chap 14 Flashcards
CHAPTER 14 TITLE
TERRORISM PREPAREDNESS
Nearly every American resident is touched, appalled, and angered by the tragedies. The common thread is terrorism. The constant theme is violence, destruction of property, and loss of life.
Each attack has taken terrorism to a new level in terms of audacity, mayhem, cost, and human suffering.
Terrorists have access to as much information and know as much about our vulnerabilities; they have been studying our weaknesses.
Schools have suffered in recent years, with students turning on their employers, their teachers, and their peers with acts of mayhem and violence. From sniper attacks to confrontational shootings.
● Many companies address bomb threats or even worker unrest, as in strikes or walkouts.
● Companies are also expanding their programs to incorporate terrorism and acts of subversion within the company.
● New architecture, building plans, and company activities are viewed in light of potential adverse effects of terrorist activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
● The approach to terrorism is similar to that of other safety problems. First is consideration of vulnerabilities and probabilities of attack. Determine whether your company or other similar companies have faced terrorist problems in the past. History may repeat itself.
PLANNING
ACTIVITIES
● What activities take place that might be attractive to a terrorist group? Ask if your company manufactures or maintains inventories of any products that could conceivably be turned into weapons or agents of destruction.
● It is obvious that seemingly innocuous items intended for useful activities can be turned against the company or others for terrorist purposes.
● Chemicals in large quantities–explosives, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fuels, energy sources, poisons–or mechanical devices are just a few of the items requiring careful guarding. follow processes from beginning to end and identify easy or high-risk targets. Work toward protecting them first.
● Manufacturers of food products, drugs, cosmetics, or other items of mass consumption are potential targets.
● Carefully assess vulnerability to determine how the product could be contaminated or altered to pose a threat to a large portion of the population.
● If a company hosts events or maintains facilities with large gatherings of customers or even employees it could be considered a target, even the name of the company.
PRODUCTION
● Look at the areas of operation in your facility that might act as bottlenecks in the event of attack.
● Consider any chemicals, products, or items in your facility that might be used against your company or others.
● Once you’ve looked at how you may be vulnerable, your next step is to find where. Assess your weakest points.
BOTTLENECKS
● Terrorists planning to affect large numbers of people may well prefer to be in a more populated area for maximum effect.
● Are you in a high-profile area likely to be targeted?
● Downtown, airport, and tourist destinations have been targeted in the past.
● Is your location easily accessible by vehicular or even pedestrian traffic?
● Can you keep intruders at a distance from your facilities via fences or other barriers?
LOCATION OF YOUR PROPERTY
● Protecting the perimeter is relatively easy and inexpensive.
● Once the perpetrator is inside the facility, the capacity to inflict harm increases dramatically.
● Consider the likelihood a perpetrator would want to come into the facility by crashing through or climbing a fence and plan accordingly.
FENCES AND ENTRANCES
● Shrubbery, walls, and sculptures may all become potential hiding places for intruders or explosives.
● Consider keeping a clear area extending to a specific distance around each building.
● Don’t give intruders a place to hide themselves or explosives.
CLEAR AREA AROUND THE PREMISES
● Doors, windows, and other openings into the property should be secured and possibly alarmed.
● Technology permits us to know any time a building is penetrated. Check them all, including those on the roof.
● Guard or alarm them to repel access by outsiders
DOORS , WINDOWS , AND OTHER OPENINGS
● Ventilation and HVAC systems can be used as points of penetration or as delivery mechanisms for chemicals, including gases
● All parts of these systems should be located behind fences or out of reach and secured.
VENTILATION AND HVAC SYSTEM
● Lighting by itself is a deterrent to some intruders. Poor planning with lighting can cause shaded areas that provide more cover for intruders than no lighting at all.
● Consider removing or lowering obstructions that cast enough shade for intruders to hide.
● If they cannot be removed or lowered, add lighting to illuminate the shaded areas they provide.
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
● Any communication systems used should be tamper proof to the extent possible.
● Utilize all communication systems in day-to-day activities to maximize their effectiveness, ensure systems will operate in times of emergency, and familiarize employees with their use.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
● Technology enables unguarded areas to become virtually impossible to enter undetected.
● Even moderately sophisticated security systems cannot be disabled or disarmed without sending out an alarm.
● Even fences can be enabled to send an alert if any intruder attempts to get close to, cut, climb, or get through them in any way.
● Pressure systems determine an intruder’s presence and detectors prevent unnoticed cutting or climbing
SECURITY SYSTEMS
