Emergency Preparedness
Suspicious Package or Envelope Procedure
Approved by:
GAM 3.48 Corporate Health and Safety
Purpose:
To provide guidelines to YG staff in the event of suspicious package or envelope found in the
workplace.
Scope:
The following procedure applies at all owned/leased facilities under the authority of the Deputy
Minister/President of YG departments/corporations and all the people in the facility.
Responsibilities:
Senior Management
Meet with emergency services personnel to determine the best course of action
Instruct staff according to directions of emergency personnel
Supervisor
Call emergency services 9-911
Alert senior management
Secure area and await instructions from emergency personnel
Staff
Stay in your work area, unless instructed otherwise by your supervisor
Look around your work area for any suspicious packages
If you find something DO NOT TOUCH IT
Report anything unusual to your supervisor or emergency personnel
If instructed to evacuate, follow evacuation procedures
Procedures:
DO NOT attempt to touch, move or dispose of
DO NOT shake or empty the contents of any suspicious package or envelope
DO NOT carry the package or envelope, show it to others or allow others to examine it
Place item on a stable surface
DO NOT sniff, touch, taste, or look closely at it or at any spilled contents
Alert others in the area about the suspicious package or envelope
Leave the area, close any doors, and prevent others from entering the area
Created By
Approved Date
Revision Date
1
Emergency Preparedness
Suspicious Package or Envelope Procedure
Approved by:
GAM 3.48 Corporate Health and Safety
If possible, shut off the ventilation system.
WASH hands with soap and water to prevent spread of potentially infectious material
Seek additional instructions for exposed or potentially exposed persons
Notify your Supervisor so the area may be closed to minimize risk to public and staff
Await instructions
If told to evacuate follow instructions, as usual evacuation procedures may not apply
You may be asked to take your briefcase, purse or other personal belongings with you.
Typical characteristics of suspicious packages or envelopes
Excessive postage
Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
Misspellings of common words
Strange return address or no return address
Incorrect titles or title without a name
Not addressed to a specific person
Marked with restrictions such as "Personal," "Confidential," or "Do
not x-ray"
Marked with threatening language
Postmarked from a city or other location that does not match the
return address
Powdery substance felt through or on the package or envelope
Oily stains, discolorations, or odor
Lopsided or uneven envelope
Excessive packaging material such as masking tape, string, etc.
Excessive weight
Ticking sound
Protruding wires or aluminum foil
Created By
Approved Date
Revision Date
2
