ALAT Chapter 3 Facility Security & Emergencies PDF

ALAT Chapter 3 Facility Security & Emergencies A safe and secure workplace is important for both workers and animals. Research animal facilities achieve this with a disaster plan, which ensures the safety of people and animals during a fire or other natural disaster, and with a security program that...

ALAT Chapter 3 Facility Security & Emergencies A safe and secure workplace is important for both workers and animals. Research animal facilities achieve this with a disaster plan, which ensures the safety of people and animals during a fire or other natural disaster, and with a security program that safeguards the facility from unwarranted intrusions. The Disaster Plan • The disaster plan: • • • • Is an important document that details the steps for disaster preparedness and response should be regularly updated. All staff should be familiar with the plan. Typically addresses the types of disasters that would most likely affect the facility. • • • • • • For example, some institutions are located near waterways that may cause flooding Others may be located in regions of the country where tornados are a hazard. Earthquakes occur where there are geological faults. A fire can ignite and consume any facility. Storms may cause widespread power outages in almost any region. Power outages may result in the loss of vital ventilation and safety equipment. • Easy access to the disaster plan is critical, both electronically and a physical hard copy; especially during the disaster. Posting of key components of the plan as signs or notices in the facility’s high-traffic areas is beneficial. • A disaster plan must include information about how to evacuate personnel and, if necessary, the animals. It should also include how irreplaceable animals will be protected from the effects of a disaster. • During an emergency, every effort should be made to save the animals. However, they should only be evacuated if doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the staff. When animals are evacuated, arrangements must be made for animal housing, water, and feed. • The possibility of having to euthanize animals that are not evacuated should be covered in the facility’s disaster plan. https://bridge.ohsu.edu/research/onprc/emergmgmt/West%20Campus%20Emergency%20Action%20Plans/WC_EAP_Building%201_637_July%202021.pdf Evacuation • Post evacuation routes and clearly mark exits in the facility. • Keep the area around exits uncluttered to allow for rapid evacuation. • Post an exit map to direct everyone to the nearest safe exit. • Keep hallways and other walkways clear to allow for the safe movement of staff and animals. Emergency contact information • Emergency contact information should be listed in the disaster plan. • This list should contain the contact information for the animal facility’s key personnel (director, managers, supervisors, and veterinarian), environmental health and safety office, occupational health office, facility maintenance support staff, and the fire department. • The contact list should be posted in common areas that have heavy traffic. The list should identify whom to call if an emergency occurs outside of normal working hours. • In order to be able to respond quickly if a problem arises, you should know how to access and use the contact list. Disaster Plan The disaster plan is developed through a collaboration of senior management and safety officials. You must respond appropriately during an emergency while maintaining your own safety. Ultimately, you are the person in charge of your own safety. The facility management should provide you with training on the disaster plan. You should know the safety systems in place and the steps to take if an emergency occurs. Most institutions periodically conduct disaster drills involving all aspects of the institutional emergency response team. For example, a drill may be planned for the mock destruction of part of the animal facility due to a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or tornado. During the drill, animal care technicians, staff from other departments (safety, security), police, firemen, and emergency medical personnel would all be engaged in performing their roles. Everyone would follow the plan as though a real disaster had taken place. Drills are an excellent tool for measuring the effectiveness of institution-wide emergency systems. Post-incident discussions are useful for identifying ways to improve the disaster plan and emergency procedures. The Security Plan An animal facility must have safeguards to protect against theft and vandalism. Unfortunately, these measures alone are no longer enough to maintain overall security. In recent years, many threats have resulted in an increased need for awareness, vigilance, and preparedness. These threats include global threats of bioterrorism and localized attacks against researchers and biomedical research facilities by animal rights groups. The importance of maintaining a high degree of security in a research institution cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, security breaches have occurred. • For example, animal rights activists have “liberated” (stolen or released) animals from research facilities. Such actions create conditions that undermine or destroy research studies, and may lead to the death of the research animals. • Of serious concern for facilities storing dangerous infectious agents, is the risk of theft of these agents for malicious purposes. Animal facility staff should make sure that all aspects of the research program are in full compliance with any applicable regulations and guidelines. Compliance is the best defense against attack from groups opposed to the use of animals in research. It is also important to avoid any actions or conversations that, when taken out of context, might be misinterpreted as signs of mishandling or mistreating the animals. The Security Plan • A security breach is an ever-present threat. Facility management should have a security plan that describes ways to prevent and address security breaches. • A security plan is typically laid out in a document, sometimes as part of the disaster plan. The security plan should be accessible to all staff. • You should be familiar with the security plan. The facility should provide training on how you should prevent, report, and respond to an incident. Strategies to Prevent Security Breaches • All individuals who are part of the animal care and use program should receive basic training on the facility’s standard operating procedures for how to deal with security issues. • The safety and security of the staff and animals depend on your compliance with your facility’s safeguards. • In the event of a security breach or a disaster, follow the instructions provided by the on-site security staff or the local law enforcement officials. • Security breaches may come from outside or within It is important never to let anyone follow you through a secured entrance. Doors should never be propped open in an animal facility, as this provides access to an intruder or to outside animals, such as wild rats and mice or a stray cat. Outside animals entering the laboratory animal area can introduce disease—and possibly compromise the research animals and studies in progress. • A comprehensive background check is required for all potential new employees. This is an important step to avoid hiring individuals who oppose the use of animals in research. They could be applying for a position because they intend to sabotage the research being done in the facility. Contract or temporary workers who enter the animal facility should also go through a background check. The Security Plan • Everyone inside the facility should wear a visible identification badge. Facility access and identification badges should not be left lying around, nor should they be borrowed by anyone, even those that you know already have facility access. • Visitors and vendors should be admitted and escorted at all times only by someone who can authorize their visit. They should also wear temporary identification badges. • Unauthorized visitors may claim that they are making a delivery or have an appointment, or identify themselves as inspectors from a regulatory agency who have come to conduct an unannounced inspection. • Never allow an unauthorized person into the facility. If approached by an individual requesting access to the facility, politely inform them that you cannot let them in. You should then immediately contact your supervisor to report the interaction. The Security Plan • Electronic keys and computerized systems may be used for secure access to the animal facility and interior areas. These devices include key touch pads, card readers, and biometric scanners. • Biometric devices can identify individuals using distinct characteristics such as fingerprints, voice signature, or eye structures. • Security video cameras can be used to monitor activity around and inside the building. • All computer access within the facility should also be subject to security measures, such as firewalls and password controlled log-in. • The entry of audio and video recording devices should be controlled in high-risk facilities. The use of hidden cameras is one of the most common methods used by facility infiltrators. Animal rights activists may use cell phones to secretly record a photo or video to document what they think, perhaps inaccurately, are poor animal conditions or inhumane procedures. Cell phone media can be rapidly transmitted to other activists who post the photos or videos on websites for public viewing, creating unwanted and inaccurate publicity for the institution. The negative publicity could ultimately jeopardize the funding support of the research program. The Security Plan Not all institutions face the same security risks. Institutions involved with politically controversial research face a greater risk. • For example, a facility housing nonhuman primates, dogs, or cats is at greater risk of a security breach than a rodent facility. • Similarly, a facility conducting behavioral studies or research involving genetic engineering, toxicology, neurobiology, or infant animals is likely at greater risk than one conducting diabetes or cancer research. However, you should always be on the lookout for suspicious activity no matter what type of research your institution conducts. All staff should be involved in the development of security plans, and security should be promoted before an attack or accident occurs. • Employees who know what the risks are and how to protect themselves and the facility are the best defense against security breaches. • As a member of the research team, make an effort to familiarize yourself with the measures to prevent incidents and promote safety. • For example, you have in-depth knowledge of the physical layout of the facility and the daily activities of staff, and may notice some details that people unfamiliar with the facility might overlook. You may be aware that the exterior of the building is dimly lit at dusk or that shrubbery obscures some windows or doors from view. You know who belongs in the facility, and would likely notice a stranger roaming the halls. Likewise, you would notice that a particular door does not close itself completely behind you and that you have to pull it closed. It is crucial to the success of the security plan that you recognize and report these types of vulnerabilities to the responsible official. Emergency Response Report any threat to people or animals in the facility as quickly as possible. • Threats include loitering strangers or anyone displaying odd behavior in or around the animal facility. • Knowing whom to contact and what information to provide will help protect human and animal lives and the physical environment of the facility. • Everyone who has access to the facility should be aware of the contact list and should know whom to call when specific events happen (such as fire, flood, power outage, or intruders gaining access to the facility). If you are present in the facility when a major disaster or accident occurs, your first priority should be to protect human life, including your own! • Unless it puts your own life at risk, as you proceed to the nearest evacuation point, knock on doors and call out to people to exit the facility immediately. • In some situations, like a fire or a building collapse, you may only be able to evacuate yourself. • Once you are out of danger, call your institution’s emergency response team. Make sure to provide your name, contact information, location, and a clear description of what happened and where. Any information about injuries or the presence of hazardous materials will help emergency personnel respond. • Next, call your supervisor or other senior staff and provide them with the same information. Scenario • If you are in the facility on a holiday or weekend and there is a power outage, an animal room gets flooded, or you see evidence that a break-in has occurred, it is important that you know whom to call and what actions to take. These are some of the questions you should be ready to answer when you call to report the incident: o o o o o o o o o Where did the incident occur? Which areas are affected? Is there a power loss? Is everyone accounted for? Is there damage to the facility? Is access to the facility obstructed? Are any animals injured or missing from their cages? Have any hazardous substances been released into the facility? Do the animals need to be moved? • You may arrive at the facility after a disaster or accident has occurred or while a security disturbance is in progress. • You might receive a threatening phone call, email message, or letter. If something like this occurs, you should immediately leave the area, report the incident to your supervisor or police, and follow the procedures previously described. Summary • An emergency and disaster plan is only as successful as the people carrying it out. As you participate in staff training on disaster and security plans and other emergencies, visualize each of the steps you may be called upon to do. • Use the drills arranged by your institution to help you assess and improve your response to a real incident. You may be the first person among the staff to notice either the presence of people who don’t belong in the facility or the occurrence of an emergency. • Your quick and efficient response can prevent a problem from becoming more serious. • For everyone’s safety, know the steps you are expected to take when faced with an emergency.