GENERAL INFORMATION
The success of the building’s preventive strategy requires the full cooperation of all tenants. All suspicious individuals, activities, articles, packages, or situations should be reported to the Management Office immediately. We depend on your eyes and ears to help keep the building safe.
Generally most bomb threats are false. They are intended to disrupt operations and cause confusion. If a bomb is intended to kill, injure, and destroy there is typically no advance warning, as that would defeat the purpose. Regardless, every threat should be taken seriously until proven otherwise.
PROCEDURE
IF YOU RECEIVE A BOMB THREAT OVER THE TELEPHONE:
- Keep the person talking as long as possible.
- As you are speaking with the caller, record the information received on the attached Bomb Threat Report Form located at the end of this section. Note the characteristics of the caller such as gender, tone of voice, age, accents, and background noises. Keep a copy of the report form in the main reception/telephone area for easy access. Review the form with your staff and ask them to use it, if necessary.
- At the end of the call, dial (star)69 and record any number provided by the service.
- Call 911 or the local emergency number.
- Provide the dispatcher with the following information:
- Name
- Type of Emergency
- Company Name
- Physical Building Address [not building name]
- Floor and Suite Number
- Telephone Number
- Any information from the Bomb Threat Report Form (located at the end of this section)
- Listen to the dispatcher for any additional instructions before hanging up.
- Call the Management Office.
CONDUCTING A SEARCH
- If the caller states or implies that a bomb is in a particular suite, be aware that the individuals working in that suite will be called upon to conduct a search of their area. These individuals are the best people to determine whether something doesn’t belong or if something has been moved, or is out of place.
- Each tenant should develop and maintain a search plan for their office suite. There should be two Searchers per team. If the suite is large, divide it into quadrants and permanently assign searchers to a specific quadrant.
- Conduct your search by assessing the room utilizing the following method:
- Search from floor to waist level
- Then search from waist to chin level
- Then search from chin to ceiling level
- Keep a written record of the rooms searched and the results.
- If a device is found, do not touch it:
- Isolation - isolate the object
- Evacuation - evacuate the area
- Notification - notify the authorities
- If the caller states or implies that a bomb is in a common area of the building, the property team will conduct the search.
Local authorities generally respond to the building to simply take a report if an unidentified or suspicious article is not found. In turn, if an article is found, the bomb squad is generally called by the police department.