Shortly after the Anthrax attacks of 2001, federal agencies opened a variety of mail screening facilities throughout the Capitol region designed specifically to safeguard government personnel and property from attacks by chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats. With a small number of solutions specifically designed for mail screening, most facilities adapted technologies and protocols developed by scientific and medical laboratories for the detection of biotoxin threats. Such technologies are generally operator-intensive and depend on highly skilled technicians using well-defined protocols illustrating the importance comprehensive training programs have in keeping individuals, businesses and the way of life safe from harm.

Training for Tomorrow's Threats, Today

As today's threats expand, and carry a more potentially devastating aura, facilities need to place the focus around a unique trinity of quality technology, process-specific protocols and well-defined and continuously updated training practices. Facility managers need to understand the relationship that each element has with the other and how quality is as important as quantity and the screening team, not the technology, is the driving force behind a program's success.

The key to any proactive training program is communication. This is never more applicable than in the mail screening industry. Unlike normal training programs, which tend to be scripted and planned out months if not years in advance, mail screening programs function in a world where the threat is subject to constant change and evolution. While fixed training on key topics such as the proper use of protective equipment or fire and electrical safety can be delivered on a scheduled basis, training that covers new protocols or emergent threats are a must and need to be prepared and delivered on very short notice.

Developing the Most Effective Training Program

Successful programs center on comprehensive training plans, designed to meet the needs of the specific facility. A key to executing this lies with assessments, which need to be conducted early in the program development process by program managers, team leaders and facility representatives. These focus on identifying training requirements that are common to other programs, or operational or technical issues unique to the specific program under consideration. Common requirements such as the proper use of personal protective equipment, respiratory training and general safety can be based on other or similar programs. Program specific requirements are normally driven by the type of technology being employed at the facility and, more often, by the operational and technical requirements set forth by the customer.

Following the development of specific training requirements, program managers and customer representatives need to work together to develop a tailored training plan and identify workable training methods. This is crucial since it defines basic training elements such as scheduling, delivery techniques, validation methods and reinforcement periodicity.

Additionally, the selection of training methods should consider the environment at hand, and the fact that a blended approach that includes formal (classroom), demonstrative (hands on) and on-the-job training is often the only way to reinforce process learning and validate understanding. In CBRNE detection, there are no "one and done" training requirements. Because of the inherent dangers associated with screening each and every element passing through a facility, the training program will require constant reinforcement both in the classroom and on the job.

The Key Requirements What Cannot Be Ignored

Generally speaking, most programs share five critical training elements followed by multiple unique requirements. These common threads include general safety, equipment safety, emergency protocols, HAZMAT awareness and security. Underestimating their importance can be a huge mistake. These are the areas that require the most reinforcement and validation, as staff members generally fall back on this training at some level every day. This is also where employee reactions in emergency situations are built, checked and reinforced for optimal protection.

Training requirements unique to the individual program need to be as flexible as possible. Although the technical part of training will be crucial, the most critical element is around process and procedure training. Technical training includes equipment familiarization and general operation requirements such as start-up, shut down and functional checks. Process training goes deeper covering baseline processes common across the entire spectrum of work for that equipment or protocol, as well as task-specific training that includes unique processes associated with a specific item type or event (for example: the handling of leaking or wet packages).

Because today's threats are constantly changing, and most often discovered at the operator level, it is imperative that team members feel empowered to report items of interest (no matter how slight) and incorporate the event in the standing procedures, if significant enough. It is equally important that recommendations are fully reflected in training. To this end, it is best to involve the operators in the development of new processes and responsibilities around the training of other team members.

Beyond Development: Putting a Continual Program into Place

The final and most critical step in the CBRNE training process is validation and reinforcement. The relatively high risk associated with screening potentially dangerous materials mandates the development of a comprehensive validation method and continuous training. This consists of:

• A post-training "demonstration of understanding" for each team member
• On-the-job monitoring by supervisors and other team members to immediately correct procedural misunderstandings and general bad habits
• Unannounced quality control checks by staff and customer inspectors verify that SOPs are being followed.

The validation inspection process should be viewed as process reinforcement, and not simply as a punitive measure. Ongoing training programs not only sustain operations, but they become an integral part of both quality control and process improvement.

To ease the development process, it is recommended to consider the use of a company who specializes in CBRNE processes and is specifically experienced in mail screening, facility design and process development. Such companies have already overcome and can continue to provide immediate solutions for generic issues common to most businesses. This will allow operations and training staffs to concentrate on those issues unique to the program.

Developing a clearly defined and sustained training program is paramount to the long- term success of any mail screening operation. With adequate planning, training will become an integral and welcomed part of day-to-day operations, enhance mission effectiveness and safeguard the facility and program personnel.

Marshall Keith James is Director, CBRNE Services Division of SoBran Incorporated. He heads the company's CBRNE Team and provides operational support, program analysis, engineering oversight, training and management to numerous federal, international and private agencies and corporations. For more info, contact him at 703-352-9511, ext 114 or send an email to kjames@sobran-inc.com.