The Postal Service continues to take steps to ensure employee safety in light of the threat of anthrax moving through the mail.

USPS has purchased 86 million pairs of gloves made of vinyl and Nitrile, a high-grade industrial plastic, to supply three pairs per employee per day throughout the nation. So far, 44 million pairs have been shipped to postal facilities. Use of the gloves isn't mandatory, but is encouraged.

USPS has purchased four million face masks and shipped two million of them Tuesday, Oct. 23, to 140 locations, starting on the East Coast. The masks are able to filter out 95 percent of all microbes in the air, including anthrax spores. Use of the masks isn't mandatory, but is encouraged.

USPS is switching its mail cleaning process from a forced-air system to a vacuuming system. USPS is looking at state-of-the-art equipment to sanitize the mail during processing.

Information phone lines are being set up for each postal district. Numbers will be posted in employee publications when they are available.

USPS is broadcasting a video for employees on USPS TV featuring union officials that discusses steps USPS is taking to protect employees and the public.

Flags at postal facilities nationwide are flying a half-staff in honor of the two District of Columbia employees who died from anthrax exposure.