Text: U.S. Postal Service Plans to Irradiate Mail

25 October 2001

Text: U.S. Postal Service Plans to Irradiate Mail

Irradiation part of tough new set of safety measures

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) says it will soon begin irradiating mail as part of tough new procedures to kill potential anthrax bacteria and make the mail safe.

According to an October 24 press release, Postmaster General Jack Potter, in announcing the new safety procedures, said USPS is also educating employees and the public about how to spot suspicious pieces of mail.

"We are also investigating to find out who is sending these dangerous mail pieces, and we are aggressively intervening when the public or our employees are put at risk by terrorists," Potter said.

The new postal safety measures are in response to anthrax mail contamination that has been found on Capitol Hill, at the Brentwood mail sorting center near Washington, D.C., and in a New Jersey mail sorting center. Contaminated mail has so far claimed the lives of two postal workers at the Brentwood center.

Potter said that the new irradiation technology to neutralize anthrax "won't be cheap, but we are committed to spending what it takes to make the mail safe."

Irradiation, which consists of bombardment of the mail with electrons, is already being used to kill bacteria in some foods. While several different irradiation technologies exist, one of the easiest to use involves an electron beam of high-energy electrons propelled out of an electron gun. The electron-beam generator can be switched on and off, and while no radioactivity is involved, some shielding is necessary to protect workers from the beam.

As for other safety procedures being implemented, Potter said USPS will be providing employees who process mail with masks and gloves if they choose to use them; postal facilities will use stronger, antibacterial cleaning chemicals as part of routine maintenance; and vacuuming equipment will be installed to clean mail sorting equipment to absorb dust and other particles.

Following is the text of the press release:

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United States Postal Service

October 24, 2001

USPS adopting tough new safety measures

Postmaster General Jack Potter today announced tough new safety procedures as part of the Postal Service's four-part effort to make the mail safe.

"We are taking concrete steps immediately to protect employees and the public through education, investigation, intervention and prevention," the PMG said. Potter said USPS is educating employees and the public about steps they can take to spot suspicious pieces of mail.

"We also are investigating to find out who is sending these dangerous mail pieces," the PMG said, "and we are aggressively intervening when the public or our employees are put at risk by terrorists." The latest steps include:

-- Adopting and deploying new technology to neutralize anthrax that might move through the mail. This new technology, irradiation, already is being used successfully to fight bacteria in the food supply. "This new technology won't be cheap, but we are committed to spending what it takes to make the mail safe," Potter said.

-- We will be providing employees who process mail with masks and gloves for their protection if they choose to use them.

-- We are establishing field command centers so employees can notify the centers if they seek admission to a hospital. That way we can quickly identify any pattern of medical problems that might develop.

-- We are changing the procedures we use to clean mail sorting equipment. We are installing and will use vacuuming equipment exclusively to clean the equipment to absorb dust and other particles.

-- Postal facilities will use stronger, antibacterial cleaning chemicals as part of routine maintenance.

-- Supervisors and postmasters will continue to give mandatory stand-up talks to employees to provide the information they need to stay safe.

We will keep you updated in future Newsbreaks on the facts as they become available. PMG Potter will address employees later today on USPS TV to talk about the prevention steps.

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