6. Health & Safety

BOMB WARNINGS PROCEDURES It is essential that all members of staff are made aware what the alarm designated for bomb warnings sounds like to ensure that they take the appropriate action.  3 bursts on school bell followed by 3 seconds of silence, three bursts, three seconds silence - repeated.  Upon hearing the alarms, staff are to remain in situ until advised otherwise. Bomb Warnings are usually received via the police , but when a warning is made direct to the school, the recipient should:  allow the caller to finish his/her message without interruption, making a note of the exact words used; DO NOT REPLACE HANDSET, leave line open for traces.  try to assess the caller's sex and approximate age;  note conditions affecting speech such as drunkenness, laughter, anger, excitement, incoherence;  any peculiarities of speech such as foreign accent, mispronunciations, impediment, tone and pitch of voice;  note any background noise audible during the call such as music, traffic, talking, machinery;  when the caller has given his message try to keep him in conversation. The following key questions should be asked if possible after the initial message: When was it placed? Why was it placed?  Write down the message and notify the Headteacher or Leadership Team immediately after the call is received  The Headteacher or Leadership Team will then phone the Police It is perhaps worth reminding staff that the greatest danger from a bomb explosion, whether in a building or in a car in the street, arises from flying glass. This might seem to indicate that the evacuation of buildings is itself accompanied by some risk. If this is so, then, perhaps with the exception of buildings with large quantities of glass, the best protection for the individuals own safety will be for them to remain in their classrooms/offices rather than expose themselves to the dangers of flying glass outside the school buildings. The most effective safeguard seems, therefore, to be to remain within the building but sheltered from the windows. Everyone should take all possible steps to ensure that any members of the public who happen to be in the building are aware of what is going on. Finally, if, after a bomb warning has been given, staff notice a suspicious parcel, package or object, they should report this to the Headteacher, Leadership Team OR Fire Marshall Team. Under no circumstances should they touch it themselves. Staff are not bound to search for bombs. On hearing the alarm, the Headteacher, Leadership Team and Fire Marshall Team are to report to the main reception. Again all other staff, visitors and students are to remain in situ and away from windows. Where is a bomb located? What time will it explode?

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