The shockwaves from recent incidents of anthrax exposure in the U.S. reached into Alberta during the past month. Edmonton postal workers have experienced numerous false alarms of suspicious packages and white powder, sparking a level of concern among CUPW members.

In the three weeks following the first reports of anthrax-laden powder being sent through the U.S. mail system, Edmonton postal workers experienced 17 false alarms, according to Edmonton CUPW Health and Safety Officer Mike Tarnawski. "That is almost one a day."

"Obviously there is a lot of nervousness," says Tarnawski. "The majority of members are concerned. But they are carrying on with their work."

The most serious incident occurred October 24 at the Edmonton letter plant. As a letter went through a sorting machine, white powder burst out and covered the face of the female worker operating the machine. Eleven CUPW members were decontaminated. As a precaution, the woman was put on antibiotics. Tests later came back negative, although Tarnawski says he has not been informed what the powder was.

"Thankfully, every one has turned out to be false so far," says Tarnawski. "On the whole the incidents were handled very well."

Tarnawski relates a number of stories demonstrating the level of alert at Canada Post workplaces. In one incident, a local restaurant ordered a package of flour from Quebec. One corner of the bag came open and left powder over all the system. "Everything was shut down until we could confirm with the customer that it was flour."

Other incidents include soap, samples of baby formula and a pre-mix of a scone recipe that a woman was sending to her father.

"There has been one case we know that was mischief. Someone took icing sugar and dumped it into a mailbox, so when the postal worker came to get the mail, the powder came down with it."

After initially being slow to react, Tarnawski says Canada Post Corporation has responded well to the concerns. He is hoping that things will calm down as time passes.