To our clients and friends: 

In response to the recent warnings made by the federal investigations and intelligence community, we are providing the following brief outline regarding government recommendations for businesses relative to biological and chemical terrorism threats.  Recommendations made by the U.S. Attorney General today, October 12, 2001 and in the past week by other federal agencies concern safe mailroom procedures and securing of air-handling systems in corporate environments:

Safe Mailroom Procedures

The Attorney General today advised that businesses and corporations review and adopt a set of recommended safe mailroom procedures to help protect against biological and chemical threats delivered via the U.S. Postal Service or other mail couriers.  These procedures include:

• Identification and isolation of suspicious letters and/or packages.  Suspicious letters and/or packages may be indicated by:
  • No return address
  • Postmark doesn’t match return address
  • “Personal”, “Confidential” or “To be opened by addressee only” markings
  • Unusual size, weight, markings or signs of leakage, etc.
• Verification of unsolicited and/or unexpected mail.  This can be accomplished by simple telephone verification with the sender prior to opening.
• Isolation of suspected packages should be accomplished in an area with minimal employee traffic until such time that packages can be authenticated or authorities notified.

We anticipate that more information will be forthcoming from the agencies via traditional media outlets and agency websites.  Please consult us directly with any questions or concerns regarding implementation of these measures.

Air-Handling Systems

Recent warnings have been made regarding the potential for contamination of building air-handling systems.  Based on the accessibility of exterior air intakes and other exterior or interior-mounted air handling equipment, these points may be at risk to the introduction of toxic substances.  Building managers are advised to consider implementation of the following immediate measures, and adoption of certain procedures in an emergency event: 

• Secure areas of vulnerability in the air-handling system, including air-intake vents, blowers, etc. 
• System managers are instructed to cut off the air handling system immediately upon being advised of the release of a toxic substance external to the building.  This action will stop the spread of the substance throughout the building.
• System managers are instructed to place the system on “full or 100% outside air” immediately upon being advised of the release of a toxic substance internal to the building.   This action will serve to dilute the substance already within the system and speed up its removal from the building.
• Building occupants are advised in the instance of a release to seek “shelter in place” in areas where air movement is low, and avoid areas where air movement is brisk, such as stairwells and elevators.

System managers should be aware that commercial detectors for toxic chemicals and biological agents are of little or no use as in line monitors due to time constraints, as a release can be spread throughout a system in five minutes or less. 

Contact The Intelligence Group