CBS4 RTV4 WHBF Quad Cities, IL / IA News Weather SportsPost Office Goes High-Tech for Biohazards
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It is no ordinary mail processing machine at the Quad City Processing and Distribution facility in Milan, IL. It is a brand new, state-of-the-art biohazard detection system designed to detect the deadly substance Anthrax.
"It's a safeguard for the country's mail," says Richard Watkins of the U.S. Postal Service. "We mail more than 500-million letters everyday, six days a week."
The Anthrax scare in the Fall of 2001 made all of us think twice before opening our mail and, it's for that very reason that the U.S. Postal Service decided to design a system to detect Anthrax. And, it took almost four years to do it.
"To develop a system this elaborate," says Dennis Shoening of the U.S. Postal Service, "it did take us a few years to get it deployed into our 238 processing facilities."
"Safety is important," says Charles DePaus of the U.S. Postal Service, "and to get a good product, it takes a little time."
The new machine began testing mail three weeks ago and not one letter has tested positive for Anthrax or any other suspicious substance. And, although the employees are trained on how to handle the detection of Anthrax, they are hoping they never have to experience a scare.
"I hope it never does because it's a big procedure," said one employee, "and it's a scare if it does happen."
To keep their skills sharp, the Quad City Processing and Distribution facility plans to perform a mock Anthrax detection drill in the next few weeks.
