Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear & Explosive Guide

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 932/10 - Royal Mail - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive (CBRNE) - Updated Guidance - "Be Aware" Guide Version 2 - Responding

No. 932/10
Ref E1/10
Date: 25th October 2010


All Postal Branches
All Royal Mail Area Safety Reps
All CWU Regional H&S Forums
Dear Colleauges
Royal Mail - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive (CBRNE) - Updated Guidance - "Be Aware" Guide Version 2 - Responding to Suspect Packages and Materials:
Background
The events of September 11th 2001 and the anthrax attacks in America of the following month have fundamentally altered the way that governments plan for potential terrorist incidents. The United Kingdom government accepts that there is a realistic possibility of some form of unconventional terrorist attack in the western world and that this could involve CBRNE material. The effects of such an attack would clearly present significant problems. It is therefore vital that organisations are prepared and able to respond, alongside the emergency services and other agencies, as effectively and efficiently as possible.
The term CBRNE is used to describe the whole range of incidents that can occur as a result of a release of chemical, biological, radiological or explosive material. However accidental release, outbreaks, contamination and spillages or leakages can produce equally severe consequences to manage and from which to recover. The measures required to deal with the consequences of any such incident and crisis featuring for example the release of toxic substances or a infectious bio-agents form part of the key contingency plans in the new guidance booklets/manuals published by Royal Mail which also highlight key areas of pre-planning activity.
Introduction
These new guidance booklets/manuals are designed to give local management and Persons in Charge (PIC) the information and advice they need to co-ordinate the response to a suspect package or other incident, review and assess what went well and what could be improved and maintain the contingency 'Unit/Site/Building Plan'.

The new guidance has been compiled in conjunction with the Home Office - Office for Security and Counter Terrorism and the Police National CBRNE Centre.
Preparation and emergency planning are essential components in protecting the health and well-being of the workforce and minimising the impact on the business of all incidents, and responding effectively requires management and Unions to work together to achieve these objectives and a return to normality as quickly as possible. Royal Mail Letters has been working with the CWU Health and Safety Dept and government departments to ensure that timely and effective procedures and advice are in place and delivered nationally, regionally and locally. The co-ordination and control of emergency response is an important task.
Government Departments and the Police CBRNE Centre are satisfied that Royal Mail is better prepared, levels of co-operation have increased, and there are good planning and response arrangements in place. Steps are in place to maximise safety for all involved and when necessary to call in the specially trained emergency service responders to attend.
'Be Aware'
'Be Aware' Version 2 is the updated step-by-step Guidance for Line Managers on dealing with 'suspect packages' and is an easy reference, aide memoire. An electronic pdf file version is attached for your information.
'Stay Calm'
The new 'Be Aware' is complemented by the 'Stay Calm' Person in Control(PIC)/Site Managers Guidance Manual on managing various incidents (i.e. suspect packages, bomb threat, fire, flood, storm, explosion, building damage, power loss, gas leaks, hostage situations, fatal or serious accident, health alerts, public incidents etc). As Safety Reps may on occasion experience situations where this is used or is referred to, a pdf file version is also attached.


THESE ARE PARTICULARLY FOR THE ATTENTION OF BRANCH AREA HEALTH AND SAFETY REP TO WHOM THIS LTB SHOULD BE REFERRED AS A MATTER OF IMPORTANCE.
The 'Be Aware' and 'Stay Calm' Guides are supported by a set of further more detailed "Business Protection" (BP) Manuals introduced and the full set are listed below:-
Royal Mail Business Protection (BP) Guides/Manuals:
A new suite of Royal Mail Business Protection (BP) Manuals have been introduced as follows:
1 / be aware - A line manager’s guide to dealing with suspect packages
2 / stay calm - A site manager’s guide to managing an incident
3 / be prepared - A regional operations director’s guide to managing an incident
4 / take control - A Central Postal Control guide to assessing and supporting an incident
5 / take action - A Business Protection team guide to managing an incident
Note: This suite of incident manuals were submitted to the UK’s 2009/10 Continuity Awards and won the ‘Crisis Strategy of the Year’ award.

'Be Aware' (What To Do If You Discover A Suspect Package) gives advice on:
· What to do if suspect CBRNE mail is discovered and responding to the situation.
· Recognising and assessing the risk of a potential suspect package and white-powder type incidents involving chemical agents, biological agents, radiological/nuclear materials and postal bombs;
· Factors and staff at the scene that should be taken into account;
· Implementing a cordon and exclusion zone around the scene, testing/detection equipment deployment, contacting CPC and Police;
· Dealing with packages discovered out on collection or delivery and
· Consulting and Involving the CWU Health and Safety Reps.
'Be Aware' Version 2 is just one part of a continuing process of ensuring our operational sites are ready to detect and deal with CBRNE incidents as best we can. It must be seen in the context of all the CBRNE emergency services responders with whom the business works closely. Initiating the appropriate response is crucial, and preventing further risk of contamination or injury of the workforce and the surrounding areas. Although the 'Be Aware' is directed at Line Managers, much of the advice and procedures are generic and is appropriate to staff and their Health and Safety Representatives. A concise nineteen pages, the guide or aide memoire gives clear information aimed at those in the front line to respond to a CBRNE incident.
'Be Aware' (summary)
Section A - assess the risk
A suspect package has been reported to you. In Section A you will determine what type of package you have encountered and assess the risk it poses to your safety and that of those around you. The subsequent instructions will guide you through this process and, based upon your answers, you will be directed to the next appropriate section of this booklet.


Section B - respond to the situation
A suspect package has been reported to you. You have arrived at this section because: In Section A you assessed that it poses a risk. Now in Section B you will need to take immediate steps to ensure your safety and that of those around you. The subsequent instructions will guide you through this process. If in doubt at any stage call Central Postal Control (CPC).


Section C - support the police
A suspect package has been reported to you. You have arrived at this section because: In Section A you assessed that it poses a risk. In Section B you consulted Central Postal Control who agreed that the item might pose a risk and advised you to call the Police. Now in Section C you need to support the Police investigation and ensure the wellbeing of your people. The subsequent instructions will guide you through the process of liaising with the Police and briefing your people.

Section D - close the incident
A suspect package has been reported to you. You have arrived at this section because in any of the previous sections you have determined that it does not pose a risk. The subsequent instructions will guide you through the process of returning the item to the mail stream and closing the incident. [Note: depending upon the conclusion reached in section A, or B you can quite correctly go on to section D and close the incident down]
Management/PiC Involving and working with the CWU Health and Safety Representatives is embedded in the procedures.
Person in Control (PiC)
The Person in Control (PiC) of a business site has the key role to play. There will be a designated PiC at all sites, supported by deputies. In this role, the PiC is responsible for the health and safety of those people who work in or visit the site, and for the relationship with the community and impact on the environment. The Person in Control (PiC) (and/or their deputy) must:
· Take immediate responsibility for managing an incident, must co-ordinate the response to an incident,
· Make an initial judgement of the seriousness of the incident and its potential impact,
· Initiate evacuation procedures if necessary,
· Ensure that everyone, including any visitors or contractors, have been accounted for,
· Liaise with the Emergency Services when they arrive on site
· Inform Central Postal Control (CPC) and line manager that an incident has occurred,
· Ensure that health and safety and security procedures are maintained at all times during the incident,
· Ensure that no direct contact is made with the media, referring any approaches to the Regional External Relations team.
· After the incident the PiC should review and assess what went well and what could be improved. A formal review should be carried out within a few days, noting what worked or didn’t work as quickly as possible after the incident, so it’s not forgotten.
· Ensure the formal review is copied to Central Postal Control.
· Ensure that the electronic word version of the ‘unit plan’ is fully completed
· Ensure that a printed copy is kept in section 2.1 of the ‘Stay Calm’ handbook. THIS CONTAINS NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF CWU AND UNITE/CMA HEALTH AND SAFETY REPS.
· Send an electronic copy to the PICs line manager.
· Ensure that the information contained in the ‘unit plan’ is kept update as any information that is missing or out of date could delay or mislead the emergency services response.
· Ensure that an appropriate site plan is obtained and placed in section 2.2 of the ‘Stay Calm’ handbook as emergency services are unlikely to be familiar with the layout of the site and buildings and absence of a site plan could delay their response.
The Threat Level
The threat level to the UK from international terrorism has been publicly available since August 2006. The system of threat levels has been created to keep people informed
about the level of threat the UK faces from terrorism at any given time. The Security Service (MI5) and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) work together to set the UK's threat level. This system helps police and other law enforcement agencies decide how to allocate staff. The threat level represents the likelihood of an attack in the near future. Some attacks take years to plan, while others are put together very quickly. The current threat level is regularly reviewed and is shown on the Home Office website and the Security Services (MI5) website. The current threat level is SEVERE. There are five threat levels:
Low – an attack is unlikely
Moderate – an attack is possible, but not likely
Substantial – an attack is a strong possibility
Severe – an attack is highly likely
Critical – an attack is expected imminently
It is thought that the risk of terrorists using the Postal Service to deliver weapons at present is fairly low but it is possible and the threat is real and should be taken seriously. It's not only International Terrorists that pose a threat that has to be managed and from time to time individuals run their own criminal campaigns, sending toxic cocktails and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) through the post. For example:- In 2005 33 -years old electrician Justin McAuliffe was jailed for life for a letter-bomb campaign against 50 former friends, family, employers and acquaintances, he harboured a grudge against. One person was slightly hurt. In 2007 26-year-old school caretaker Miles Cooper was jailed for an indeterminate 5 Years to Life for a series of malicious letter bomb attacks on state institutions and private companies that he believed were connected to the rise in the 'surveillance society'. Nine people injured.
Additionally of course members of the public occasionally send substances, liquids or bio-agents through the post which they shouldn't do or send them inappropriately packaged and these items are a hazard they may have to be dealt with should it break open.
Members of the public and workers, particularly postal workers should always remain vigilant and alert to the danger of terrorism and report any suspicious activity. Use of thenew guidance and the detection/analysis equipment for which increased numbers of Engineers are now trained to use will hopefully, better protect the safety and health of CWU member in Royal Mail whilst maintaining an efficient service and so protecting Jobs.


A limited number of hard copies of "Be Aware" have been provided to CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department by Royal Mail and a copy is being sent to each Branch Area Safety Rep with this LTB. This information should not be shared with persons outside Royal Mail on a 'free for publication' basis so as to ensure the systems and processes protecting our members are not compromised.
Yours Sincerely,

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety and Environment Officer

[nottadrone]

Whatever happened to:

1) Isolate suspect package
2) Clear the vicinity
3) Phone the Police / Army Bomb squad?

Simples.

But now it's going to be...
1) Suspect package reported to manager.
2) Said manager hunts high and low for their copy of this booklet.
3) Said Manager reads booklet and checks off to do items.
4) Said Manager phones CPC to consult with them about said suspect item.
5) BANG!

[guvenor]

6 ) run

[DGP1]

I thought this was about the noxious emissions in the mornings