Semper develops new safety enclosure for post-room workers

Citation

(2002), "Semper develops new safety enclosure for post-room workers", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 11 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2002.07311aab.010

Semper develops new safety enclosure for post-room workers

Semper develops new safety enclosure for post-room workers

Semper Products Limited, the specialist manufacturer of laboratory extraction systems, has launched its new Mail Safe unit – a high performance enclosure that is designed to protect post-room workers against possible biological hazards encountered while opening the mail.

The new units have been launched in response to recent terrorist actions in which the postal system has been used to expose US government departments and overseas agencies to potentially deadly anthrax spores.

The intention has been to create a system that affords complete operator safety without imposing impractical working procedures upon workers. Semper's enclosures are designed to counter biological threats by creating a fully protected work area, similar to a laboratory fume cupboard, in which the air is extracted and passed through a powerful filter system. The constant flow of air into the unit ensures that no airborne particles can escape back out into the atmosphere, while any potentially contaminated air passes through filters which remove pathogens, powders and particulate matter as small as 0.3 microns in diameter.

The Mail Safe units are specifically designed for use in mail-handling rooms, where recent attacks have been shown to have the most serious effects. They feature filters on both the air input and exhaust, and incorporate a double HEPA filtration system to ensure that even the smallest particles are effectively trapped. Despite providing levels of protection and air containment that are normally only required in industrial, medical and forensic laboratories, the new enclosures offer easy access to the internal work area and, through the use of transparent polycarbonate panels, they also afford excellent visibility, so working routines need not be unduly affected.

Access to the protected work surface is gained via a hinged door, through which mail may be handled. As an additional safety feature, the door is lockable, so in the event that a suspect package is found, it can be securely locked away and isolated, thereby eliminating the possibility of the enclosure being re-opened by other staff who may be unaware of the threat. Available as either fixed or mobile units, Mail Safe units are available in a range of sizes and require no services other than a conventional three-point electrical socket for power. Since they require no external ducting or air handling systems, they can be put into operation almost immediately, without the costs or delays associated with installation work.

Further details about the new Mail Safe units can be obtained from the company's Web site – www.semper.co.uk or by calling John Haugh on +44 (0)151 5490 777.