Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Health and Safety
Active Shooter | Airplane Crash | Animal Incidents / Rabies
Blood, Bodily Fluid, or Infectious Agent Exposure | Bomb / Explosion
Civil Disturbance / Demonstration Procedures | Confined Space Emergency
Criminal / Violent Behavior | Evacuation Procedures | Fire | Hazardous Materials
Hostage | Medical Emergency / Accident | Mental Health Emergency
Public Health Concern | Severe Weather | Sexual Assault | Shelter-In-Place
Shelter Operations | Structural Collapse / Failure | Suspicious Packages
Terrorism
| Transportation Emergencies | Utility Failure
Suspicious Mail and/or Packages
- How to Handle Threats of Anthrax or Other Biological Agents
- DO NOT PANIC
- Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or lungs. To do so, the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. Disease can be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from person to person.
- For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into very small particles. This is difficult to do and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment. If these small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.
- For Suspicious Unopened Envelopes or Packages Marked with Threatening Messages:
- Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
- Place any suspicious envelope or package in a plastic bag or other type of container to prevent the contents from leaking.
- If you do not have a container, cover the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
- 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 substance to your face.
- Report the incident to University Police at (111) and notify your supervisor.
- If possible, list all people who were in the room or area when the envelope or package arrived. Give this list to responding authorities.
- For Envelopes or Packages That Have Been Opened and Contain Powder:
- Do not try to clean up any powder. Cover any spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
- 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.
- Report the incident to University Police at (111) and notify your supervisor.
- Arriving emergency personnel will assist you with the following tasks:
- Remove heavily contaminated clothing and place in a plastic bag or other container that can be sealed. Give this clothing to responding emergency personnel.
- Receive medical evaluation and follow-up information from medical personnel.
- Before leaving the scene, shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other type of disinfectant on your skin.
- If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to responding authorities.
- If There Is Question of Room Contamination by Aerosolization (e.g., a device is triggered or a warning is received that a ventilation system is contaminated or that a biological agent has been released in a public space):
- Turn off local fans and ventilation units in the area.
- Leave the area immediately.
- Close the door or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
- Report the incident to University Police at (111) and notify your supervisor.
- If possible, shut down the ventilation system in the building.
- If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to responding authorities.
- How to Identify Suspicious Envelopes or Packages
- A suspicious envelope or package might include the following:
- Excessive postage
- Handwritten or poorly typed address
- Incorrect title
- Title without name
- Misspelling of common words
- Oily stain, discoloration, or odor
- No return address
- Excessive weight
- Lopsided or uneven envelope
- Protruding wires or aluminum foil
- Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
- Visual distractions
- Ticking sound
- Restrictive endorsements, such as "personal" or "confidential"
- City or state in the postmark that does not match the return address
- A suspicious envelope or package might include the following: