How to Protect a Worksite Against Terrorism

Terrorism efforts can cost businesses both lives and money, especially if employers and staff members are not educated about preparedness. Whether you're an employee or manager, take measures to implement an emergency management program in order to protect your worksite against a terrorist attack.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Organize an emergency preparedness team, and make sure that management gives them the authority to design and implement a company plan against worksite terrorism. Encourage communication among the emergency team, the management team and company employees so that everyone knows about the safety infrastructure.
2. Meet with employees to analyze the company's vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks. Discussing the potential for emergencies is the most important step in developing a plan for protection. Don't forget to consider scenarios for different types of terrorism at the worksite, including nuclear, bio- and agro-terrorism.
3. Ensure that your worksite has several televisions or radios with battery backup systems so that staff members can tune in for emergency information in disaster situations.
4. Put together an arsenal of emergency supplies, such as candles, flashlights, extra batteries, water bottles, food and first-aid kits. You may also want to include basic tools, like screwdrivers, hammers and pliers. Make sure all employee and management teams know where to access the emergency kit in case of a terrorist attack.
5. Visit the Red Cross website to review their publication entitled, "Preparing your Business for the Unthinkable" (see Resources below). The guide is designed to help companies develop written plans for emergency situations, including terrorist attacks.
6. Install emergency lighting in case of a power outage. These lighting options are available at local hardware supply stores, are not overly expensive, and can be a critical safety measure.
7. Protect computer data by backing up frequently and keeping an extra copy of crucial data at a safe deposit box or other secure location outside your worksite. It is especially important to protect sensitive, confidential or proprietary information. Visit the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) website for additional information on protecting your business from cyberterrorism (see Resources below).
8. Set up an emergency contact phone tree, and make it available to everyone at your worksite. In addition, it is helpful to plan an off-site meeting place for staff members, in case an isolated terrorist attack prevents you from remaining at work.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out the Ready.gov website maintained by the Office of Homeland Security (see Resources below). The site gives a comprehensive list of how to prepare your workplace for emergency situations, along with printable publications about taking measures against terrorism.