Postal workers return after 'threatening' packages found

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal workers return after 'threatening' packages found to be safe

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HUNDREDS of workers were evacuated from a Royal Mail sorting office in Notts after suspicious packages were found.

The base in Padge Road, Beeston, was closed at 10am today and bomb disposal officers were called to the scene.

By 2pm, police confirmed that tests showed all six packages were not suspicious, and workers were allowed back into the building.

However, officers at the scene said the incident was being treated as a crime as the packages are thought to have contained threats.

Earlier today, one worker said: "Everyone is wondering what is going on - there is a lot of rumour-mongering."

A Notts police spokesperson said officers were called by Royal Mail at around 9.30am about "a number of packages" that appeared to be suspicious.

She said: "As a precaution, the building has been evacuated and the road has been cordoned off. The incident is currently ongoing."

Speaking at around 12.30pm, Adrian Lovejoy, area manager for Royal Mail in the East Midlands, said 200 people were evacuated.

He said: "The emergency services are now in control of the situation.

"A member of staff and a shift manager alerted us to the package. We expect to be back in [the building] in the next couple of hours."

Mr Lovejoy said he was unable to give details about what was suspicious about the package.

He said the delay would not affect first class and priority mail in Notts but that second class mail will have to be dealt with by other offices.

Chief Insp Andrew Charlton from Notts Police, who attended the scene, said: "Currently we have got fire services here to assess what we are dealing with here.

"Part of our activity is to assess what we have got and we are now waiting for the assessment. Suspect packages are not unknown. We evacuated as a precaution."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We have well rehearsed procedures for dealing with any such instances and will always involve the emergency services upon the discovery of any suspicious susbstances in the mail.

"The health and safety of our people is our prime concern."

[brothermagrew]

HEALTH AND SAFETY
097
Postal Industry Conference (General Section 2) Motion 74A(2007) (Progress Report)
Subject matter: Dealing with suspect packages

Motion 74A(2007) read:

"Conference deplores the action of individuals/groups that use the postal system for delivering of suspect packages and that the CWU ensures that the membership is fully aware of the safety provisions and mechanisms in place when dealing with such devices" our 16 January letter refers and you requested an update on the above."

The moving branch recent requested an update which is published as follows:
LTBs 391/05, 392/05, 736/06, 744/06, 747/06, 802/06, 185/06, 232/07, 233/07 and 471/07 all refer.
A national joint RM/unions CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) Defence Committee was set up following the US terrorist attacks in late 2001. The CBRNE Committee is briefed on the threats and threat levels through the Home Office, the Anti-Terrorist Branch of New Scotland Yard and works with them and the security services on counter measures in developing its emergency and defence plans. It reviews incidents and how they were handled picking up improvement opportunities.

The committee developed the Royal Mail defence plan and a package of instructions and guidance on how to deal with incidents and suspect packages as well as examining procedures and finally looked at the introduction of detection systems and ongoing R&D in his area. Instructions and guidance are kept under review and updated as necessary.

A managers' guide to dealing with suspect packages has now been produced by Royal Mail in consultation with the unions entitled "be aware!". The guide booklet was endorsed by Royal Mail Corporate Security and the Home Office and police. The guide booklet was also subject to consultation with CWU and Unite/CMA and as a result safety representative involvement is mentioned clearly on pages 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13. Royal Mail fully acknowledge the importance of safety representative involvement and the need for ongoing, open two-way consultation. Copies of "be aware" were circulated to all branches and safety representatives in hard copy and pdf file format and copies are held in all Royal Mail, Parcelforce and POL offices along with the "stay calm" manual which is held by the Person In Charge (PIC). "be aware" V1 was issued with LTB 392/05.

A suspect package can contain a postal bomb, a hazardous powder, harmful chemicals, or a biological agent. Managers and the building's Person In Control (PIC) must familiarise themselves with the guide and share the information with the workforce and trade union safety reps, so that informed judgements can be made if faced with a possible emergency or threat.

The "be aware" suspect packages guidance has now been completely revised, expanded and updated to include guidance on how staff should deal with incidents outside of the of the office for example while on a collection or delivery rounds. The "be aware" version 2 will be made available shortly. An LTB will be circulated in due course.

Further to this and as reported to CWU branches and CWU conference - following discussions with RML the board spend £8.5 million on detection and analysis equipment which is currently being rolled out into mail centres and engineers are being trained on how to use it.
There is an important need for offices to do security planning locally and keep it under review via area desk top planning exercises to consider the threats that may be faced and the risks they pose with consideration given to how to use the available guidance and advice on how to reduce the chances that a terrorist attack will cause injury to staff and visitors and disrupt the office and business activities. Local security planning should consider reviewing and updating the contingency plans regularly, ensuring that all staff are familiar with security awareness and the contingency plans and practise them, checking that arrangements are compatible with the local emergency services, making security awareness part of the office's culture.

Arrange regular briefings for staff on what they should be looking out for, and keep notices up-to-date, take staff seriously if they identify potential threats, train staff in emergency and evacuation procedures, and rehearse them regularly. Give more specific training to anyone who might have to handle a suspect package threat, ensure good basic housekeeping in and around the buildings, look at the access points to the office and keep them to a minimum. Control people coming in and out of the building with passes and have procedures for booking in visitors and contractors and also carefully explain this to staff. Look also at vehicle access and parking arrangements, consider the range of physical measures - locks on windows and doors, CCTV, alarms, lighting - and install them according to the circumstances. Ensure they are working and arrange regular checks, look at mail handling and sorting procedures and train staff in emergency procedures.

Advice from the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch and emergency services is "be alert, not alarmed" but be vigilant and report suspicious activities and items. Royal Mail staff have an important role to play in being vigilant and reporting suspicions.

All enquiries to Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[Stormproof]

I've never received any information regarding suspicious packages from either Managers or Reps and AFAIK no one else has at my DO. When I was in the Room of Doom I had a D/L packet come back off delivery, as I was putting it on the shelf white powder was coming out of it, being on the late shift I had to ring a manager at the MC who eventually turned up and proceeded to open the packet on the counter whilst I was serving customers, I said to him is it wise to be opening that up here with customers about, he just told me to go to the main door and tell the customers that we will reopen in a minute. Luckily the powder turned out to be some sort of high protein drink mix...................but what if it was'nt!

[stokes11eg]

I've never received any information regarding suspicious packages from either Managers or Reps and AFAIK no one else has at my DO. When I was in the Room of Doom I had a D/L packet come back off delivery, as I was putting it on the shelf white powder was coming out of it, being on the late shift I had to ring a manager at the MC who eventually turned up and proceeded to open the packet on the counter whilst I was serving customers, I said to him is it wise to be opening that up here with customers about, he just told me to go to the main door and tell the customers that we will reopen in a minute. Luckily the powder turned out to be some sort of high protein drink mix...................but what if it was'nt!

Typical Management handling of serious affairs.Somewhere around the side of our building, in an unlit boggy field lies some kind of receptacle which is supposed to be used for disposing of suspect
packages. it is basically a rusty bucket, full of rubbish and water.!!! Say no more-health and safety Royal Mail Style!i

[stokes11eg]

I've never received any information regarding suspicious packages from either Managers or Reps and AFAIK no one else has at my DO. When I was in the Room of Doom I had a D/L packet come back off delivery, as I was putting it on the shelf white powder was coming out of it, being on the late shift I had to ring a manager at the MC who eventually turned up and proceeded to open the packet on the counter whilst I was serving customers, I said to him is it wise to be opening that up here with customers about, he just told me to go to the main door and tell the customers that we will reopen in a minute. Luckily the powder turned out to be some sort of high protein drink mix...................but what if it was'nt!

Typical Management handling of serious affairs.Somewhere around the side of our building, in an unlit boggy field lies some kind of receptacle which is supposed to be used for disposing of suspect
packages. it is basically a rusty bucket, full of rubbish and water.!!! Say no more-health and safety Royal Mail Style!
i

(Sorry if I seem to have butted in on your post K66la-still getting used to this computer, and had posted before editing.Excuse the rudeness! Stokes.

NB from TBT - Sorted Stokes - you keep deleting the [ and ] - and sometimes part of the word /quote - but don't worry loads do it and when I spot it I edit the post to make them easier to read.