This document provides information on identifying and handling suspicious packages and mail. It lists physical characteristics that may indicate a package is suspicious, such as excessive tape, odd smells or sounds, poor balance or labeling issues. The document also outlines safety procedures, including isolating suspicious packages and evacuating areas without touching packages. Various threats that could be delivered, like chemical, biological, explosive or radiological agents, are defined along with example incidents. The importance of mailroom security is stressed.

1. Emily Hubbart
Teresa Long
Charles Varghese
Jeff Wyatt

2.  Protruding
wires
 Strange odors
 Excessive tape or string
 Oily spots or
discolorations
 Ticking, sloshing or
buzzing sounds
 Excessive
size, weight, or
thickness
Source: Newstipster.com

3.  Lopsided
Source: slate.com
or uneven
envelope
 Powdery substance
felt through or
noticeable on outside
the package or
envelope
 Metallic components
or batteries
 Loose contents

4.  Marked
with restrictions
• Personal
• Confidential
• Do not x-ray
 Marked
with threatening or
abusive language
 Placed near ventilation
system
 Postmarked from a location
that does not match the
return address
 Excessive postage
Source: csoonline.com

5. 
Addressing Issues
• Misspelled words
• Mistyped or handwritten
•
•
•
•
•
•
addresses
Not addressed to a specific
person
Wrong titles or names
No or strange return
address
Unexpected point of origin
Cut-and-paste lettering
Missing postal stamp
cancellation marks
Source: Hawii.edu

7.  Chemical
Agents
 Biological Agents
 Explosive Devices
 Radiological Agents
Source: FBI

8. 

Includes biotoxins, nerve agents,
blister agents, caustic or corrosive
substances, organic solvents,
choking agents, metallic poisons,
incapacitating agents, etc.
Suspicious envelopes containing
ricin have been mailed to Public
officials
• Can be in the form of a powder, a
mist, a pellet, or it can be dissolved
in water or weak acid
• Death from ricin poisoning may
take place within 36 to 72 hours of
exposure, depending on route of
exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or
injection) and dose received
Source: WVEC.com

9.  Cause
illness,
disease, and death
• Anthrax
• Small Pox
• Virus
• Bacteria
• Rickettsiae
 Making
biological
weapons is a
complicated process
Source: expats.com

10. 
Homemade devices
designed to cause death
or injury that have:
•
•
•
•
•

A switch/trigger
An initiator (fuse)
Main charge (explosive fill)
A power source
A container
Use explosives alone or in
combination with toxic
chemicals, biological
toxins, or radiological
materials
Source: globalsecurity.org

11. Dirty Bombs or
radiological dispersal
devices (RDD), are
conventional explosives
packaged with
radioactive materials
 Injures or kills via the
initial blast of the
conventional
explosives, and by
airborne radiation
 Easily constructed

Source: SpaceWar.com

12. 
Unattended packages
can be found anywhere
• Mail Rooms
• Public buildings such as
•
•
•
•
libraries, churches, malls,
and schools
Government facilities
Near ventilation systems
Mass transit systems
Outside / public events
Source: Menupix.com

13. Mail rooms face the
biggest threat
 Protective Measures

• Employ professional security
•
•
•
•
personnel
Have security personnel
greet all employees and
visitors and examine their
personal belongings
Restrict access to the facility
to authorized users only
Keep detailed logs of visitor
arrivals and departures
Install an intrusion detection
system
Source: newpaltz.edu

14. Do
 Isolate
package immediately
 Place package or envelope on stable
surface
 WASH hands with soap and water
 Alert others
 Turn off fans or equipment that circulates air
 Evacuate / secure the area
 Notify appropriate persons or authorities

15. Don’t
 Use
radios or cellular phones near the
package
 Look closely at it
 Touch it
 Carry it
 Shake it
 Open it
 Empty it
 Taste it
 Smell it
 Show it to others

16. 










"Al Qaeda Actively Seeking Dirty Bombs: Documents." Spacewar.com. SpaceDaily, 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Al_Qaeda_actively_seeking_dirty_bombs_documents_999.html>.
Bhattacharjee, Yudhijit. "The Curse of the White Powder: How Fake Bioterrorism Attacks Became a Real Problem."
Slate Magazine. The Slate Group, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/01/white_powder_hoaxes_a_trend_in_fake_terroris
m_.html>.
"Biological Threats and Bio - Terrorism." Biological Threats and Bio - Terrorism. N.p., 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 26 May
2013. <http://cjc.delaware.gov/terrorism/bio.shtml>.
"Campus Security & Emergency Management." Campus Security & Emergency Management. N.p., 7 Nov. 2011.
Web. 26 May 2013. <http://www.hawaii.edu/security/archives_files/category-uh-alerts.html>.
Canada. National Security Directorate. Suspicious Package Response Planning Guide. By So Licito R General
Canada. N.p.: n.p., 2003. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.dps.mo.gov/homelandsecurity/safeschools/documents/Canadian%20Suspicious%20Package%20Guide.
pdf>.
"Capitol Hill Area." Capitol Hill Restaurants and Food. MenuPix, LLC, n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.menupix.com/dc/a/504/Capitol-Hill-restaurants>.
"Charges Dropped against Man in Ricin Letters Case." Wvec.com. WVEC Television, Inc., 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 26
May 2013. <http://www.wvec.com/news/Charges-dropped-against-man-in-ricin-letters-case-204366691.html>.
"Chemical Categories." CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/agentlistchem-category.asp>.
"Council on Foreign Relations." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 19 Oct. 2006. Web. 26
May 2013. <http://www.cfr.org/weapons-of-terrorism/dirty-bombs/p9548>.
"Department of Safety & Homeland SecurityBill Gibbons, Commissioner." Department of Safety & Homeland
Security. Department of Safety, n.d. Web. 26 May 2013. <http://www.tn.gov/homelandsecurity/id_mail.shtml>.
Duffy, Daintry. "Suspicious Packages and Mailroom Security - Handle with Care." CSO. CXO Media Inc, 1 July 2004.
Web. 26 May 2013. <http://www.csoonline.com/article/219412/suspicious-packages-and-mailroom-security-handlewith-care>.

17. 







"Envelope with Suspect Powder Found in Malonne Convent." The Bulletin. The Bulletin, 16
Oct. 2012. Web. 26 May 2013. <http://www.xpats.com/envelope-suspect-powder-foundmalonne-convent>.
"Facts About Ricin." CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 26 May
2013. <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp>.
"How to Recognize and Handle a Suspicious Package or Envelope." CDC Anthrax. Center
for Disease Control and Protection, n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/mail/suspiciouspackages.asp>.
"Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) / Booby Traps." Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
/ Booby Traps. Global Security, n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/ied.htm>.
"Mailroom Moved and Mail Backlog Cleared." News Pulse. News Pulse, 9 Sept. 2011. Web.
26 May 2013. <http://newspulse.newpaltz.edu/2011/09/09/mailroom-moved-and-mailbacklog-cleared/>.
"Personal Security in the Courts: Additional Threats in the Workplace." Personal Security in
the Courts: Additional Threats in the Workplace. Judicial Council of California Administrative
Office of the Courts, 2003. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/protem/courses/ct/personal_security/21_threats.htm>.
"Protect Your Workplace from Suspicious Packages." FBI. FBI, Sept. 2006. Web. 26 May
2013. <http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/september>.
United States. Homeland Security. Department of Homeland Security. Best Practices for
Safe Mail Handling. By Interagency Security Committee. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.