Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Blair70  
#1 Posted : 13 February 2024 09:12:07(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Blair70

Has anybody carried out a bomb threat drill? Interested on any constructive thoughts anyone has about it

DH1962  
#2 Posted : 13 February 2024 09:32:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
DH1962

Quick response: I did this sort of thing when I worked for both central and local government. It’s an at least semi-specialist area although there’s much more guidance and advice available this days. Start with National Counter Terrorism Security Office web site ProtectUK | Home and maybe contact your local resilience forum. It’s very dependent on what you do and where you’re doing it. Also why someone might wish you harm.(or anyone else nearby).

 If you’re working from scratch maybe start with a discussion group about how what your organisation would do with a telephone bomb threat and work upwards from there. That gets more people involved and thinking about it. This is also handy Bomb threat checklist | ProtectUK.

 I would definitely not plunge a site straight into a full bomb drill until staff have been made aware you’re assessing and planning for this and have a degree of confidence they can be protected.

Also be realsitci about the time it takes to prepare and validate plans for this kind of thing.

Alan Haynes  
#3 Posted : 13 February 2024 11:18:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Alan Haynes

I would ensure that a "bomb" evacuation has a different way of telling staff to leave, AND, has a different Bomb Rendezvous point from that of a Fire evacuation. It's too easy to actually place a second bomb at the Fire Rendezvous point.

Edited by user 13 February 2024 11:19:35(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

A Kurdziel  
#4 Posted : 13 February 2024 11:26:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

...and of course when(if?) the  Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill becomes law you might be required to come up with a terrorism plan and staff training depending on what business you are in.

It might be a good idea to get in touch with the CTSO now rather than wait until the legislation is passed as I suspect they will be very busy once it is finally adopted.

firesafety101  
#5 Posted : 13 February 2024 11:36:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

I've forgotten more than I remember about this subject having experienced bomb scares from both sides, fire service and factory fire officer.

stuff like establish who received the threat, was it phone, email text or something else.  

did they say where the suspected bomb is

did they have an irish accent, although times have changed so what accent?

did they say what time the bomb would explode

has anyone seen the suspected package, parcel, backpack, carrier bag, suitcase etc. something that should not be there and nobody owns it.

decide what areas to evacuate first then followed by others areas, don't cause panic by evacuating everyone at once, my factory employed 1800 people all on day shift.

get people to look around their area of working while evacuating

don't use electronic devices while evacuating,

take phones, laptops etc, and your personal bags etc. with you while evacuating

report seeing anyone or anything suspicious or out of the ordinary previous to the bomb alert

If more than one assembly point keep communications between them

Assemblt points should be well away from glazed areas

pre-planning should have nominated the assembly point manager in advance, with deputies.

leave space for emergency services to drive in and exit when needed

allow emergency services to search for the bomb

I'm sure there will be lote more but it is essential for all employees/staff to be well informed of the PLAN.

TO FAIL TO PLAN EQUALS PLAN TO FAIL.

A Kurdziel  
#6 Posted : 14 February 2024 09:52:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Back in the day when we were scared of Irish accents it was all about evacuation out of the building and even away from the site (starburst-dispersal with no hanging around at assembly points which are a great place to have your secondary device). Nowadays invacuation or lockdown is as important. Many recent terrorist attacks involve individuals armed with knives rampaging across the site. In those circumstances locking and barricading doors makes more sense than assembling everybody in one easy to find spot. The tricky bit is how do you communicate this to people on the ground. A Tannoy is good but who has those. There are apps with messaging functions but then of course you want people to be using their phones.  

thanks 2 users thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
peter gotch on 14/02/2024(UTC), HSSnail on 14/02/2024(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#7 Posted : 14 February 2024 13:32:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Mobile phones are prone to giving away potential victims in the scenario of a rampaging attacker.

Government alerts, pre-programmed alarms, app notifications, friends & relatives calling/messaging because of the live streamed unfolding situation, key pad tones, haptic feed-back / vibration, battery level warning, start-up / shut down sounds along with the clatter of a dropped hand set.

Ideally they should be switched off until the situation can be considered safe.

thanks 4 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
peter gotch on 14/02/2024(UTC), HSSnail on 14/02/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 14/02/2024(UTC), HSSnail on 14/02/2024(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#8 Posted : 14 February 2024 13:32:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Mobile phones are prone to giving away potential victims in the scenario of a rampaging attacker.

Government alerts, pre-programmed alarms, app notifications, friends & relatives calling/messaging because of the live streamed unfolding situation, key pad tones, haptic feed-back / vibration, battery level warning, start-up / shut down sounds along with the clatter of a dropped hand set.

Ideally they should be switched off until the situation can be considered safe.

thanks 4 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
peter gotch on 14/02/2024(UTC), HSSnail on 14/02/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 14/02/2024(UTC), HSSnail on 14/02/2024(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#9 Posted : 14 February 2024 16:05:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

The government used to turn off the mobile network to preserve it for the emergency services but now they see the usefulness of being able to communicate with people during an emergency. How else will people know it’s safe?  

Roundtuit  
#10 Posted : 14 February 2024 17:58:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post
How else will people know it’s safe?

The government shouldn't actually know who is in an area to telephone or message them.

Then not everyone has a phone and for those who do not every phone is charged.

You go old school with the emergency responders doing a sweep of the area and if necessary using a bull-horn to get attention.

Roundtuit  
#11 Posted : 14 February 2024 17:58:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post
How else will people know it’s safe?

The government shouldn't actually know who is in an area to telephone or message them.

Then not everyone has a phone and for those who do not every phone is charged.

You go old school with the emergency responders doing a sweep of the area and if necessary using a bull-horn to get attention.

Users browsing this topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.