How to deal with a postal bomb discovered in an Air Hub
Before proceeding or calling 999, you must conduct a risk assessment and call Central Postal Control (CPC) on 0345 266 1060 to agree how to proceed.
If CPC agree that the item is suspicious, you should follow the instructions below to ensure the safety of your people.
WARNING!
Mobile phones and hand-held radios should not be used in the vicinity of the suspect item.
Respond appropriately
Record details of the item
If you haven’t done so already, note details, such as postmark, addressee and sender. The sender or addressee may be able to verify the contents of the package.
If the item is DAMAGED, move away from the item
Leave the item where it is and evacuate the room/floor, clearing all areas in direct line of sight of the item (ie. not protected by walls).
If the item is UNDAMAGED, do your best to secure the item (ie. move to designated place of safety or bomb tube)
- Ask someone to ensure the route to the designated place of safety, or bomb tube is cleared of people and kept clear.
- Ask another person to ensure the bomb tube or place of safety is clear of rubbish, etc.
- If it is considered safe to do so, transfer the item to the safe area or bomb tube (leave the lid off).
- Establish a 20m exclusion zone around the suspect item.
If the item is UNDAMAGED (and the Air Hub has a NABCO containment device), a trained operator should do the following:
- Move the NABCO to the suspect item.
- Load the suspect item into the NABCO.
- Ensure the designated route and safe area are clear.
- Move the NABCO through the designated route to the safe area.
- Leave the suspect item in the NABCO and create an exclusion area around the NABCO of at least 4m radius.
Call CPC to decide how to proceed
Brief Central Postal Control (CPC) on the situation and get its advice on how to proceed.
If CPC agree that the item may pose a risk
Call and support the police
If CPC do not agree the item poses a risk
Close the incident
If in doubt at any stage always call Central Postal Control (CPC)
Central Postal Control deals with issues on a regular basis and will be able to talk you through how to deal with any situation.