To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Vice Chancellor, Administration and HR" <ccolbert@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: ccolbert@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Update:  Handling Letters and Packages

DATE:     October 25, 2001

TO:       Faculty and Staff

FROM:     Charles C. Colbert
          Vice Chancellor for Administration and Human Resources

SUBJECT:  SAFETY ALERT	


Update:  Handling Letters and Packages - Concerns about Anthrax

On October 23, the United States Postal Service (USPS) implemented several 
preventive measures to protect its employees from exposure to anthrax. 
This was done in response to the recent deaths of two USPS employees who 
worked in the Washington D.C. Brentwood Road facility. The USPS has begun 
providing all employees who process mail with masks and gloves for their 
protection knowing there is no definitive public-health answer about the 
level of protection these devices provide. 

With few exceptions, essentially all U.S. mail delivered to the Campus is 
by either Champaign or Urbana postal workers. Use of the personal 
protective equipment (PPE) is not mandatory but is being encouraged for 
USPS workers as the USPS continues to investigate potential anthrax 
contamination at several postal facilities in Virginia and Maryland.  
Individuals who have the responsibility for processing departmental mail 
need to exercise prudent practices described herein. 

The recently provided information on handling suspicious letters and 
packages (http://www.vcadmin.uiuc.edu/mail.html) remains the recommended 
guidance for Campus and should be followed. However, the Campus will 
continue to monitor the ongoing investigation and updated information 
being provided by the USPS and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) to ensure that the practices we recommend are consistent 
with those provided by those agencies.

An important component of the current guidelines is hand washing. Hand 
washing is frequently recognized as the single most important measure in 
reducing the risk of transmitting disease causing organisms. Therefore, 
the simple act of washing ones hands with soap and water following mail 
handling and prior to taking a break (e.g., for a meal or otherwise) or 
leaving work is a simple, yet effective way to reduce the possibility of 
transmitting microorganisms.

Some departments have begun to provide disposable gloves for use by those 
persons handling the mail. If gloves are used, please make sure to use 
them properly. Guidelines for proper glove use include:

- Putting on clean gloves immediately before handling the mail.

- Refraining from wearing gloves throughout the office.

- Keeping your hands away from your face (eyes, nose, mouth) while wearing 
gloves (e.g., wiping sweat away, brushing hair away from the face).

- Removing and disposing of the gloves as you complete your mail duties.
To take off gloves, pinch one glove at the base of one palm with the thumb 
and forefinger of the other hand and peel it off inside out. Slide the 
thumb of the bare hand under edge of the other glove, pinch the glove and 
peel it off. Both gloves will be inside out, with one contained within the 
other. The potentially contaminated surfaces of the gloves will be inside 
and the gloves will be ready for disposal. Place the gloves in a waste can 
having a plastic bag liner.

- Immediately after disposing of the gloves and PRIOR to starting other 
duties (e.g., answering the phone, making copies, etc.) wash your hands 
with soap and water.  

Wearing gloves does not replace the need for hand washing because gloves 
may have small, unapparent defects or may be torn during use, and hands 
can become contaminated during removal of gloves. For additional 
information or training on proper use of PPE (e.g., glove selection, use, 
removal, and disposal), please contact the Division of Environmental 
Health and Safety at 333-2755 or dehs@uiuc.edu.

This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration & HR

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