Bomb Threat (Code Purple)

Back to emergency procedures

These guidelines are intended to provide information for staff, students and contractors in the event of a Bomb Threat emergency. 

It should be noted that an emergency may require partial or total evacuation of the building.
It is recognised that a Bomb Threat emergency is possible.  The University has developed policies and guidelines to assist manage potential risks and minimise the impact.

• Bomb Threat Procedures
• Suspicious Item Located Procedures
• Explosion Procedures

Bomb Threat (Code Purple)

Risk Management (AS/NZS 4360)

Bomb Threat Procedures

Should you receive a bomb threat, all threats are to be treated as serious. 

They may be in one of three forms :

1. Telephone threat
2. Written threat
3. Suspect object

Remember that they will all differ in circumstance.

Telephone Threat

• Do not terminate the conversation
• Accurately record information given as quickly as possible and transcribe onto the bomb threat checklist if a checklist is not immediately available.  Do not rely on memory.  (Refer to forms and checklists)
• Try to obtain as much information as possible including where, what time, what does it look like, why?.  Also try to assess the caller (eg male, female, speech, background noise, manner eg calm, intoxicated, rational
• Ensure you record the exact time you receive the threat
• Do not hang up the phone
• Contact the Chief Warden/Warden and/or Security
• Advise your exact location and contact number
• Do not discuss the call with other staff
  Await the arrival of Security and the Chief Warden

• Provide assistance as required and follow their directions

Written (eg via mail)

• Avoid any unnecessary handling
• Retain the evidence
• Do not photocopy
• Place in a plastic sleeve or transparent folder.
• Complete a bomb threat checklist (see forms and checklists)
• Contact the Chief Warden/Warden and/or Security
  Advise your exact location and contact number
• Do not discuss the threat with other staff
• Await the arrival of Security and the Chief Warden
• Provide assistance as required and follow their directions

What will the Chief Warden/Security do?

In accordance with the Emergency Evacuation Plan, the Chief Warden/Security will contact the police.

They will then assess the level of threat and options based on the information provided.

There are four options.  Each with advantages and disadvantages.
Option 1 :  Take no further action
Option 2 : Search without evacuation
Option 3 : Evacuate and Search; or
Option 4: Evacuate (without a search)

Generally, where no object has been located, and the threat is non-specific, the University’s Emergency Control Organisation and Security will conduct a search without evacuation.

Where there is a decision to conduct a search

Who conducts the search?

In accordance with Australian Standard AS 3745, it should not be assumed that the Police or Security will conduct bomb searches.  The most appropriate personnel to carry out a search, in any given area, are the occupants of the building, structure or workplace because they have the knowledge of “what belongs” or “what doesn’t belong” in a location at any given time.

The Chief Warden will co-ordinate the search using available resources as above.   If you are required to assist, you will be given an area you are familiar with eg your office space.

What is the aim of the search?

To identify any object that is not normally found in the area or location, or for which an owner is not readily identifiable.

Why don’t you immediately evacuate?

You may be at greater risk.  As a general rule, the easiest area in which to plant an object is in the areas where the public has the easiest access.  Immediate evacuation through these areas might increase the risk of injury. eg entrances, corridors, assembly areas.  In accordance with AS 3745, immediate total evacuation may be an undesirable response.  It is the easy decision in the initial phase, however, having taken the easy way, the hard decision of when to return to the building still has to be made.

Suspicious Items Located (Code Purple)

Risk Management (AS/NZS 4360)

Suspicious Object Located Procedure

What if you locate a suspicious object?

• Do not touch, move or cover it
• Conspicuously mark the location
• Ensure there are no other suspect objects in the vicinity
• Evacuate the area and isolate
• Report the object to the Chief Warden, or as instructed
• Follow the directions of the Chief Warden, Warden, Emergency Services or Security

What if you are instructed to evacuate?

• Take your personal belongings eg handbag, wallet, car keys
• Evacuate in an orderly manner, preferably in single file
• Evacuate via the pathway advised by the Chief Warden, Security, Emergency Services to the designated “safe” area.  (Note that this may not be the usual Assembly Area)
• Assist any person with a disability
• Ensure doors are left open
• Wait at the designated area, for further information

Re-occupation

If a building has been evacuated, the decision to re-occupy has to be made.

Where a suspicious object has been located and Police have attended, the scene will remain under their control until the area is declared “safe” and control restored.  It should be clearly understood that because a threat is an offence there is the possibility that the building/areas under threat may become a crime scene under the control of the Police for considerable time.

Please note, in accordance with guidelines of the Australian Bomb Data Centre, where the threat stipulates a “time-to-explosion” but it does not eventuate, the Chief Warden/Police/Security Operations Manager will allow an absolute minimum of twenty minutes.

There may be a controlled count-back of staff and occupants into the premises.

Explosion(Code Purple and Code Yellow)

Risk Management (AS/NZS 4360)

Procedure for an Explosion

• Assist anyone in immediate danger to evacuate
• If there is a fire, follow “RACE”  
  Remove those in immediate danger
  Alert others in the area
  Contain the fire if possible, by closing the door
  Evacuate to the designated Assembly Area
• Wait for the emergency services personnel to arrive
• Assist provide details of any others in the area at the time of the explosion
• Provide a witness statement of events (if possible)

Note :  Untrained persons should not attempt to rescue people who are inside a collapsed building.