Redbridge: Redbridge postal workers have been put on full anthrax alert following the recent cases in the US.
There have already been two scares at the mail centre which delivers letters to the Woodford Green area, and precautions are now being put in place.
Police were called to the soring office in Romford on Monday and again on Tuesday when suspect packages containing a white powder were accidentally opened.
Staff were evacuated, the area cordoned off and the member of staff who handled the package was isolated.
The contents of both packages were found to be harmless but were found to be labelled to the same address.
A set of guidelines has now been drawn up by the Post Office's head of security and safety to deal with suspicious packages.
Postal workers are advised to not sniff the item or get too close to it, not to try to move the package and to report the incident immediately.
Staff are also told to make sure the area is vacated, and if possible, cordoned off. In the event of a spillage, the names of all those who have touched the item should be reported.
Romford's Communication Workers Union (CWU) representative John Joslin said: "It is a worry for the staff but guidelines are being implemented.
"We are meeting with the area manager to get the guidelines in place and then will start to brief the staff."
He added: "There are a lot of cranks out there who are sending all kinds of substances through the post, from flour to baking soda.
"It causes a lot of disruption as we have to evacuate the whole centre."
The CWU representative for South Woodford, Ray Fleming, said that although there have not been any anthrax scares at the South Woodford sorting office, staff were still concerned at the potential threat.
He said: "The staff are worried but every incident will be treated seriously and all precautions will be taken.
"Royal Mail is implementing strict guidelines which we will now be following."
October 25, 2001 16:00
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