Procedure 6: Exposure to harmful substances

These procedures should be used in the event that you or other members of staff discover or are affected by harmful substances.

1. Action by Head of Security:

• Notify police immediately using the 999 system
• Arrange to switch off the building air conditioning system immediately
• Arrange to secure all external doors to the building
• Arrange to close all windows in the building
• If there has been a suspected biological contamination, ensure that personnel outside the room are evacuated as soon as possible and ensure individuals in the contaminated room are evacuated to an adjacent unoccupied room away from the hazard.
• If there has been a suspected chemical incident, ensure personnel leave the room as quickly as possible. Possible signs that people have been exposed will be streaming eyes, coughs and irritated skin. Seek immediate medical advice.

In addition ensure that:

• No attempts are made to clean up any spilt powder
• If clothing is heavily contaminated, no attempt is made to brush off any powder- it is better to remove the clothing carefully in isolation.

2. Guidance to be given to anyone who believes they have been exposed to chemical/biological material:

• Remain calm.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other part of the body.
• Wash your hands in ordinary soapy water where facilities are provided, but staff movement outside contained locations should be avoided as much as possible.
• Keep all persons exposed to the material separate from others and available for medical attention.
• Other people should assemble at a safe distance from the incident and continue to be guided by the police and the other emergency services.

3. Emergency Services action

Risk assessment by the police is the key to managing such incidents. They will quickly advise on whether people who were potentially exposed to any contents of the package should remain separate from others and await medical attention. A proper description of the package and what has happened to it is ESSENTIAL. This is the basis on which all subsequent action is determined.

On the basis of information from the recipient of the package and their own observation the police will put the incident into one of two categories:

• No Credible Threat - In most cases, initial assessment of the letter or package by the police will provide reassurance that it is a false alarm, or it may obviously be a hoax. No further action will be taken.
• Credible Threat - These are packages understood by the police to have features that warrant deployment of full specialist support