Postal Security Procedures for Postal Workers

APPS Safety Alert (6/29/06)

We were recently informed by the Postal Service of the following safety issue on the APPS machine. Please see that the maintenance employees in your facility are aware of this safety issue.

ISSUE

The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the 70 volt Power Supply (Elgar Electronics Corporation) has notified Lockheed Martin of a potentially unreliable electrical grounding connection. Elgar has found there is an uncertain ground between the NEMA Enclosure of the Power Supply and the Connector Panel earth ground. A wire between these two points was omitted, resulting in the ground continuity to be connected via panel screws, which are not considered a reliable connection. Due to this, in the event of a component fault within the NEMA Enclosure a potential may exist for electric shock to personnel who come into direct contact with the power supply.

CORRECTIVE ACTION

A ground wire must be added between the NEMA Enclosure and the Connector Panel earth ground. To facilitate the addition of this ground wire, Lockheed Martin will begin coordinating with the USPS for teams of technicians from Elgar to be granted access to all fielded system and spares inventory locations to install the correction to the grounding discrepancy. In addition, our Field Installation Team will work with Elgar to ensure the required ground wire is added to all APPS systems currently in the build/integration process.

INTERIM ACTION

Until this retrofit activity is completed, a heightened safety procedure is recommended for immediate implementation. Before anyone comes into direct contact with the 70 volt power supply all power feeding the power supply must be shut off and locked out. This can be accomplished by shutting off and locking out Breaker CB1 in the main SMCC electrical cabinet. This procedure should be followed for any activity, such as maintenance operations or even mail sweeping, where any person could come into direct contact with the 70 Volt power supply. Power to the 70 volt power supply should not be restored until all operations near the power supply are completed, and the machine guarding has been restored to its fully installed configuration. Gary Kloepfer
Assistant Director
Maintenance Division

(202) 842-4213
(202) 251-1495 Cell
(202) 289-3746 FAX

New Hazardous Materials Management Instruction 10-27-05
The Postal ServiceTM is committed to providing a safe workplace for its employees and providing for the safety of the general public and transportation infrastructure through the responsible management of hazardous materials and nonmailable items in the mail.

To help accomplish this, Network Operations Management recently issued Management Instruction (MI) DM-601-05-1, Hazardous Materials Acceptance and Handling.

This MI consolidates previously issued Postal Service policy and procedures for the acceptance, handling, processing, and transportation of mail containing hazardous materials throughout the Postal Service. The MI also identifies policy and procedures for the handling of nonmailable items found in the mail after acceptance.

The policies and guidelines in this MI apply to all employees at all locations where mail is accepted, handled, processed, and delivered. These procedures may not be altered for local implementation. This MI does not include policy and procedures for hazardous materials releases or suspicious and unknown powders or substances.
The MI will be available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site:

� Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

� Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

� Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

� Click on MIs.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

� Aviation Mail Security,
Network Operations, 10-27-05

NEW MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION

MI AS-910-2004-8, Biohazard Detection System Alert-Positive Test: Evacuation, personal decontamination, and post-exposure prophylaxis

Management Instruction (MI) AS-910-2004-8, Biohazard Detection System Alert-Positive Test: Evacuation, personal decontamination, and post-exposure prophylaxis contains Postal Service� policies related to the occurrence of a biohazard detection system (BDS) alert at a mail processing facility. Specifically, it provides directions for the following procedures:

� Evacuating people from facilities experiencing the BDS alert.

� Decontaminating potentially exposed people.

� Providing antibiotics to people.

This MI is based on the Postal Service Integrated Emergency Management Plan (IEMP), which is being implemented nationwide to establish an environment that better protects Postal Service employees, customers, and resources. For more information, go to http://blue.usps.gov/emergencypreparedness/ep_IEMP_awareness.htm (note that this URL is case sensitive).

MI AS-910-2004-8 is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:

� Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

� Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

� Under "References" in the right-hand column, next to "PolicyNet," click on text.

The MI will be published online only. (Postal Bulletin 7/8/04)

Revision to Postal Service Guidelines on Anthrax-Emergency planning and response in general have undergone significant improvements, and Postal ServiceTM guidance on how to respond to anthrax in the mail has undergone major changes. The "Interim Guidelines for Sampling, Analysis, Decontamination, and Disposal of B. Anthracis Spores in USPS Facilities," dated December 2003, is hereby revised to delete Section 4-7, USPS Roles and Lines of Responsibility, to more accurately reflect these changes. This revision reflects the obsoleting of policies that no longer apply, that is, Management Instruction EL-860-1999-3, Emergency Response to Mail Allegedly Containing Anthrax, and Memorandum of Policy (MOP) EP-03-22-2002, Emergency Management, are obsolete. The "Interim Guidelines for Sampling, Analysis, Decontamination, and Disposal of B. Anthracis Spores in USPS Facilities" is part of the Postal Service Integrated Emergency Management Plan (IEMP), which will be updated to reflect the deletion of Section 4-7. Postal Service MOP EP-01-13-2004, Emergency Preparedness Policy, establishes the IEMP as the Postal Service plan to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from any natural disaster or man-made hazard. (See http://blue.usps.gov/cpim/mops.htm or http://blue.usps.gov/emergencypreparedness.) -

Safety Performance Management, Employee Resource Management, 6-24-04

Local Police in Postal Facilities

State and local police are allowed into every postal facility that I am aware of. The Postal Inspection Service usually gives them written permission in advance and sets up procedures for them to follow, such as notification.

ASM 273.15 Police Protection

State and local police agencies are generally willing to assist in protecting postal property. They may inquire about the jurisdictional status of a facility to be sure it allows them access and authority to enforce their laws. Facilities purchased or leased since 1962 are occupied by the Postal Service under
proprietary jurisdiction. This term means that state or local police enjoy the same rights there as on any private property, if their activities do not unduly interfere with postal operations. Any police inquiry about status of a facility that came into postal use before 1962 should be forwarded to the inspector in
charge. (Don Cheney)

Summary: Postal Emergency Management System-The Postal Emergency Management System allows web-based and wireless communications among designated USPS individuals who are responsible for planning and coordinating activities that must take place during emergency situations. It enables nationwide staff to initiate, track, and manage emergency responses. URS Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and Johnson Climb, applied cutting edge technologies including XML, J2EE, IBM WebSphere 5.0, and Oracle in the development of the PEMS application.

News Article

U. S. Postal Service discovered a major flaw in its emergency-response system following the deaths of five people from anthrax sent through the mail in the fall of 2001: There was no quick way to let postal workers and others know about such attacks at mail facilities.

To prevent a reoccurrence, the service is rolling out the Postal Emergency Management System, an electronic network that will allow emergency teams to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate during times of crisis.

"PEMS is mainly in response to the anthrax attacks. We learned an important lesson about our lack of preparedness," says Jon Pruitt, IT program manager for emergency preparedness.
The $4.6 million network enables wireless and Web-based communications among individuals designated as emergency coordinators throughout the Postal Service. Information is sent to their PCs and wireless PDAs and, in the future, will be sent by cell phones.

Recipients not only receive word of an emergency, "PEMS pushes out a checklist in real time on what a specific individual is supposed to do," says Mike Fanning, project manager for emergency management. Once the event is resolved, PEMS provides management with detailed reporting, record-keeping, and trend analysis so such events can be better handled in the future.
The network uses an Oracle 9i database and an IBM WebSphere 5 Application Server running on Windows 2000. It also is designed to let postal workers enter an emergency alert via their PCs, PDAs, or phones to a control center. And it's tied to automatic sensors that detect toxic substances such as anthrax and those that register fire and smoke.

PEMS has been tested at several postal facilities and will be deployed over the next year.
http://informationweek.com/ (6/7/04)

See Update of February 27, 2004 from APWU (pdf)

APWU Safety Specialist Corey Thompson:

The following is a message from the Postal Service regarding a mailing.

IMPORTANT - Remember unless a suspicious powder can be identified it remains suspicious and all appropriate procedures must be followed. The following alert was sent to the field.

Subject: Alert: Oxy Clean Mailing-

.. we have been informed of a mailing containing a sample of powdered cleaner 'Oxy-Clean'. The mailing is part of a sample campaign going to 75,000 addresses through March 2004. An initial mailing of 20,000 was made on 2/18/04. The mail piece is approximately 6 1/2 inches by 8 inches in a pressured filled white flat. The pieces are being mailed bulk rate from Colorado Springs CO.

OBSOLETE MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION

Emergency Response to Mail Allegedly Containing Anthrax Management Instruction (MI) EL-860-1999-3, Emergency Response to Mail Allegedly Containing Anthrax, is now obsolete. Written before the anthrax attacks of 2001, the MI referred to hoaxes and other threats occurring at the time and provided valuable information on how to respond to anthrax. However, much has changed since the MI was issued. Emergency planning and response in general have undergone significant improvements, and guidance on how to respond to anthrax in the mail has undergone major changes.

Current Postal Service policy on anthrax is in the document "Interim Guidelines for Sampling, Analysis, Decontamination, and Disposal of B. Anthracis Spores for USPS� Facilities," dated December 2003. The document, which was prepared by the Mail Security Task Force, complements and references the National Response Team's "Technical Assistance for Anthrax Response," dated September 2002. Additional guidance on emergency response, suspicious mail handling, and anthrax-related issues is available on the Safety Resources Web page; go to http://blue.usps.gov and click on Emergency Management.

- Safety Performance Management, Employee Resource Management, 2-19-04

The issue of the Postal Service's CCTV cameras keeps popping up from time to time. Recently a poster in postalreporter Q & A Forum asked the question, "Management is installing about 40 surveillance cameras in our facility of about 120 people, including an overhead camera in our lunch room. Is it legal to have this in the lunch room? Any arbitrated cases that have ruled in favor of the union one can refer to? "

From postalreporter Q & A Forum: - At the recent Labor Notes Conference, there was a class on this issue. It is a labor charge if the employer installs surveillance equipment and does not negotiate - wages, hours and working conditions! At one of our recent Labor Management meetings I put in the request for information on all surveillance cameras locations and why they are there - management gave me the info. I also informed them that if they add any more they must inform us and negotiate with us. They agreed! --Lance Coles

Answer: CCTV cameras must be approved by the Postal Inspection Service [see ASM 271.4]. There is no security reason to have CCTV in lunch rooms or most work areas inaccessible to the public. They may not be used to evaluate the performance of employees. --Don Cheney

The rules for CCTVs were originally issued in Postal Bulletin 21899, dated August 3, 1995 [http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/1995/pb21899.pdf]. They are now found in ASM 273.17 [http://www.nalc.org/depart/cau/pdf/manuals/zips/ASM13.1.zip].

USPS Policy on Closed-Circuit Television Cameras - ASM 273.17

273.17 Closed Circuit Television System Security

273.171 Scope

This section clarifies the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) in administrative and security applications. It does not affect the manner in which the Postal Inspection Service or OIG utilizes CCTV equipment for criminal investigations.

273.172 Policy

The Postal Service uses CCTV systems for the protection of its employees, mail, and postal assets, and to monitor automated mail flow operations. The purpose of CCTV systems is to provide visual verification in conjunction with intrusion detection devices or exit alarms and doors equipped with exit alarms or access control devices. CCTV systems are to function as deterrents, and if a crime occurs in the monitored area, to record evidence of it.

The administrative and security uses of CCTV systems are limited to the following:

a. CCTV systems are installed to view parking lots, building exteriors, employee and visitor entrances, other access controlled entrances, emergency egress only, post office box areas, public access areas, and designated high-value locations, such as registry areas.

b. CCTV systems are not installed to view work areas to evaluate the performance of employees.

c. CCTV systems do not utilize �dummy� or nonfunctioning CCTV cameras.

d. Security in the postal retail store.

273.173 Responsibility

The following units have these responsibilities:

a. Postal Inspection Service � The inspector in charge of the division in which the facility is located is responsible for determining the need for, quantity, type, and location of CCTV systems and cameras as described in this section.

b. Security Control Officer � The security control officer (SCO) is responsible for overseeing the procurement, installation, maintenance, and repair of CCTV systems, and for maintaining a minimum of the most recent 32 days of video recording tapes or disks. The SCO also assures that the information from the CCTV camera is monitored and/or properly recorded 24 hours a day. At least once a year, one-third of the tapes must be replaced.

271.4 Authorizations

The Postal Inspection Service evaluates the need for any security-related equipment or personnel. Do not purchase closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, access-control systems, burglar or duress alarms, or fencing without Postal Inspection Service evaluation. The cost of security equipment is a central component of the facility�s construction or renovation budget and becomes part of the building�s assets. The use of on- or off-duty police (or other law enforcement officers) or guard services to provide security at postal facilities requires the consideration of numerous issues. Proposals should be submitted to the Postal Inspection Service with a detailed justification for review and evaluation.

North American Video Helps Fortify Homeland Security At US Postal Service.-Co-Designs & Installs Video Surveillance System At over 175 Locations-Brick, NJ (September 3, 2002) � North America Video has completed installing over 175 advanced video surveillance systems in US Postal Service facilities to date. This includes systems in the Trenton, Hamilton and Eatontown facilities that were under national scrutiny as a result of the Anthrax terrorist threat. The video systems installed by North American Video are deployed in both retail and processing areas in US Postal Service facilities in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
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Johns Hopkins University develops system for Postal Inspection Service to detect digital video tampering-The authentication system computes secure computer-generated digital signatures for information recorded by a standard off-the-shelf digital video camcorder. While recording, compressed digital video is simultaneously written to digital tape in the camcorder and broadcast from the camera into the Digital Video Authenticator (currently a laptop PC). There the video is separated into individual frames and three digital signatures are generated per frame -- one each for video, audio, and camcorder/DVA control data -- at the camcorder frame rate.

Handling Suspicious Mailpieces (from Postal Bulletin 10/30/03)
Managers must continue to ensure that employees follow policies and procedures for handling suspicious mailpieces. The most recent incident involved the biotoxin ricin, a biochemical substance that is a potential terrorist threat.

Emergency action plans, as well as spill and leak standard operating procedures, must include instructions for handling suspicious mailpieces.

The recent tabletop exercises for "suspicious powder" contain guidance that you can apply to many incidents. See below for navigation information about where to find these tabletop exercises.

Members of the facility spill and leak teams have been trained at the OSHA First Responder operations level. Those team members must not take action beyond the defensive measures indicated in that training. If they suspect or confirm an emergency, they must retreat and call for expert assistance.

Actions to Take
Review emergency action plans (EAPs), continuity of operations plans (COOPs), and crisis management plans (CMPs), and other plans to ensure that they contain guidance for initial action, isolations, evacuations, notifications, and so on.

Use tabletop exercises (based on the suspicious powder exercises) to ensure everyone in management knows what to do.

Remind employees to be alert for suspicious mailpieces.

Post Poster 84, Suspicious Mail, which is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site; go to http://blue.usps.gov; click on Posters. It is also available on the Internet; go to www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Browse All Periodicals & Publications, and then Posters (either PDF Format or Text Format).

Resources Available to You on the Safety Resources Web Site
In addition to Postal Service regulations and policies, the following resources are available on the Safety Resources Web site. (Go to the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov; click on Headquarters, and under "Human Resources," click on Safety Performance Management, and then click on Safety Resources.)

� Emergency Action Plans (click on Emergency Management).

� Programs Guides for hazardous materials spill and leak programs at small and large facilities (click on Program Management).

� Suspicious powder tabletop exercises and checklists (click on Emergency Management).

� Links to OSHA and other web sites with information on emergency preparedness for all types of hazards, including biological and chemical terrorism (click on Useful Links).

- Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 10-30-03

Terror alert up to Code orange; employees should increase attention to security ( USPS)

WASHINGTON � The national threat level has been increased to high risk or Code Orange � one step from highest alert status. USPS employees are asked to increase their attention to security of the mail and postal facilities, and to exercise caution as they perform their duties. nChief Operating Officer Pat Donahoe says protective measures are being implemented due to the heightened threat condition, effective Tuesday, May 20. nThese measures include taking all necessary steps to ensure facility security, taking extra care when accepting mail at the counter, and exercising caution when collecting and delivering mail. Carriers and other employees are asked to immediately report any suspicious mail items to Postal Inspectors and local law enforcement officials. These measures will remain in effect until further notice.

nThese security procedures will be followed on a daily basis at all USPS locations:

� Exercise diligence when observing mail accepted at the counter. Follow all mail acceptance procedures and ask questions to determine if packages contain hazardous materials.

� Take all necessary steps to ensure facility security.

� Exercise diligence when observing mail that is accepted at the counter and follow all procedures for the acceptance of mail, most importantly asking the questions to determine if there are any hazardous materials in packages.

� Carriers and other employees involved in the collection of mail are to exercise caution in the performance of their duties. Any suspicious mail items must be reported to Inspection Service personnel as well as local law enforcement officials.

� Provide either caps or shirts with our postal logo on them for casual employees who are delivering mail.

� Carriers using satchel carts in the performance of their duties must keep the cart in view at all times.

� If an employee cannot maintain a vehicle in direct full sight and fully ensure that neither the vehicles interior nor its contents are tampered with, then the vehicle must be locked.

� Vehicle Maintenance Facility managers must ensure that surplus vehicles are properly and completely prepared for disposal. If contractors do this work, Vehicle Maintenance Facility managers must verify that it is performed correctly, for each and every vehicle.

� Field operational units will perform daily inventory of all postal owned and leased vehicles.

� Ensure that both front and rear GSA- or P-tags (commonly used on the administrative or "non-mail hauling" fleet) are accounted for daily.

� Notify Inspection Service / local postal police and the VMF Manager immediately of any lost or missing vehicles or government license plates.<

� Monitor closely and account for on a daily basis the inventory of USPS identification badges, Air Operations Area (AOA) access badges, and other access control cards that are provided to our employees and contractors. Most importantly, USPS identification must be obtained from employees and contractors when they are separated or no longer have business with the USPS. In addition, access control cards must be deactivated whenever they are reported lost and for separated employees and contractors.

� All collection boxes, lobby mailboxes and/or collection receptacles should have a current legible Form DDD-1 or DDD-3. �Target mail� should be identified, isolated and placarded. The Aviation Mail Security Program should be complied with through the use of self-audits.

n� Front and rear GSA- or P-tags (commonly used on the administrative or "non-mail hauling" fleet) must be accounted for daily. The Inspection Service, local postal police and the VMF Manager must be notified immediately concerning any lost or missing vehicles or government license plates.

� Ensure that updated Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and other contingency plans are available.

nFor those employees with access to USPS computer systems:

nBe especially vigilant before opening e-mail that doesn�t come from a USPS.GOV or USPS.COM address. If you don�t know the sender, don�t open it.

nLock your workstation when you leave your work area. Protect your laptop. Secure it with a lock while docked or at your work area. And, keep it secure if you are away from your work area.

nBe especially mindful about providing any personal or postal information, including log-on or password information.

Post office monitors are swiftly removed By Todd C. Frankel Herald Writer February 27, 2003 The baby monitors are gone. Post offices in Everett and Marysville decided Wednesday to pull the plugs after installing the devices to listen in as window clerks talked with customers. The idea was bashed as an invasion of privacy by clerks and customers after The Herald revealed Tuesday that the post offices were using the devices in an attempt to improve customer service. There also were lingering questions of whether the practice was legal or ethical. Customers were never told they were being listened to by post office supervisors when they approached a postal service window. No signs were posted, and the monitors were hidden on clerks' desks. Postmasters said the intent was for supervisors to ensure clerks asked the proper questions of customers mailing packages, not to eavesdrop on conversations. But postal authorities now say the listening devices likely violated the U.S. Postal Service's code of conduct, which plainly prohibits post office employees from monitoring or recording oral communications of any person without the consent of all parties. "I'm glad that they removed them," said Mike Turner, manager of suburban post office operations from Auburn to Bellingham, including all in Snohomish County. Turner, who found out only Tuesday that some post offices had turned to baby monitors to keep tabs on employees, said he plans to instruct all postmasters in the region to not use listening devices. This was believed to be the first time a post office in the Northwest -- and perhaps in the country -- had resorted to listening devices on clerk's desks to improve customer service. Baby monitors -- normally placed near sleeping infants so parents can hear them elsewhere in the house -- were first used at the Marysville post office in November. The main Everett office followed with monitors two weeks ago. The Claremont branch in Everett had been scheduled to get monitors in the coming weeks. Everett Postmaster Pat Ogle had previously said the monitors were already inside the Claremont branch. Marysville Postmaster Michael Ferri said he used the monitors because he did not have enough supervisors to constantly watch over the clerks. The post office had problems with clerks not asking customers if their packages contained anything liquid, fragile, perishable or potentially hazardous, Ferri said. Ferri said he decided to remove the monitors Wednesday because the original focus on improving customer service had been lost. But he said he still didn't see how customers could be upset by them. "I do not understand the (privacy) concern in a public building," Ferri said. "When you're talking to somebody (in the post office), do you have the right to privacy?" He added: "I don't think there's anything illegal in monitoring." But Turner and Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson both said it appears the monitors violate post office rules. And the postal code makes no distinction between the prohibition on listening and recording. It does not appear that any federal or state laws were broken, because the conversations were not recorded. But Seattle University criminal law and ethics professor John Strait pointed out that while not illegal, the monitors should have been at least complemented with signs warning the public. At the main Everett post office Wednesday, a new yellow sign hung on a glass door: "Notice: All listening devices (baby monitors) have been removed." Dale Lian, who had just mailed some packages at the Marysville post office, was glad. "I think it's a crock. I'm for privacy," he said. http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/03/2/27/16567010.cfm
Post offices listen in on clerks [Source: The Daily Herald] 2/26/03 By Todd C. Frankel Watch what you say at the post office. Listening devices recently were installed in the service windows at three post offices in Snohomish County, becoming the only ones in the Northwest and perhaps the nation taking such measures. Postal supervisors say the devices -- off-the-shelf baby monitors -- are intended to ensure that clerks ask the proper security questions of customers mailing packages. Managers can listen in using a receiver in a back office. But the microphones also pick up conversations between clerks and unknowing customers. The monitors are set off to the side, hidden in the mix of stamps, scales and registers near the clerk's desks. No warnings are posted notifying customers that their conversations may be monitored. Postal supervisors insist the conversations, while being listened to, are not being recorded. They say their interest is only in improving customer service. But the postal clerks union says workers feel demeaned by the practice. One top manager who oversees dozens of post offices, including all in Snohomish County, admits he has doubts about the devices -- which he didn't know were being used until Tuesday. The U.S. Postal Service may not be breaking any laws, said a Seattle University criminal law and ethics professor, but there is the question of whether it's the right thing to do. "It smacks a bit of Big Brother, plus overbearing employer-employee relations. But is it criminal? I doubt it," professor John Strait said. The monitors were first quietly installed in November at the Marysville post office, followed by the main Everett post office and the Claremont post office two weeks ago. Each post office had window clerks who failed to ask a crucial question of a customer working undercover for a company contracted to evaluate customer service. Clerks are required to ask people mailing packages whether the box contains anything that is liquid, fragile, perishable or potentially hazardous. This so-called "hazmat question" is required by the Federal Aviation Administration for cargo flying on airliners. The question received additional emphasis with rising terrorism fears in the past year. Marysville postmaster Michael Ferri was faced with the problem of closely watching his clerks while not having enough supervisors to do so. He turned to the baby monitors. "I wanted to find some way to have a presence without having someone standing up there all the time," Ferri said. No customers have complained about the monitors, Ferri said. But as two clerks at the Marysville office pointed out, customers have no idea they are being listened to. "Customers come in and talk to us like bartenders. They tell us all kinds of things. And maybe they don't want people in the back to know," one clerk said. "We feel if we're going to have them, they should be disclosed to the public," another clerk said. Both spoke on the condition that their names not be used. Carl Willmaser, who visited the Marysville post office Tuesday to buy stamps, said he didn't know his just-completed transaction may have been monitored. "They're kind of invading on you," he said. Bill Schwartz, a customer services supervisor at that post office, defended the practice as an effective way to provide the best possible service. He said managers only occasionally listen to the receiver. Everett postmaster Pat Ogle got the idea for using baby monitors from the Marysville postmaster. Two weeks ago, Safety 1st baby monitors were installed at the main post office and the Claremont station. "It's not something that could be considered a threat against employees. It's for safety. And hopefully our employees will realize that," Ogle said. But the local postal clerks union has complained to postal supervisors that the baby monitors are an insult to clerks and do not improve customer service. "They feel like they're being treated like babies," said Linda Esquivel, president of the American Postal Workers Union Cascade Area Local, which represents clerks at 27 post offices. Mike Turner, manager of suburban post office operations from Auburn to Bellingham, said he was surprised to find that postmasters had turned to baby monitors to keep tabs on clerks. Managers have been known to more closely supervise clerks when customer service problems pop up, but never before to this extent. "I'm a little ambivalent about it. I don't know if I would have done it, but I see why," Turner said. Turner promised to review the practice. Strait said he doubted the baby monitors violated either state or federal privacy laws -- as long as recordings were not being made. In Washington state, all parties must consent to the recording of a conversation. On the federal level, only one person must know. But there is no expectation of privacy for a conversation that is overheard but not recorded. Strait suggested, the law aside, that the post office place signs letting customers know that others may be listening to their conversations. He called it a matter of disclosure. "That would be the polite thing to do," he said. "How much trouble can that be?" <
Heightened computer security (source USPS) WASHINGTON � The FBI this week cautioned federal departments and agencies about possible global computer hacking due to increasing tensions between the United States and Iraq, according to USPS Information Technology. During times of heightened international tension, illegal cyber activity � spamming, web defacements and denial of service attacks � often escalates. The FBI stresses the importance of increased vigilance in monitoring computer systems and e-mail. You can limit potential problems through: increased awareness and keeping your desktop and server anti-virus software current. Treat unsolicited e-mail messages with extreme caution. When in doubt, delete it! And monitor your e-mail and intrusion filtering operations frequently.