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Please click here to order TODAY
Introducing the
complete Contaminated Mail Isolation System for suspicious
mail believed to contain dangerous biological or
chemical agents. The Powdersafe™system is certified
airtight, and designed to Ergonomics principles. Ensuring
the unit is lightweight, robust, easy to use and readily
transportable. The system is equally at home in the office,
mail room environment, in the field with Law Enforcement
agencies or aboard a vessel at sea.
Powdersafe™ is
designed to remove the threat from the place of discovery
with minimum disruption to your business. The unit can be
removed in a discreet manner without further disturbance of
the suspicious mail and contaminant.
Powdersafe™
provides peace of mind and addresses Occupational Health and
Safety concerns within the work environment providing
protection to both the employer and the employee in
accordance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation.
Powdersafe™ is
Australian designed and produced and is now in use with
government departments, the corporate sector and educational
facilities.
Please click here to order TODAY
The Risks
As the office
mail is opened, an alarm is raised when one envelope spills
out a suspicious looking white powder.
What follows is a
lengthy and traumatic process for those people affected and
a considerable loss of productivity, often at a very high
cost to the employer.
This can be
avoided by using the Powdersafe™system.
Assess the hazard
by determining the likelihood and the consequences.
SUSPICIOUS MAIL
RISK MATRIX
First, assess the
likelihood of receiving a letter containing a suspicious
powder in the mail (has such a letter been received in the
past?). Next, determine the consequences of receiving a
hazardous substance in the mail (worst case scenario).
Circle the number
in the cell where the column and row you have selected
intersect. If that number is a 1, 2 or 3 the Powdersafe
Biohazard Containment system should be implemented without
delay. If that number is a 4 or 5, the Powdersafe
Contaminated Mail Isolation System is recommended.
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Consequences |
Likelihood - How likely is it to be harmful? |
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How severely could it harm someone? |
Very likely, could happen at any time |
Likely, could happen sometime |
Unlikely could happen, but very rarely |
Very unlikely could happen, but probably never will |
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Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health |
1
Use Powdersafe
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1
Use Powdersafe
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2
Use Powdersafe
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3
Use Powdersafe
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Long term illness or serious injury |
1
Use Powdersafe
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2
Use Powdersafe
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3
Use Powdersafe
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4
Powdersafe recommended
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Medical attention and several days off work |
2
Use Powdersafe
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3
Use Powdersafe
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4
Powdersafe recommended
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5
Powdersafe recommended
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First aid needed |
3
Use Powdersafe
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4
Powdersafe recommended
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5
Powdersafe recommended
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6
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HAZARD CONTROL
HIERARCHY
1
Eliminate the hazard - this is usually the most
effective method of removing a risk but with mail handling
it is not practical.
2
Change equipment or materials – if you can’t eliminate the
hazard, think about redesigning the equipment or the work
process. The Powdersafe system allows you to keep the mail
in-house and handle it safely. Suspect mail is isolated
within the airtight inspection unit.
3
Change work methods – if you can’t do 1 or 2 above, think
about different ways the mail handling can be done.
4
Use personal protective equipment this is usually the least
satisfactory method of minimising a risk but with mail
handling it is not recommended.
The Solution
The
Powdersafe™system allows you to open suspicious mail in an
airtight and safe environment. The system is designed to
remove the suspect letter and substance from the workplace
via a responding authority who will take it to an authorised
laboratory where the substance can be tested. Police
may secure the letter and its contents as evidence.
Don’t risk an
exposure, apply universal precautions. Would you want to
undress outside and take a cold shower in the middle of
winter? Remember anthrax can kill you. The
Powdersafe™system allows you to handle suspicious mail in a
safe, airtight environment.
Universal
Precautions - treat all mail as a threat to the safety of
your people until otherwise determined.
The hallmarks of
suspicious mail
- Usually but
not always hand written;
- Incorrect
title or address;
- Generic title
- addressed to a senior "position" in the organisation,
rather than the occupant of the position;
- Postcode does
not match sender’s return address;
- No identifying
characteristics such as name, sender’s address or any other
details;
- Unusual return
address;
- Excessive
securing material, such as sticky tape to seal ends;
- Incorrect
spelling of names or common words;
- Marked with
restrictions such as "FOR RECIPIENT’S EYES ONLY",
"PERSONAL", "DO NOT X-RAY", "EXPRESS DELIVERY" or
"CONFIDENTIAL";
- Any item of
mail that makes you feel uncomfortable;
- Staining on
the envelope;
- Contents feel
lumpy, uneven or move when tipped;
- Excessive
postage;
- Odour;
- Hoax mail can
be posted overseas;
- Unusual
markings such as "skull and crossbones" - generally indicate
a hoax but may contain a powder. Again, apply universal
precautions and treat as a threat.
The Powdersafe™ System
The
Powdersafe™ System consists of the following;
The inner
inspection/containment unit is designed to handle
identified suspicious mail up to A4 size envelopes. The
upper cover of the unit is a transparent one piece moulded
lid. The unit is fitted with nitrile gloves which have high
chemical and abrasive resistance and do not expose the user
to the risk of latex reaction. The base of the unit is black
to provide contrast with substances.
The unit is
simple to operate and is locked down via two latches. Once
this is done the airtight seal is obtained allowing
suspicious mail to be opened in complete safety.
The unit is
supplied with two letter openers sourced to ensure the
gloves cannot be accidentally damaged and allow the operator
to open mail with the maximum of ease.
The inner unit is
built to Australian Standards and has been tested by a
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) of
Australia certified laboratory to International Standards
for its airtight seal.
The inner unit
weighs approximately three kilograms and is robust.
The outer
transportation unit is built to military standards and
designed to cradle the inner unit during transportation and
to provide maximum protection of the inner unit and its
contents. The outer unit is high visibility yellow and
clearly marked. The outer unit is designed to withstand
falls from up to three metres without damage to the
contents.
The combined
weight of the two units is approximately thirteen kilograms.
The
Powdersafe™system is only as good as the operator therefore
comprehensive training is provided to the
purchaser/operator and is delivered by either face to face
training, online training or via a Powerpoint presentation
on disk supplied with the system.
The training
includes safe mail handling procedures from the point of
receiving the mail through to distribution within an
organisation, hallmarks of suspicious mail and operation of
the Powdersafe™system including procedures to be implemented
upon discovery of a letter containing contaminant.
In order to
maintain the integrity of the Powdersafe™system the
units are serviced on an annual basis when the gloves and
seals are replaced and the inner unit inspected.
Features and
Benefits of the Powdersafe™System
| FEATURE |
BENEFIT |
| Accredited
by the Australian Government Security Construction
Equipment Committee (SCEC) and T4 endorsed |
Comprehensively tested - approved for use in
Commonwealth Government Departments and other agencies |
| Airtight -
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)
certified in accordance with the NSF Standards of
America |
Exceeded the
highest available standard to protect the workplace and
staff. Airtight seal preserves the evidence for forensic
investigation. |
| Developed in
consultation with Microbiology facilities. Isolation
chamber fits directly into category one and two
Biosafety cabinets |
Accepted by
health authorities. Contaminated mail may not need to be
transferred into another container |
| Developed in
consultation with responding authorities |
The
contaminant is removed from the workplace in the
Powdersafe system for testing. Protects the workplace
from further contamination as the isolation chamber does
not need to be reopened |
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Ergonomically designed |
User
friendly and safe - designed for 95% of the population |
| Award
winning |
Best Design
Solution 2003 OHS Awards |
| Complete
system |
Designed to
do the complete job from point of discovery through to
analysis. Protects the workplace and emergency
responders. Reduces the requirement for Hazmat
procedures. Negates the effect sought by the offender as
work may continue undisturbed. Protects staff from
physical and psychological effects. |
| Provides
protection for the workplace |
May reduce
insurance premiums. Protects against claims for loss of
business continuity in co-tenanted buildings. Protects
against the loss of business continuity. Reduces the
need to build a special mail room facility. |
| Meets duty
of care requirements under OH&S (OSH) |
Ensures a
safe place of work and a safe system of work during mail
sorting/handling |
| Financial
Protection |
Provides a
comprehensive protective system against the threat of
contaminated mail. One contaminated letter in an
unprotected workplace may have very costly financial
implications. Average cost to a SME for a four hour
closure is between $9K and $45K |
| Controls the
risk |
Uses the
principle of isolate and remove |
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Transportable |
Can easily
be moved from one location to another as it will fit
into an average size vehicle. Can be used in the office
environment, aboard a vessel at sea or as a field
response unit. The system can be removed in a discrete
manner reducing unwanted attention. |
| Simple to
use and easy to operate |
Only two
latches require operation to make the isolation chamber
airtight. Intuitive design - does not require complex
training or operating procedures. Provides peace of mind
to people opening the mail |
| Complements
x-rays and scanning devices |
Completes
the investigative system for suspect mail. Allows safe
checking of suspect mail not containing metal |
| Lightweight
isolation chamber |
Easy to
handle and can be taken to the suspect item which
reduces the risk. Ergonomic tests show safe to manually
handle |
| Transparent
isolation chamber |
Requires no
artificial lighting and contents are easily observed
from different angles |
| Nitrile
gloves-high chemical and abrasion resistance |
Do not
contain latex - no risk of latex reaction. Protection
from both biological and chemical substances that can be
delivered in an envelope |
| Isolation
Chamber - single piece mould |
Removes the
issue of joint integrity |
| Air tight
sampling ports |
Fitted in
consultation with responding authorities and health
agencies to enhance testing capabilities whilst reducing
risk. Screw out fittings with heavy duty o-rings. |
| Adaptable |
Can be
fitted with different ports or made in different sizes
for special purposes |
| Does not
require a power source |
Is not
reliant upon a power source to be effective. |
| No
protruding components or filters |
Contaminant
is wholly contained in the isolation chamber. No
components to be damaged on the outside of the unit all
fittings are flush. No filters to change or fail. |
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Transportation case to protect the unit in the workplace
and during transportation. Built to military standards. |
Provides
protection for staff, the work environment and
responding authorities. Provides double walled
protection. |
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Comprehensive tutorials on line that are regularly
updated |
nsures staff
understand the dangers of contaminated mail and how to
reduce the risk. Pictorial representation of the
hallmarks of suspect mail - raises the users awareness.
Easily accessible and new staff can be trained and as
required. |
| Recommended
annual service |
Ensures the
integrity of the system |
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PPE
Kits
Personal Protective Equipment
for safe mail handling
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Jet
Black Gloves
Nitrile disposable gloves
 |
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Super
OMNI
Metal Detector
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To have a
representative contact you in relation to the Powdersafe
System please email
Please click here to order TODAY
markd@24hr-security.com
All content © 2003 Powdersafe™
DISCLAIMER
The Powdersafe® Contaminated Mail Isolation system provides
an increased level of protection and makes no claims of
preventing the exposure to any biological or chemical agents
that may exist outside the isolation/inspection unit. The
isolation/inspection unit is not designed for corrosive,
explosive, flammable or radiological material and will offer
no protection against these substances. Powdersafe Pty Ltd
recommends that all people handling mail in conjunction with
the Powdersafe system wear personal protective equipment in
accordance with the training tutorials and follow the
guidelines to reduce the risk of exposure. Failure to do so
is at the users risk.
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