There are at least three reasons why bomb threats are a serious problem:
Our goal is to reduce the likelihood that a bomb will be placed in the building. Building Management will endeavor to control unauthorized access to its facilities and reduce the introduction of foreign devices. When successful, these preventive efforts will allow us to make rational decisions regarding the necessity for evacuation. The success of this preventive strategy requires the full cooperation of all Customers. A diligent Building staff coupled with an alert Customer population make for an excellent preventive blend.
Customer Duties
Bomb Threat Action Plan - It is recommended that Customers develop their own Bomb Threat Action Plan working in conjunction with Building Management. Thus coordinated plans will be followed upon receipt of a threat. Persons selected to participate in these plans should be carefully selected. Their potential for performing well under stress should be considered. Secretaries and receptionists generally receive most bomb threats, therefore they should be trained to react calmly and solicit the proper information from the caller.
What to do if a bomb threat is received - The following procedures have proven to be valuable when threats are received:
The individual receiving the call must remain calm and get as much information from the caller as possible. A prepared checklist can be helpful to the receptionist. It is important to keep the person talking.
The following information should be obtained when possible:
Notify a company supervisor in accordance with your Company Action Plan. Do not discuss the threat with other employees.
Immediately notify the Lobby Desk at 212-752-9071 (24 hours) and relay all information received. Building Management and the company supervisor will evaluate the seriousness of the threat based on all available information.
A decision will be made at this time whether to:
If evacuation is deemed necessary, employees should be notified in a calm and deliberate manner. Carefully worded pre-planned statements can convey the urgency of the situation without causing panic. An appropriate statement might be, “Employees are directed to cease work, take their personal belongings and proceed to another floor, etc. This is not a drill”.
Prior to working with a suspicious device, the Houston Police Department Bomb Squad requires that a Release from Liability Form be signed by a responsible person. This releases the City of Houston from any liability in the case of property damage or personal injury resulting from their activities.
If no bomb is discovered and the Police indicate that no further hazard exists, personnel may re-enter the building or offices at their own discretion and risk. The Building Management Office should be notified of any intention to re-enter. Keep the Building Management Office apprised of any new developments.
Suggestions for preventing the placement of bombs within Customer spaces:
Daily inspections for suspicious objects should be conducted in every suite. Neat offices that are free from debris and boxes can alert office workers to the placement of foreign objects within their space.
All employees should be encouraged to be aware of suspicious persons wandering about in offices, corridors and restrooms. Suspicious persons should be reported to your supervisor and to the Building Management Office.
Encourage employees to comply with the building security. When using their assigned card to enter the building, all employees should be alert not to allow entry into the building by unauthorized persons.
Building Duties
The Building Management Office will be responsible for lending assistance to the Customer receiving a bomb threat and for notifying all other Customers who may be affected by the threat.
When a threat is reported to the Building Management Office:
Building Maintenance personnel will be directed to begin a search of the following areas:
The Building Manager and the company supervisor will immediately evaluate the threat based on all available information.
NOTE: Two-way radios must not be used during a bomb search. They could initiate a detonator.
As soon as it is decided to do so, the Building Management Office will call each Customer to put them on notice that a bomb threat has been received.
The notification will be given by telephone to either the usual Customer contact or any responsible member of the Emergency Action Organization.
The notification will consist of a standardized statement designed to accurately communicate the fact that a threat has been received rather than to incite fear and panic.
The fact that the notification occurred at a certain time and was given to a certain representative will be documented and retained by the Building Management Office.
Partial evacuation of the building may be deemed necessary. A partial evacuation should include the threatened floor, the floor above and the floor immediately below. The evacuation should be away from the threatened floor and not through it. Personnel on the floor above the threatened floor should evacuate to higher floors. Personnel on the floor below the threatened floor should evacuate to lower floors. Stairways should be used for evacuation rather than elevators. Only disabled persons should utilize the elevators during bomb threat evacuations.
General evacuation of the Building may be deemed necessary. When general evacuation is initiated, the Customers will be notified by telephone, alarm, messenger, or all three. General evacuations should be conducted in the same manner as fire evacuation procedures.