May 29, 2013 — Five more letters suspected of containing the poison ricin have recently entered the mail stream, prompting the Postal Service to hold a number of stand-up talks on employee safety.

 Two letters, postmarked in Spokane and discovered on May 14, were addressed to the Spokane Post Office and to a federal judge in Spokane. A stand-up talk the following day [PDF] stated that there is no reason to believe postal employees are at risk from handling these letters.

 A second stand-up talk on May 22 [PDF] revealed the discovery of a third letter bearing a May 13 Spokane postmark, this time addressed to President Barack Obama.

 KREM-TV reported that authorities arrested Spokane resident Matthew Buquet, 37, on May 22 and charged him with at least one count of mailing a threatening communication. A bail hearing was set for May 28.

 The Postal Service held a further stand-up talk on May 28 [PDF] after it was determined that two more letters suspected to contain ricin, bearing Shreveport, LA, postmarks, were mailed on May 20 to addresses in New York City and Washington, DC. No arrests have yet been made in connection with this latest incident.

 According to the stand-up talks, the suspected substance was not in a form that could be inhaled or otherwise ingested. The three letters in Spokane also reportedly contained physical threats and are being investigated by postal inspectors and the Federal Protective Service.

 All five letters are undergoing further tests, and inspectors are keeping an eye out for additional letters.

 Each talk also briefly outlined the symptoms of ricin infection and directed postal workers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page on ricin for further information.

 The talks also encouraged increased vigilance and reminded postal employees about the “PACKAGE, PEOPLE, PLAN” suspicious mail message:

 • PACKAGE: Don’t handle suspicious mail. Isolate it.
• PEOPLE: Clear people from the area. Immediately notify your supervisor.
• PLAN: Contact the Inspection Service. Follow your facility emergency plan.

 Click here to review the Postal Service’s poster on suspicious mail [PDF].

 Those who wish to speak to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor may do so by calling 800-EAP-4-YOU (800-327-4968).

NALC members who have further questions may call Director of Safety and Health Manuel L. Peralta Jr. at NALC Headquarters in Washington, DC