Us Postal Service Guidance On Suspicious Mail Needs Further Refinement

In Oct. 2003, an envelope marked Caution: Ricin PoisonÓ was discovered at a postal facility. Ricin is a poison that, in certain forms, can cause death. The USPS has told its employees to be on the alert for suspicious mailÓ that may pose a threat & has developed guidance for them on how to identify & respond to such mail, in order to protect them. This report describes: (1) actions taken by various agencies, in responding to the incident, to protect the health of postal employees & the public; (2) USPS guidance related to suspicious mail in place in Oct. 2003 & the extent to which it was followed during the incident; & (3) subsequent changes made in this guidance & the extent to which current guidance addresses issues raised by the incident. Illus.