Security Controls for Commercial Mailers

U.S. Postal Inspection Service B.2.2 Security Initiative for Commercial Mailers Security Self-Assessment Worksheet

Instructions: Score each security control question with 0 (none or poor controls), 1 (moderate controls) or 2 (strong controls) based on effectiveness of the control at the review site. Multiply score by weight to calculate weighted actual score. Divide actual weighted score by maximum to calculate security controls as a percentage to identify improvement areas. (0–19% = Poor; 20–39% = Fair; 40–59% = Moderate; 60–79% = Strong; 80–100% = Very Strong).

Personnel security controls

Security Control Questions Cat Score Weight Actual Max
Criminal history check is completed before hiring? P1   5   10
Work references, places of residence verified? P2   3   6
Employee applicants fingerprinted before hiring? P3   5   10
Drug testing completed for all employees? P4   1   2
Driver/credit history checked as applicable to position? P5   1   2
In compliance with INS alien registration regulations (Form I9)? P6   2   4
Temporary agency employees conduct similar pre-hire checks? P7   4   8
Hiring file is maintained? P8   3   6
Probationary period for new employees? P9   2   4
Employees on duty/on premises are easily identified? P10   2   4
Access control devices are individually programmable? P11   5   10
Security policies provided in writing to employees? P12   3   6
Overall security awareness of employees? P13   4   8
Labor relations are positive, turnover is low? P14   2   4
Personnel Security Controls Totals:   84

Mailpiece design security controls

Security Control Questions Cat Score Weight Actual Max
Envelopes, packaging are resistant to tampering? M1   1   2
Entry documentation provides mailer/client contact information? M2   3   6
Entire shipment at USPS entry point is easily identifiable with mailer? M3   3   6
Shipment properties (customer, quantity, date) are identified on MTE? M4   2   4
Postmark/indicia identifies USPS entry point? M5   2   4
Return address/indicia identifies mailer? M6   4   8
Unique identifer can identify production job, date and plant? M7   5   10
Eliminate production materials possibly misidentified as biohazards? M8   1   2
Production job records identify inserts, contents? M9   4   8
Inserts, contents are traceable to the supplier? M10   5   10
Mailpiece Design Security Controls Total:   60

Internal Operations Security Controls

Security Control Questions Cat Score Weight Actual Max
Medical care available on-site? I1   1   2
HAZMAT response plans are established? I2   2   4
Communication channel for reporting security deficiencies? I3   3   6
Operations area access is restricted to authorized personnel? I4   3   6
Operations area has adequate interior lighting? I5   4   8
Operations area has unobstructed views for supervision? I6   4   8
Operations are recorded via CCTV and stored? I7   5   10
Employee lockers are open to inspection? I8   1   2
Personal items (coats, bags) prohibited from work area? I9   2   4
Production jobs can be identified with members of workforce? I10   5   10
Internal Operations Security Control Totals:   60

Facility Security Controls

Security Control Questions Cat Score Weight Actual Max
Access is controlled to employees; visitors are identified and escorted? F1   5   10
Access is through high-visibility entrances only? F2   4   8
CCTV cameras are provided for entrances and exterior areas? F3   4   8
Exterior lighting is adequate to support surveillance and CCTV? F4   2   4
Freight staging area is fenced or enclosed? F5   3   6
Intrusion detection system is installed? F6   5   10
Lock and key accountability controls are in place? F7   1   2
Employee packages are inspected at entry and exit? F8   1   2
Professional security services employed at this site? F9   2   4
Local availability of HAZMAT trained emergency service? F10   3   6
Facility Security Totals:   60

Transportation Security Controls

Security Control Questions Cat Score Weight Actual Max
Trucks, trailers and mail transport equipment inspected between uses? T1   3   6
Description of transport vehicles and route is known to shipper? T2   1   2
Inbound/outbound shipments have numbered seals? T3   3   6
Information systems used to track expected departures/arrivals? T4   5   10
Documentation provides accountability, contact information for cargo? T5   4   8
Drivers and deliveries restricted to a specific area? T6   2   4
Transportation Security Control Totals:   36

Composite Score

Add up the total scores from the tables above, then divide by the maximum to determine the overall percentage.

  Actual Max
Composite Security Control Totals:   300

0–19% = Poor; 20–39% = Fair; 40–59% = Moderate; 60–79% = Strong; 80–100% = Very Strong