Powdersafe
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Powdersafe provides users with the means to identify, assess and control the risks associated with daily mail processing. The Powdersafe system is built to the highest technical standards and consists of an isolation chamber, a transport case and seven informative tutorials.
Powdersafe is endorsed by the Australian Federal Government (SCEC) and is used by government, corporate entities and emergency responders worldwide.
Powdersafe is the complete system for dealing with suspicious mail believed to contain a contaminant. Powdersafe controls suspicious mail from point of discovery right through to final analysis of the powder. The Powdersafe system protects the health and safety of people processing mail, the emergency responders and laboratory technicians. Powdersafe is the only complete system.
Download the Powdersafe Information video
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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.
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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.
| Consequences | Likelihood – How likely is it to be harmful? | |||
| 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 |
| Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health | 1 Use Powdersafe | 1 Use Powdersafe | 2 Use Powdersafe | 3 Use Powdersafe |
| Long term illness or serious injury | 1 Use Powdersafe | 2 Use Powdersafe | 3 Use Powdersafe | 4 Powdersafe recommended |
| Medical attention and several days off work | 2 Use Powdersafe | 3 Use Powdersafe | 4 Powdersafe recommended | 5 Powdersafe recommended |
| First aid needed | 3 Use Powdersafe | 4 Powdersafe recommended | 5 Powdersafe recommended | 6 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
Personal Protective Equipment for safe mail handling
Nitrile disposable gloves
Metal Detector
To have a representative contact you in relation to the Powdersafe System please email
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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.