Hi reptiles,
The following is the result of my research for guidelines if
suspicious powder is found in the workplace:
?What should you do if an envelope or package with powder spills out
onto a surface?
--DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents
immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and
do not remove this cover!
--Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to
prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
--WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder
to your face.
--Avoid touching anything (like door knobs) until your hands are washed.?
?What to do next ?
--If you are at HOME report the incident to local police (Call 911). -
If you are at WORK report the incident to local police in your area
(Call 911) and notify your building security official or an available
supervisor.
--REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place
in a plastic bag or some other container that can be sealed. This
clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper
handling.
--SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or
other disinfectant on your skin.
--List all people who were in the room or area, especially those who
had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local
public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for
medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further
investigation.?
Source: Washington State University: Public Safety Advisory
http://www.wsu.edu/~safety/advisory.html
*************************************************************
?How is a worker supposed to respond to a possible anthrax contamination?
??(a)do not handle the piece suspected to be contaminated; (b)notify
the supervisor who will contact the safety person or whomever else is
designated; (c)isolate the package and cordon off the area.
(?)
A powdery substance seeps out of a letter or package that does not
appear to be suspicious; what do I do?
Inform a supervisor, who should contact the mailer or the addressee so
that the contents can be verified. If its contents are verified to be
safe, proceed with normal cleanup procedures. If its contents are not
verifiable, management must initiate emergency procedures.?
Source: Washington State APWU: Health and Safety Information
http://wapwu.homestead.com/healthandsafety1.html
*************************************************************
Threat Assessment: Evidence of a deliberately harmful substance
================================================================
?Is it likely that the substance is a deliberate attempt to harm
people? Your assessment should include a criminal threat assessment.
The following are indicators of possible criminal threat:
--The substance was found where someone seeking to do harm reasonably
could have placed it. Strangers were seen in the area.
--The substance appears to have been placed to cause harm. It could
not be easily seen and avoided. It was on or in a package, envelope,
briefcase, or the like, which is of unknown origin.
--The substance is accompanied by a specific written or spoken warning
or threat. Or the apparent target person, unit, or program has been
receiving threats.
--The person, unit, or program recently did something that would have
angered someone. Or, it receives many threats of harm or retaliation
because of the nature of its work.
--The person, unit, or program is frequently or was recently in the
news in a controversial matter or is a high-profile symbol of
government.
--The person, unit, or program knows of an unstable individual who might do harm.?
White powder indicators of no emergency or no credible threat
==============================================================
?You don?t want to call emergency responders for powdered sugar,
powdered creamer, flakes of dried paint or glue or white-out
correction fluid, or paper dust from a copier or printer or old files.
So, ask yourself what could the substance be? How might it have gotten
to where it was found? Is there a mess in the nearest waste container
that shows donut wrappers, more paper dust, or other evidence that
your problem is just a messy co-worker??
Source: Oregon's Department of Administrative Services: Dealing With
Questionable, Unknown Substances
http://www.das.state.or.us/images/LowRisk%20guideline11-12-01.pdf
*************************************************************
Some interesting reading:
Virginia Department of Emergency Management: Guidance for First Responders
http://www.vaemergency.com/prepare/terrorismtoolkit/burdickletter.htm
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/anthrax/initial_actions.html
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/anthrax/credible_risk.html#Action
BC Public Service Agency: Handling Suspicious Letters or Packages
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/wphealth/PDFs/HandlingSuspLettersNov22.pdf
New York City Department of Health: Guidelines on How to Handle
Suspicious Letters or Packages
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/abio4.html
Search criteria:
procedures finds suspicious powder in the workplace
procedures finds ?suspicious powder? in the workplace
procedures OR guidelines finds suspicious powder in the workplace
guide OR guideline for handling ?suspicious powder?
I hope the information provided is helpful. If you have any questions
regarding my answer please don't hesitate to ask before rating it.
Best regards,
rainbow-ga |
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