244 Incident Response Procedures

When handling incidents involving harmful matter, especially if a mailpiece is damaged or suspected of damage, Postal Service personnel must:

1. Isolate the package immediately and restrict access to the area. If the incident occurs in a facility or on the equipment of an air carrier, immediately inform the carrier of the material‘s nature and quantity.
2. Contact the supervisor or designated qualified employee to assess whether the spill is minor (manageable by the facility‘s spill and leak team) or if it requires implementation of the emergency action plan. If mail sealed against inspection must be opened for this purpose, act in accordance with ASM 274.
3. Remove injured or contaminated individuals from the area with as little physical contact as possible:
1. Provide only necessary first aid until qualified medical personnel arrive.
2. Direct personnel exposed to radioactive materials to immediately wash thoroughly with cold water and seek medical attention.
4. If the spill is determined to be an emergency, notify the fire department, police, and other appropriate agencies.
5. Avoid exposure to smoke, fumes, or dust in the affected area.
6. Do not eat, drink, or smoke/vape in the affected area.
7. Do not place involved areas in service until the appropriate authorities have determined that the areas are free of all contamination.
8. Report the incident to the PCSC (refer to 213 for contact information) or Postal Service Inspection Service and file an online Mailpiece Incident Report (MIR) for spills, leaks, or hazardous, restricted, or perishable material. These must be filed using the Mail Incident Report Toolkit (MIRT) according to incident type

Refer to Handbook EL-812, Hazardous Materials and Spill Response for specific procedures.