Safety Drills

A bomb threat drill will be done yearly at all Progress Industries owned sites and main buildings. At sites not owned by Progress Industries, the ISP team will determine if this is necessary. If not needed, it will be documented in the person's plan. If a bomb threat is received at one of the main buildings, the staff involved will listen and try to ask the caller the questions listed below, make an announcement over the intercom to evacuate the building, and call 911. All staff and persons served will meet on the east side of the building and a decision will be made at that time whether evacuation to a temporary location is necessary. If the threat is received at a residential site the staff will listen, ask the questions below, call 911 and have everyone evacuate. No one will be allowed back into the building until the police have determined it is safe. If police feel everyone needs to evacuate further, staff will transport persons served to a determined location. A report of the incident will be documented and filed.

Upon receiving a called threat, notify the threatened facility, the police, the President/CEO, the manager of the area, and the Facilities & Safety Coordinator. During a bomb threat, try to listen and record the following: date and time of the call, characteristics of caller (male, female, adult, child, etc); speech characteristics; estimated age; background noises; exact words if possible.

Try to ask the caller:

1. Exact location of the bomb?

2. Time set for detonation?

3. What does it look like?

4. What is the explosive?

5. Why was it placed?

6. Organization?

7. Request more data by expressing a desire to save lives

8. Obtain as much information as possible about location and structure of the bomb.

Question 1: If a bomb threat is received, you will meet at the pre-designated area. Evacuation to a temporary location be determined at that time.

Question 2: If a bomb threat is received at any site, staff will listen to caller and try to ask questions as indicated by policy; immediately call 911 and immediately evacuate building/area.

Question 3: It is important to listen carefully so you may be able to identify characteristics of the caller; speech; background noises; exact words, etc.

In the event of a flood or other natural disaster (including extended power outage), the management person in charge of the location will examine and act on the following factors relating to the situation:

1) The cooking and eating requirements and resulting health risks for persons served at the location involved. As needed, persons served will access community emergency resources and commercial restaurants.

2) Making sure that necessary medications and medical devices are available for persons served.

3) The emergency kit will include a first aid kit, flashlights, cell phone and radio. Food, drinking water, canned meats, utensils to open food containers, batteries and dishes will be added, as needed, for persons served.

4) The temporary movement of tenants to other existing residential sites (see complete list of residential sites operated by Progress Industries and rental of other locations, including motels (see telephone book listing of motels). Each of Progress Industries' Newton apartment buildings has a lounge area and may have vacant apartment units.

5) Access to other community resources including the Salvation Army headquarters in Newton and Des Moines. In the event of extended area-wide power outages, other community-based emergency locations will be announced by authorities.

6) On an ongoing basis, each location management person will examine the property for other hazards, checking trees and limbs and general property condition. Progress Industries will contact local electrical and gas companies, as needed, and as restoration services are available.

7) Progress Industries' Disaster Recovery Plan provides guidance to limit the debilitating effects of a disaster and to re-establish "normal" operations as efficiently and effectively as possible. The plan addresses areas of program services, manufacturing, staff resources, information systems and administration/finance.

Question 4: Should a flood or other natural disaster occur, it is important to make sure necessary medications and medical devices are available for persons served.

Question 5: It is important to examine the property for hazards on an on-going basis.

Power Outages

The following procedure shall be followed at all building sites where individuals stay overnight and fire and/or sprinkler alarm systems are present.

A fire watch shall be established in a building when the fire alarm is temporarily  shut down for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period and/or the sprinkler system is temporarily shut down for more than ten hours in a 24-hour period for any reason.

A fire watch will be manned by P.I. staff trained in Emergency Evacuation Procedures.

A written Fire Watch Log of the fire watch must be kept and include the date, time, name of the people conducting the fire watch, and the status of the alarm:

• Time local  fire department was notified


• Time  state Fire Marshal was notified


• Time DIA was  notified


• Time PI Insurance provider was notified


• Time tenants were notified

Once the watch is over, the log must be forwarded to the P.I. Safety Chairman.

A thorough inspection of all common areas, mechanical room, storage, kitchen, laundry rooms, and other high risk places must be conducted every 30 minutes in the building.

A fire watch will be conducted until the fire alarm and/or sprinkler systems have been repaired, tested and placed back in service.

In the event of a power failure at any Progress Industries facility, the staff person on duty at any HCBS, ICF-ID or Progress Industries' apartments will immediately contact the appropriate utility company.

If there is a power failure at the main facility in Jasper County, contact the Facilities and Safety Coordinator or a member of the Safety Committee who will then report the location of the outage and ask the utility company the expected length of the outage.

If there is a power failure in Polk County, contact the Office Manager or HCBS Director, who will then report the location of the outage and ask the utility company the expected length of the outage.

The management person in charge of other locations will determine whether to wait out the outage, dismiss the facility or move the persons served to nearest location no affected by the outage. When making this determination, the management staff will take into consideration, not only the expected length of the outage, but also the weather conditions and the temperature inside the affected building. (Note: When temperatures fall below approximately 60 degrees or climb above 85 degrees, it is recommended that the staff and persons served will be moved to a building with a working HVAC system.)

Question 6: In the event of a power failure at any Progress Industries facility, the staff person on duty at any HCBS, ICF-ID or Progress Industries' apartments will immediately contact the appropriate utility company.

Suspicious Packages or Envelopes

In an attempt to prevent an exposure to Bioterrorism agents the appropriate steps will be taken to protect people supported and staff. These guidelines for recognizing and handling suspicious packages will be taken. When picking up the mail from the post office or when mail is delivered to any Progress Industries facility check for suspicious packages. Do not transport suspicious packages in a vehicle or bring it into any Progress Industries buildings. If a package or envelope is found at Progress Industries notify the Safety Director and local law enforcement officials.

Handling of Suspicious Packages or Envelopes:

1) Alert others in the area about the packages or envelope. Leave the area, close any doors and take actions to prevent others from entering the area.

2) Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious package or envelope.

3) Do not carry the package or envelope, show it to others or allow others to examine it.

4) Place the package or envelope on a stable surface, do not sniff, touch, taste, or look closely at it or at any contents, which may have spilled.

5) If possible, create a list of people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized and a list of persons who also may have handled this package or letter. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials.

Identifying Suspicious Packages and Envelopes

Inappropriate or unusual labeling

- Excess postage

- Handwritten or poorly typed addresses

- Misspelling of common words

- Strange return address or no return address

- Incorrect titles or title without a name

- Not addressed to a specific person

- Marked with restrictions, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"

- Marked with any threatening language

- Postmarked from a city or state that does not match the return address.

Appearance

- Powdery substance felt through or appearing on the package or envelope.

- Oily stains, discolorations, or odor

- Lopsided or uneven envelope

- Excessive packaging material such as masking tape, string, etc.

Other suspicious signs

- Excessive weight

- Ticking sound

- Protruding wires or aluminum foil

Question 7: If you suspect a suspicious package has been received, you should contact the Facilities & Safety Coordinator and local law enforcement officials.

Question 8: If you receive a suspicious package, it is ok to shake it or empty the package to see what is inside.

Building Evacuation

In the event of building evacuation, special evacuation routes will be determined to avoid potential threats posed by building debris and potential toxic conditions. The Safety Chair or person in charge will determine best evacuation routes and safe meeting location. Depending upon the extent and location of building damage, routes of evacuation may be similar to Fire and Explosion Evacuation procedures or routes may vary according to the nature of the present danger.

The fire alarm will be used to notify all persons of the emergency. All persons served and staff will exit the building when the alarm begins and follow directions for the presenting emergency.

If the fire alarm system is inoperable, staff will yell "Evacuate the Building" to warn all present of the danger. Various staff will be formally assigned by the Safety Chair or person in charge to direct people to safe exits and check areas close to their work stations as they evacuate to insure complete evacuation.

Persons with limited mobility will be assisted by the staff in their work area or the nearest available staff.  The Safety Chair and designated Safety Committee Members will check with make sure all staff, persons served and visitors are accounted for.

Once a person has left the building, they will not be allowed to re-enter the building until the all clear sign has been given. The only exception would be a staff person who is assisting persons served out of the building.

The Safety Chair or person in charge will report directly to the emergency command post as the established point of contact. Once everyone is out of the building and attendance has been taken, if there is a person that cannot be located, the Safety Chair or person in charge will give this information to the rescue personnel and tell them the location the person was last seen. No one, except rescue personnel, will be allowed to re-enter the building to look for the missing person until an all clear is given by authorities.

Progress Industries will request immediate advice from community emergency personnel as to the advisability and/or timeframe for re-entry of the building. All personnel will follow instructions given by the fire department or emergency command post in charge. If evacuation of a several block area is necessary, arrangements will be made to transport people as soon as possible. 

Question 9:  If allowed to leave the building, you are not allowed to re-enter until the all clear sign is given.

Violence in the Workplace

Internal Violence comes from within the organization. Anytime a staff, person served or volunteer feels they have been abused or have been a recipient of violence, the staff member will follow this procedure.

1) Stay calm; do not react to the abuse or violence by promoting more violence

2) Get away from the perpetrator, or try to separate if it does not put self in danger

3) Report abuse or violence immediately to manager or Human Resources

4) Document what happened and who witnessed

5) Call 911 if necessary, (this may be done at anytime, if necessary)

External Abuse or Violence comes from someone not employed with Progress Industries. Anytime a staff member feels there may be potential for an angry person coming to work, to try and approach them, (example: ex-spouse, upset customer, friend, a person with a "no contact" order, etc.) the staff, persons served or volunteers will follow this procedure:

1) Contact Human Resources and tell of situation

2) Work with Human Resources and law enforcement to come up with safety plan

3) A safety team will be organized to provide a safe work environment for staff

4) Provide Human Resources with anything that would help identify person

Question 10: Internal violence comes from within the organization.

Question 11: If you are a victim of violence in the workplace, you should: get away from the perpetrator, report abuse or violence immediately to your manager or Human Resources, and document what happened and who witnessed.

PRESENCE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER
You will have to use your own judgment during an active shooter event as to what action you will take. That action will be influenced by the people around you (particularly persons served) as well as environment and other situations. Progress Industries recommends that you notify others at your location about the danger by yelling or using telephone paging or intercom systems and call 911 if you see anyone in your building or on or near the property showing a firearm or other weapon.

Only if it is safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the shooter. Note height, weight, gender, race, approximate age, clothing, method and direction of travel, and name if known. If possible, identify the type of weapon the shooter is using. If the shooter is entering a vehicle, note the license plate number, make and model, color, and outstanding characteristics. All of this helps law enforcement to be most effective when responding to the emergency.

When you call 911 to report an emergency, be prepared to state your address and stay on the phone. Remain as calm as possible and answer the dispatchers questions. The dispatcher is trained to obtain the necessary information for best emergency response. In Newton, law enforcement would be expected to arrive at a location within 5 minutes. Response time will vary at P.I. locations in Des Moines and Polk County. Law enforcement may wait for necessary backup before entering the affected location.

QUESTION 12: If you see anyone in your building or on or near the property showing a firearm or other weapon you should notify others at your location about the danger by yelling or using telephone paging or intercom system.

While waiting for police to arrive, you generally you have three options:

1. Run for Safety
2. Hide in a Safe Place
3. Fight

Run for Safety If you can, and you decide it is safe, get out and get to a safe place. Once safe, do not return. Ask yourself if you can save others, persons served and co-workers. You will have to rely partially on instinct. Leave belongings behind, but take your cell phone if it is handy.

Hide in a Safe Place If you decide it is necessary, find a hiding location. Direct persons served into nearby rooms with doors. Close and barricade doors, take attendance, remain quiet, and try to reassure everyone. Close blinds, turn off lights, remain quiet, silence cell phones, and move behind cover. Consider exiting through a window. Stay on the floor away from doors, inside walls and windows, and do not peek out to see what is happening. Make a plan with others as a team in the room about what you will do if the shooter enters. If possible and safe to do so, report the location of the shooter so others know.

Fight Back If you need to, make a plan as to how you will survive the situation by fighting back. Make a total commitment to action and act as a team with others if possible. Identify any and all items you can use in the room to distract and fight back (fire extinguishers, computers, books, chairs, pictures, etc.). Remember that people who fight back have a greater chance of surviving the event as opposed to those who do nothing.

When Law Enforcement Arrives The first priority of law enforcement will be to identify and take out the shooter. You do not want to be confused as the shooter and then become a target for law enforcement. Do not run to them or make sudden movements. Do not scream, yell, point or wave your arms. Do not hold anything in your hands that could be mistaken as a weapon (including cell phones). Be quiet and compliant. Show the officers your empty hands and follow their instructions. Identify for the officers the number of shooters, location and physical description, number and type of weapons, etc. When safe, you will be given instructions to exit safely.

QUESTION 13: When law enforcement arrives do not run at them screaming or making sudden movements. Instead, keep calm and quiet and show them your empty hands.