What should employers do to prepare their workplaces for a possible terrorist attack?

The events of September 11, 2001, added a new challenge to workplace safety - protecting the workplace/employees against a possible terrorist attack. Areas to consider in formulating an antiterror plan include emergency preparedness/response teams, building/facility protection, mail safety and security, computer systems security, bomb threats, and travel policies. Employers can look to the federal Department of Homeland Security (http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/) for guidance and continuing communication. This website offers a wealth of specific information in many areas. Also, most states have established their own offices of homeland security. Consult state websites for the states in which you do business for additional assistance.

OSHA developed the following filter to help employers assess whether their workplaces are vulnerable to a terrorist attack:

Is your workplace characterized by any of the following terrorism risk factors:

• Uses, handles, stores or transports hazardous materials;
  
• Provides essential services, e.g., sewer treatment, electricity, fuels, telephone, etc.;
  
• Has a high volume of pedestrian traffic;
  
• Has limited means of egress, such as a high rise complex or underground operations;
  
• Has a high volume of incoming materials (e.g., mail, imports/exports, raw materials);
  
• Is considered a high profile site, such as a water dam, military installation, or classified site; or
  
• Is part of the transportation system, such as shipyard, bus line, trucking, airline.

If these risk factors apply to your workplace and cannot be eliminated, your vulnerability to a terrorist incident may be greater than that of other workplaces.

OSHA's Fire and Explosion Planning Matrix. The Matrix (found on the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov) is not a compliance tool for conducting a comprehensive compliance evaluation of a fire prevention plan developed to comply with the Fire Prevention Plan Standard (29 CFR 1910.39). Rather, it covers the general aspects of fire prevention planning and includes broad questions to help employers review their plan content as it would relate to a terrorist act involving arson or an explosive device. Each broad question is followed by planning considerations and suggested preparedness measures appropriate for workplaces in each of the three risk zones: green, red and yellow. Fire Prevention Plans (FPP) often work in conjunction with the procedures identified in existing Emergency Action Plans (EAP)(29 CFR 1910.38). Therefore, any modification to the FPP can affect your EAP. If you have decided to include arson and explosive device incidents in an existing FPP, you also may want to do so in your EAP.

• Green Zone. Workplaces that are not likely to be a target for a terrorist incident because they are characterized by limited vulnerability, limited threat, and limited potential for significant impact (consequence). Note: If the workplaces around you seem to be in a higher zone, you may wish to review and implement the planning/preparedness considerations in the Yellow Zone.
•  Yellow Zone. Workplaces that may be targets because they are characterized by high vulnerability or high threat or a potentially significant impact (consequence) but, not more than one of these. Note: If the workplaces around you seem to be in a higher zone, you may wish to review and implement the planning/preparedness considerations in the Red Zone.
• Red Zone. Workplaces that are most likely to be targets because they are characterized by two or more of the following: high vulnerability, high threat, and potentially catastrophic impact (consequence). Such workplaces may consider assigning some terrorist incident response roles to their own employees. Note: The color-coded risk levels in this Matrix do not equate to the Threat Levels in the Homeland Security Advisory System developed by the Department of Homeland Security. However, employers that place themselves in the Yellow or Red risk levels may consider implementing sequential preparedness measures consistent with those listed in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 3 (describes Threat Levels) for federal agencies.

What should employers do to prepare their workplaces for a possible terrorist attack? The events of September 11, 2001, added a new challenge to workplace safety -