It is recommended that Tenants develop their own Bomb Threat Action Plan working in conjunction with the BMO. Thus, coordinated plans will be followed upon receipt of a threat. Persons chosen to participate in these plans should be selected carefully. Their potential for performing well under stress should be considered. Assistants and receptionists generally receive most bomb threats, therefore they should be trained to react calmly and solicit the proper information from the caller.
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. Use the Bomb Threat Form to obtain the checklist and questions to ask the caller.
- Notify a company supervisor in accordance with your Company Action Plan. Do not discuss the threat with other employees.
- Immediately call 9-1-1 and then notify Security and The BMO and relay all information received. The BMO 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:
- Notify employees in the building or part of the building
- Order an evacuation, its extent, and the location(s) to which employees should be evacuated
- If evacuation is necessary, employees should be notified in a calm and deliberate manner. Carefully worded pre-planned statements convey the urgency of the situation without causing panic. An appropriate statement might be, “Employees are directed to cease work and proceed to another floor, etc. This is not a drill”.
- If a bomb is not 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 BMO should be notified of any intention to re-enter. Keep The BMO apprised of any new developments.
Suggestions for preventing the placement of bombs within Tenant spaces:
- Conduct daily inspections for suspicious objects 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.
- Encourage all employees to be aware of suspicious persons wandering about in offices, corridors and restrooms. Suspicious persons should be reported to your supervisor and to the BMO.
- Encourage employees to comply with building Security. When using their assigned activated access card to enter the building, all employees should be alert not to allow entry by unauthorized persons.
