Anthrax is not spread from one person to another person. It can only be caught from direct contact with anthrax spores.

To assist union members in protecting themselves, the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. has put together a fact sheet including key parts of the Mail Handling Procedures issued Nov. 1 by the city and the Health and Hospitals Corp. Excerpts are printed below.

For a fact sheet or more information, call (212) 615-4237.

Members who work for the city or HHC can contact their supervisor for a full copy of the guidelines.

Excerpts from mail handling procedures for city and HHC employees

The following procedures are required wherever employees handle mail and/or packages. If you receive a suspicious package, follow the steps below to maximize individual safety and alert the proper authorities. Please be advised that these interim guidelines are subject to change if new information becomes available.

Precautions for Handling Non-Suspicious Mail and Packages:

• Be alert and use care when opening all mail, whether or not it appears suspicious.
  
• Use a letter opener that can neatly open the top of the letter.
  
• Open the letter or package over a flat surface.
  
• Open with the top of the letter or package facing away from your face.
  
• Look inside the letter or package before removing contents.
  
• Do not blow into letter or package.
  
• If a suspicious material spills from the letter or package, proceed as described below.
  

Identifying Suspicious Letters or Packages
The following characteristics have been associated with potentially suspicious articles:

• No return address
  
• Clearly excessive postage
  
• A postmark that differs from the return address
  
• Irregular or inconsistent texture of envelope
  
• Items protruding from the envelope/parcel
  
• Visible leakage, stains or crystalization
  
• Detectable odors
  
• Articles that are visibly resealed or appear to have been tampered with
  
• Excessive security material such as tape, string, etc.
  
• Wires that can be seen or felt by touching the articles
  

Procedures for Handling Suspicious Unopened Letters or Packages:

• Isolate envelope or package from other mail.
  
• Do not shake, empty, or smell the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
  
• Cover the envelope or package with a container or place in a plastic bag to prevent leakage of contents; once in place, do not remove the cover or bag. All personal protective equipment used by mailroom personnel, including gloves, masks, and aprons should be removed and placed in a separate ziplock bag.
  
• Turn off all fans and HVAC systems.
  
• Leave the room. Close the door and prevent others from entering. Stay in a nearby location to reduce potential exposures.
  
• Wash hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to face or skin.
  
• Notify supervisor, building security officials, and report incident to 911.
  
• List all the people who were in the room or area when the suspicious letter or package was identified. Provide the list to Police and Health Department officials as warranted.
  

Guidelines for Powder Spills from a Suspicious Letter or Package:

• Do not shake empty, or smell the contents of any suspicious envelope or package. Avoid contact with the material. Do not try to clean powder or fluid from any surface or from clothing.
  
• Cover the envelope or package with a container to prevent leakage of contents. Once in place, do not remove the cover. All personal protective equipment should be removed and placed in a ziplock bag.
  
• Turn off all fans and HVAC systems.
  
• Leave the room. Close the door and prevent others from entering. Remain in a nearby location to reduce potential exposures.
  
• Wash hands with soap and water to prevent the powder from spreading to face or skin.
  
• Immediately report the incident to 911, building security officials and supervisor. Follow their guidance regarding proper clean-up and protocols.
  
• List all the people who were in the room or area when the suspicious letter or package was identified. Provide the list to Police and Health Department officials.
  
• Remove clothing that came into contact with the letter or package and place in a plastic bag that can be sealed. Provide the bag to the Police Department.
  
• Shower with soap and water as soon as possible, but do not use bleach or disinfectant.
  

What measures can individuals take to prevent cutaneous (skin) anthrax?

• Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in the mail handling area.
  
• Powder-free nitrile or vinyl protective gloves should be made available to employees who routinely handle the mail, including envelopes and packages. Protective gloves can be worn under heavier gloves (e.g., leather, heavy cotton) if more protection against hand injury is needed. Latex gloves should be avoided because of the risk of developing skin sensitivity or allergy.
  
• Gloves should be provided in a range of sizes to ensure the proper fit.
  
• Gloves should be discarded if visibly torn. Used or torn gloves can be discarded in the regular trash.
  
• Sterile gloves, (e.g., surgical gloves) are not necessary.
  
• Care must be taken to avoid touching any other parts of the body with gloved hands, since contaminated gloves may transfer anthrax spores to other body sites.
  
• Long-sleeved clothing should be worn to protect exposed skin, and gloves should be pulled over the ends of the sleeves.
  
• Mail room employees should be careful to remove all personal protective equipment before exiting the mail room and walking through other parts of the facility, to prevent possible cross-contamination.
  
• Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water immediately after gloves are removed. Soap and water will wash away most spores that may have contacted the skin, and disinfectant solutions are not needed. Do not rely on alcohol-based hand cleaners as they will not remove spores as well as soap and water.
  

What forms of personal protective equipment should be utilized?
Protective nitrite or vinyl powder-free (non-latex) gloves should be made available to all persons who open mail routinely.

Gloves should be provided in a range of sizes, and in different lengths. For recommendations on effective use of gloves, please refer to the section above on prevention of cutaneous anthrax.

If the mail room risk assessment suggests that workers may be at risk for exposure to airborne anthrax spores, the use of an N-95 or higher respirator may be prudent for certain workers in mail rooms. If so, fit testing and training to wear the mask will be required.

The use of disposable aprons by persons working with or near equipment or machinery known or suspected to generate aerosolized particles may provide an extra margin of protection. Used aprons can be discarded in the regular trash. If a suspicious piece of mail is recognized and handled, the protective gear should be handled as potentially contaminated material.

What should mail room workers do if they develop a skin sore or respiratory or flu-like symptoms?
Persons who work in mail rooms should immediately see their medical provider if they develop a cough, fever, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, or a sore on their skin.

They should be sure to let their provider know if they handle mail or have been exposed to a powder or suspicious substance. They should also notify their supervisor.