In a finding that it says requires immediate attention, the IG’s office at CBP has said the agency “is unnecessarily jeopardizing the lives, health, and safety of its staff” by not adequately protecting them from “the dangers of powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.”
The special “management alert” report comes as the CBP is experiencing a rise in seizures of synthetic opioids. Only two milligrams—a few grains—can be a fatal dose while as of April, the CBP had some 3,500 pounds in drug vaults. Seized drugs can remain in storage for years until destroyed after prosecutions are completed, the report said.
Auditors said the CBP has no policy requiring standard workplace practices for handling fentanyl and safeguarding employees through steps such as wearing protective equipment and double bagging, sealing and clearly labeling it. At two of the seven facilities a known antidote was not available and at two others, it was secured in a way that made it difficult to access quickly, even though exposure can kill in minutes.
“In addition, CBP does not require mandatory training for its staff to provide an understanding of the hazards of fentanyl and methods to combat accidental exposure. As a result, CBP staff are at increased risk of injury or death in case of exposure,” it said.
Management concurred with the recommendations to address those issues and the IG said it considers the planned steps to be responsive.
The Postal Service IG last year issued a similar report regarding potential exposure of employees there.
