powdery substance. (When checking, do not bed excessively.)
- Smell – Particularly almond or other suspicious odors.
- Writing – Handwriting of sender is not familiar or indicates a foreign style not normally received by recipient. Common words or names are misspelled.
- Rub-on block lettering.
Handling a Suspicious Package
- Do not excessively handle or open a suspicious package.
- Immediately segregate it in an unused room or space.
- Attempt to verify the sender and/or the legitimacy of the package (i.e. ask the recipient if he/she was expecting a package that matched the suspect package's size and shape.)
- If the letter or parcel remains suspect, call the police (dial 911) and notify the Property Management.
Incident Response Protocol for Suspect Hazardous Release
- Contain the material to minimize the impacted area:
- Contain the material to minimize the number of individuals exposed:
- Contain the potential impacted individuals to ensure that they receive proper medical attention:
- Remove non-impacted individuals from the area as quickly as possible:
- Maintain control of all potentially impact materials.
NOTIFICATION:
- Notify your supervisor.
- Notify Local Emergency Response Authorities. Dial 911.
- Notify the Building Management. Dial (301) 530 4250.
CONTAINMENT:
- If material is released, impacted or potentially impacted individuals should move from immediate are to adjacent control area.
- Minimize activities until appropriate response staff arrives. If absolutely necessary, move impacted individuals into nearest bathroom facility on floor.
- Non-impacted individuals on the impacted floor should be evacuated, and await further instructions from response team and the Building Management.
- The Property Management should immediately shut off the HVAC system for impacted and adjacent areas, and bathrooms.
- Isolate impacted area(s), e.g. shut door during exit. Do not allow any unprotected personnel into the impacted area.
- Retain all impacted material for response team.