 |
 |
|
Royal Mail - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive (CBRNE) - Guidance Updated
In LTB932/10, Dave encloses pdf versions of updated leaflets aimed at managers and staff informing them of the correct process to be followed. However, these are not available on-line for reasons stated by Dave: " 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." The comprehensive LTB goes into a lot of detail and it can be downloaded from the CWU website from the members only section of the website or obtained from the appropriate Branch Officer in your area. In his LTB, dave says: " 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'. Dave states: "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." The LTB gives some detail with regard to threat levels: 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.
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. The LTB concludes: "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 the new 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." Source: CWU
|
 |
Dave Joyce, CWU's
National Health, Safety and Environment Officer has written to all All Postal Branches,
Royal Mail Area Safety Reps, and CWU Regional H&S Forums providing urgent information with regard to the procedures in the event suspect parcels are found on Royal Mail premises.