Code Purple – BOMB THREATFeedback about this document can be sent
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NAME OF DOCUMENT
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
EXECUTIVE SPONSOR or
EXECUTIVE CLINICAL SPONSOR
Emergency Warden = Department Head/Supervisor or In Charge of
Department After Hours or delegated officers
Incident Controller = Facility Manager / DON or delegated
Officer.
SUMMARY
These Guidelines are designed to direct staff when confronted by
situations such as a Bomb Threat, where persons are threatening
injury to other persons or Property by Internal/External Mail or by
Telephone or in Person.
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1. POLICY STATEMENT
This guideline is designed to direct staff when confronted by a
Bomb Threat. A Bomb Threat could either be a prank or a genuine
warning of an impending bomb attack and the threat may be received
by telephone, email, in writing or face to face.
2. RESPONSIBILITIES
All ISLHD staff.
Employees will ensure that the Code Purple guidelines are followed
in the event of a Bomb Threat.
Line Managers will ensure that staff are trained appropriately in
emergency responses and follow the Code Purple Guidelines in the
event of a Bomb Threat.
All Code Purple incidents are to be reported to the relevant
Facility / Service Manager (or In-Charge after hours) and the ISLHD
Health Service Functional Area Coordinator (HSFAC). Written reports
in the form of an IMMS notification and an Incident Briefing Note
should also be attended for Code Purple Incidents.
Site Managers and District Executive will ensure that these
guidelines are complied with and that staff training has been
conducted. Staff training will include eLearning module “White
Level Inspection”, available on HETI.
3. PROCEDURE
3.1 Threats
Bomb threats may include but are not limited to the following
forms:
Written Threats
Telephone Threats
Suspect Object
Suspect Mail
Activation of Code Purple- Bomb Threat- must be invoked on receipt
of any Bomb Threat.
3.1.1 Written Threats
If a bomb threat is received in writing:
Keep the document, including any envelope or container that it came
in;
Avoid any unnecessary handling;
Place the document in an envelope (preferably a paper one)
Report to your Facility / Service Manager or In-Charge (after
hours) by contacting Facility / Service Emergency number (see
Attachment 1);
Follow any further instructions from your Facility / Service
Manager or In-charge (after hours).
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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Attempt to keep the caller on phone and talking;
If possible, attract a second person to activate the Duress Alarm
or contact Facility / Service emergency number;
Switch off all radio devices and mobile phones;
Ask questions as per ‘Bomb Threat Check List’, located in Emergency
Flip Chart and in Attachment 2;
DO NOT hang up your telephone, even after the caller has hung up,
as calls may be traced. Please note number if digitally
displayed;
Report to your Facility / Service Manager or In-Charge (after
hours) by contacting Facility / Service Emergency number (see
attachment1);
Follow any further instructions from your Facility / Service
Manager or In-charge (after hours).
3.1.3 Suspect Object
A suspect object is any object found and deemed a possible threat
by virtue of its characteristics, location and circumstances.
Identifying an object as suspect: The following questions are
provided as a means of assessing if an object should be considered
suspect:
o Is the object unidentified? o Is the object unusual or foreign to
the environment? o Is the object obviously a bomb? o Is the object
hidden or concealed in any way? o Has there been any unauthorised
access to the area? o Has there been a perimeter breach?
This series of questions may be remembered using the mnemonic ‘HOT
ALERTS’
H - Is the article hidden? YES / NO
O - Is the article obviously suspicious? YES / NO
T - Is the article typical of the items in your area? YES /
NO
A – Is the government alert
L – level
T – threat? YES/NO
S – Is the property that has been found in a suspicious location?
YES/NO
Actions The following actions are to be considered when dealing
with a suspect object:
o Notify Facility / Service Manager or In-Charge (after hours) by
contacting Facility / Service Emergency number (see attachment1)
and advise Code Purple – Bomb Threat;
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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o Cordon-off immediate area; o DO NOT touch or move object; o Open
doors and windows only if safe to do so; o DO NOT use radio
handsets, two-way radios or mobile phones until cleared to do so
by
specialist personnel, as some bombs are detonated remotely by radio
signal.
3.1.4 Suspect Mail Articles
Suspicious mail articles have many similarities in common with
‘suspect objects’ and all personnel responsible for handling mail
should maintain vigilance when in contact with mail.
Should an item of mail appear suspicious, then the individual
should not handle the item and alert / notify Facility / Service
Manager or In-Charge (after hours) by contacting Facility / Service
Emergency number (see attachment1) until proven otherwise.
3.2 EVALUATION
Bomb threats may be either specific or non-specific.
Specific Threat The caller provides some detailed information that
could include statements describing the device, why it was placed,
its location, the time of activation and other details.
Non-specific Threat The caller may make a simple statement to the
effect that a device has been placed. Little, if any additional
detail is conveyed before the caller terminates the
conversation.
The non-specific threat is the most common, although both threats
need to be treated as genuine until proven otherwise. Actions The
following four options are a guide to action following the
evaluation of the threat:
o Take no further action; o Search without evacuation; o Search and
evacuate; o Evacuate (without search).
3.3 NOTIFICATION
Upon receipt of a threat, discovery of a suspect object or
detonation of a bomb, the Incident Controller is to be notified who
in turn should notify the ISLHD HSFAC. The Incident Controller will
determine if the Facility/ Service Emergency Management Plan and
EOC will be activated. (See Attachment 3 – Notification Flow Chart
– Facility / Service / Site)
3.4 CONDUCTING A SEARCH – WHITE LEVEL INSPECTION
The search of a building shall be thorough. The aim of the search
is to identify any object/s that are not normally found in an area
or location or where an owner is not readily identified. An object
may become suspect for any other reason, for example. It is
suspiciously labelled, unusual size, shape or sound, and presence
of pieces of tape, wire, string or explosive wrappings. Please
refer to Attachment 4 for checklist example.
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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Search without evacuation. Search personnel will ask persons who
work in the area to identify all objects, property and equipment in
the workplace. Search after evacuation. All personal belongings are
to be taken when the decision to evacuate has been made. Following
this, any suspicious object found within the search will be checked
by the experts. Attention should be paid to all areas in particular
areas with the most public access and near or on the floor. When
conducting a search:
o Search in pairs, as directed by Facility / Service Manager or
In-charge(after hours); o Open windows and doors if safe to do so;
o Single searcher – search clockwise; Two searchers – search in
both directions doing a
complete circle search; o Use the three level search method in all
areas: start looking up high, then eye level, and
ending lower/ground level; o Conduct the search in a manner that
minimises panic; o Conduct search using the mnemonic ‘HOT
ALERTS’.
Suspicious object found during search. If anything is found during
the search that is suspicious:
o DO NOT touch, tamper, tilt or move it. The police will check all
suspicious objects; o Follow instructions of Facility / Service
Manager or In-charge (after hours); o If you are away from your
area when ‘Code Purple’ is activated, DO NOT return to the area; o
The Incident Controller will direct the Engineer/delegate to stand
by to turn off any or all
services (oxygen, gas, etc.).
3.5 EVACUATION
On receipt of notification ‘Code Purple’ the Incident Controller
shall ensure that all relevant egress routes and assembly areas are
searched for suspicious objects.
The Incident Controller will activate ‘Code Orange – Evacuation’.
Evacuation will either be partial or complete.
Partial Evacuation This response is effective when the threat is
deemed a ‘Specific’ threat. The stages of evacuation will be
followed as per ‘Code Orange’ procedures. Complete Evacuation This
response will be in the event of a ‘Non-specific’ threat and the
stages of evacuation will follow the ‘Code Orange’
procedures.
The evacuation process will be directed by the Facility / Service
Manager Incident Controller. The following guidelines will be
followed:
o Evacuate horizontally, preferably around the nearest corner,
followed by vertical evacuation if deemed necessary;
o If evacuating externally, the assembly points will be determined
by the Incident Controller and the Emergency services.
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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3.6 FACILITY / SERVICE MANAGER / INCIDENT CONTROLLER ACTION
PLAN
Code Purple Alert and Standby Phase o Increase level of
preparedness; o Prepare to activate Disaster Plan for Internal
Emergency Response. o Confirm that police have been notified; o If
the threat is ‘specific’, make contact with the department /
service head and clarify the
situation and ensure that a search has commenced; o If the threat
is ‘Non-specific’ ensure that all department/service heads are
informed and that
searching has commenced; o Cordon off area of ‘Specific’ threat; o
Ensure that the following areas are also checked:
Outside areas including all evacuation/ assembly areas; Building
entrances and exits, and in particular paths which will be used
for
evacuation; Public areas within the building; All other areas,
beginning at the lowest levels and continuing upwards until
every
floor, including roof and plant rooms, have been checked.
Code Purple Response Phase o Activate the Facility / Service
Disaster Plan; o Activate the ‘Response’ Phase; o Activate the
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC); o Alert the District HSFAC; o
Establish Incident Management Team (IMT) if required; o Ensure that
Police have been alerted of ‘Code Purple’; o Prepare to activate
‘Code Orange’ and determine whether the evacuation is to be
‘Partial’
or ‘Complete’; o Direct resources to stop people from entering the
building – ‘Lock Down’ Phase.
Code Purple Stand Down Phase
o Activate the ‘Stand Down’ Phase of the Facility / Service
Disaster Plan; o Give the ‘All Clear’ announcement; o Notify
District HSFAC; o Direct and resume normal duties of all personnel;
o Organise debrief with key personnel.
Refer to Emergency Flip Chart for quick reference:
http://islhnweb/Disaster_Management/Emergency_Procedures/default.asp
ALL BOMB THREATS MUST BE TREATED AS GENUINE, FOLLOWED UP AND
INVESTIGATED.
4. DOCUMENTATION
Internal Emergency management Plan Bomb Threat Checklist (contained
in Emergency Flip Chart) IIMS reports Monthly Security Report
Injury Notification Form
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5. REFERENCES
AS 4083 - 2010 Australian Standard – Planning for Emergencies –
Health care Facilities AS 3745 – 2010 Planning for Emergencies in
Facilities Australian Federal Police Bomb Data Centre
6. REVISION AND APPROVAL HISTORY
Date Revision No. Author and Approval
Sept 2011 0 ISLHD Security and Fire Safety Manager
Sept 2011 1 Clinical Group Manager and ISLHD EQuIP Manager
Sept 2012 2 ISLHD Disaster Manager
Jan 2015 3 ISLHD Disaster Manager and ISLHD Security and Fire
Safety Manager
March
2017
4 ISLHD Disaster Manager and ISLHD Security and Fire Safety
Manager
Approved by District Health Emergency Management Committee on
Tuesday March 14, 2017
Draft for comment March 2017
January 2019 5 ISLHD Disaster Manager
Approved by Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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Bulli Hospital - DIAL 0 000
Coledale Hospital - DIAL 0 000
David Berry Hospital - DIAL 0 000
Kiama Hospital - DIAL 0 000
Milton Ulladulla Hospital - DIAL 0 000
Port Kembla Hospital - DIAL 2222
Shellharbour Hospital - DIAL 2222
Wollongong Hospital - DIAL 2222
INTERNAL ONLY
ISLHD PROCEDURE
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8. ATTACHMENT 2 - Bomb Threat Check List (To print Checklist, go to
ISLHD Forms and
Templates >> Disaster Management)
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ISLHD PROCEDURE
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CODE PURPLE INCIDENT
complete.
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9. ATTACHMENT 4 – White level Inspection Checklist (Example)
(To print Checklist, go to ISLHD Forms and Templates >>
Disaster Management)