PINILI, PG

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. INTRODUCTION .................................................. 3
B. DISCUSSION ....................................................... 4
TRAVEL SECURITY ........................................................5
SUGGESTED ANTITERRORISM SECURITY MEASURES
..........................................................................................6
Low-cost Actions ........................................................6
High-cost Actions .......................................................7
Blast Protection ..........................................................8
POTENTIAL TERRORIST’s WEAPONS ........................8
Nuclear Weapons .......................................................8
Biological Weapons ...................................................9
Chemical Weapons................................................... 11
PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, OR
RADIOLOGICAL ATTACKS ......................................... 11
Things Not to Do ....................................................... 14
Physical Security ...................................................... 14
VENTILATION AND FILTRATION ................................ 17
Maintenance, Administration, and Training .......... 17
SUMMARY ..................................................................... 20
C. LEARNING ACTIVITIES/EXERCISES ............... 21
D. ANSWER KEYS ................................................. 22
E. REFERENCES ................................................... 22

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EXTERNAL FORCES
TERRORISM

A. INTRODUCTION
TERRORISM

Terrorism for the most part is an unlawful use of violence and

intimidation, especially against civilians, usually stemming
from domestic influences.

The tools of terrorism are not only both the conventional

weapons of war and assaults (guns, rockets, bombs, etc.) but
also the weapons of nuclear, chemical, and biological agents
that could result in mass destruction and loss of life. No effort
to deter terrorism is full proof. But taking no action to assess
the risk, control, and implement actions to protect employees
and the workplace is not an option.

Employers have to make provisions for employees to

protect company personnel and their facilities from dangers
from outside the workplace that would inflict death and pain
upon employees while exacting damage upon the physical
assets of the workplace.

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B. DISCUSSION
Employers must make some preparation for such events
so that damage will be minimal and recovery from any such
disaster will be rapid. This includes:

o Antiterrorism training
o Self-protective behavior
o Protection devices
o Safe activities that decrease personal risk
o Security provisions
o Hardening potential targets
o Planning that is implemented and practiced

For the most part, terrorists’ acts are limited to six basic forms:

o Bombings
o Assassinations
o Armed assaults
o Kidnapping
o Barricade and hostage situations
o Hijackings

Which bombing are the most common.

All in their most basic form are simple criminal acts. The
manner in which they are carried out, the victims that are
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targeted, and the desired media and political outcomes are

the only difference between terrorist and common criminals.

TRAVEL SECURITY

Each deployment or trip should be planned with employee

security and potential threat considered foremost. Employers
need to consider the traveler’s well-being by:

o Having standard company policies for travel as well as

curfews and off-limit locations
o Having situational awareness
o Planning an itinerary (movement, dates, times, and
location with even the use of GPSs)
o Avoiding high-risk locations
o Encouraging travelers to maintain a low profile
o Varying routes, times, and patterns of behavior
o Providing security detail (guards, military escort, armed
convoys, etc.)
o Providing medical assistance
o Maintaining communications
o Having evacuation plans
o Providing travel insurance for theft, identity, cash
advances, travel interruptions, etc.

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o Securing unique situational measures (rescue,

kidnapping, etc.)

SUGGESTED ANTITERRORISM SECURITY MEASURES

Low-cost Actions

• Preparedness
o Encourage personnel to know emergency exits
and stairwells.
o Post emergency telephone numbers for police,
fire, and rescue. Encourage personnel to
memorize important numbers.
o Know the location of the closest police stations,
hospitals, schools, etc.
o Review current contingency plans
o Limit the number of access points and strictly
enforce access control procedures.
o Etc.

• Awareness
o Maintain situational awareness of world events
and ongoing threats.

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o Encourage personnel to take notice and report

suspicious packages, devices, unattended
briefcases.
o Take any threatening or malicious telephone
call, facsimile, or bomb threat seriously.
o Approach all illegally parked vehicles in and
around facilities.
o Etc.

High-cost Actions
• Install perimeter around compound or facility.
• Consider installing telephone caller I.D., and record
phone calls, if necessary.
• Increase perimeter lighting.
• Deploy visible security cameras and motion sensors.
• Remove vegetation in and around perimeters, and
maintain it regularly.
• Initiate a system to enhance mail and package
screening procedures.
• Install special locking devices on manhole covers in
and around facilities.
• Install intrusion devices.
• Implement a countersurveillance detection program.

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Blast Protection
• Use configuration that better resists
blast shock waves.
• Maximize distances between parking
and facilities.
• Review size and location of window
with detonation points in mind.
• Etc.

POTENTIAL TERRORIST’s WEAPONS

Nuclear Weapons
In a nuclear terrorist event, the
hazards are thermal radiation, blast,
shock effect, and nuclear
contamination. Radiation can
contaminate open water and food
sources and should not be consumed until cleared by those
trained in radiation detection and hygiene.

Dirty Bombs
• A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives
to disperse radiation into the air. This type of
bomb would tend to contaminate areas with
low levels of radiation and cause panic.

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• The dirty bomb would have a physical and

psychological effect on the people in the
blast area.

Biological Weapons

For biological agents, there are many

different types of possible agents that can
cause diseases such as smallpox,
anthrax, plague, tularemia, and
hemorrhagic fever. Biological agents can
be;

• inhaled,
• swallowed,
• or accidentally injected

Three main categories of biological agents

• Bacterial Agents (Bacteria)

o Anthrax – It can be disseminated as a dust to be

inhaled or used to contaminate the environment
or water supply, causing the disease to be
spread days or weeks later.

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o Pneumonic and bubonic plagues – The bacteria

are normally spread by rodents and fleas.
o Tularemia – Blood and body fluids of an infected
person or animal or the bite of an infected deer
fly, tick, or mosquito can transmit the disease.
o Q fever – It occurs naturally as an infection in
sheep, cattle, and goats and is disseminated
through inhalation.
o Salmonella – This infection occurs naturally by
ingesting food contaminated with infected feces.
It would be rather simple for terrorists to use this
agent.

• Viral Agents (Viruses)

o Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are viruses that
cause uncontrollable external and internal
bleeding. Some of the more widely known VHFs
are Ebola virus, hantavirus, yellow fever, and
dengue hemorrhagic fever.
o Smallpox – This virus is easily produced and its
aerosolized toxicity makes it an ideal weapon.

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• Biological Toxins (Poisons)

o Botulinum Toxin – is a serious and occasionally
fatal disease caused by a toxin produced by an
anaerobic bacterium (Food poisoning).
o Ricin – is a poison made from the waste left over
from processing castor beans. It can be in the
form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet.

Chemical Weapons

Most chemical agents used by

terrorists are usually in the form of solids
or liquids. The chemical agents can harm
the respiratory system and nerves and
cause burns to the skin. The types of
chemicals used as weapons are varied
in potency and effects.

PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, OR

RADIOLOGICAL ATTACKS

There are no full-proof ways to prevent the effects of a

terrorist attack on your workplace. Also, there is no way to
predict which facility might be attacked.

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Employers need reliable information about how they can

(1) modify their workplace to decrease the likelihood or effects
of an NBC incident and (2) respond quickly and appropriately
should an NBC incident occur. Comprehensive guidance is
needed in several areas:

• How to modify the existing system for better air

protection and security
• How to design new facilities to be more secure
• What plans employers should prepare in advance to
help them make effective decisions in the midst of an
NBC incident

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CHECKLIST FOR
PREVENTION OF AN NBC ATTACK
◻Yes ◻No Is the mechanical condition of the equipment good?
◻Yes ◻No Is there an adequate filtration systems are in place?
◻Yes ◻No Does it have any deficiencies?
◻Yes ◻No Is all equipment appropriately connected and
controlled?
◻Yes ◻No Are equipment access doors and panels in place and
appropriately sealed?
◻Yes ◻No Are all dampers (outdoor air, return air, bypass, fire
and smoke) functioning?
◻Yes ◻No Do all of them seal well when closed?
◻Yes ◻No How does the HVAC system respond to manual fire
alarm, fire detection, or fire-suppression device
activation?
◻Yes ◻No Are all supply and return ducts completely connected
to their grilles and registers?
◻Yes ◻No Are the variable air volume (VAV) boxes functioning?
◻Yes ◻No How is the HVAC system controlled?
◻Yes ◻No Is it speed of response adequate?
◻Yes ◻No Is the building zoned properly?
◻Yes ◻No Are the air handlers for each zone easily located?
◻Yes ◻No Is the system designed for smoke control?
◻Yes ◻No Is the air flow through the building known?
◻Yes ◻No Are the pressure relationships between zones
known?
◻Yes ◻No Are building entryways are positively or negatively
pressurized?
◻Yes ◻No Is the building connected to other buildings by
tunnels or passageways?
◻Yes ◻No Are utility chases and penetrations, elevator shafts,
Figure 1. Checklist
and firefor thesignificant
stairs Prevention of NBC
airflow Attack
pathways?
◻Yes ◻No Is there obvious air infiltration?
◻Yes ◻No Is it localized?
◻Yes ◻No Does the system provide adequate ventilation13 |given
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the building’s current occupancy and functions?
◻Yes ◻No Is the location of the outdoor air louvers known?
◻Yes ◻No Are they easily observable?
◻Yes ◻No Are the air louvers or other mechanical equipment
 PINILI, PG

Things Not to Do

Employers and managers should ensure that any actions

they take do not have a detrimental effect on the facility’s
systems (HVAC, fire protection, life safety, etc.) or the
occupants under normal building operations

• Do not permanently seal outdoor air intakes.

• Do not modify the HVAC system without first
understanding the effect systems or the occupants.
• Do not interfere with fire protection and life safety
systems.

Physical Security

• Relocate outdoor air intake vents – Relocating

accessible air intakes to a publicly inaccessible
location. (See Figure 2. Relocating outdoor air intake
vents.)
• Extend outdoor air intakes – an extension height of 3.7
m will place the intake out of reach of individuals. (See
Figure 3. Extend outdoor intakes.)

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• Establish a security zone around outdoor air intakes –

Physically inaccessible outdoor air intakes are the
preferred protection strategy.

High-sidewall
outdoor air intake

Figure 2. Relocating outdoor air intake vents.

Figure 3. Extend outdoor intakes.

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Figure 4. Security zone around outdoor air intakes.

Other Physical Security recommendations;

• Prevent public access to mechanical areas.

• Prevent public access to building’s roofs.
• Implementing security measures, such as guards,
alarms, and cameras to protect vulnerable area.
• Isolate lobbies, mailrooms, loading docks, and storage
areas.
• Secure return air grilles.
• Restrict access to workplace operation systems by
outside personnel.
• Restrict access to information on facility’s operations.
• Secure general physical security upgrades.

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VENTILATION AND FILTRATION

• Evaluate HVAC control options - Many central HVAC

systems have control systems that can regulate airflow
and pressures within a facility on an emergency
response basis.
• Assess filtration - Increasing filter efficiency to reduce
the consequences of both an interior and exterior
release of a particulate NBC agent.
• Ducted and non-ducted return air systems - Ducted
returns offer limited access points to introduce an NBC
agent.
• Low-leakage, fast-acting dampers - Rapid response,
such as shutting down an HVAC system, may also
involve closing various dampers, especially those
controlling the flow of outdoor air.
• Building air tightness - Significant quantities of air can
enter a facility by means of infiltration through
unintentional leakage paths in the facility’s envelope.

Maintenance, Administration, and Training

Maintenance

• Preventive maintenance and procedures:

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o Replacement filters, parts, and so forth

should be obtained from known
manufacturers and examined prior to
installation.
o Ventilation systems should be maintained
and cleaned according to the manufacturer’s
specifications.

Administration

Emergency plans, policies, and procedures

• Emergency plans to address fire, weather, and

other types of emergencies.
• Identifying suitable shelter-in-place areas.
• Identifying appropriate use and selection of
personal protective equipment.
• Directing emergency evacuations.
• HVAC control or shutdown, and communication
with building occupants and emergency responders
should all be addressed.

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Training

• Holding regularly scheduled practice drills, similar

to the common fire drill, allows for plan testing, as
well as occupant and key staff rehearsal of the plan,
and increases the likelihood for success in an
actual event.
• HVAC maintenance staff training: Periodic training
of HVAC maintenance staff in system operation and
maintenance should be conducted. This training
should include the procedures to be followed in the
event of a suspected NBC agent release.
• Training should also cover health and safety
aspects for maintenance personnel, as well as the
potential health consequences to occupants of
poorly performing systems.

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SUMMARY

While physical security is the first layer of defense,

other issues must also be addressed. Preventing possible
terrorist access to outdoor air intakes and mechanical rooms
and developing NBC-contingent emergency response plans
should be addressed as soon as possible.

A security assessment should be done to determine

the necessity of additional measures. Some items, such as
improved maintenance and HVAC system controls, may also
provide a payback in operating costs and/or improved
workplace air quality. As new facility designs or modifications
are considered, designers should consider that practical NBC
sensor may soon become available. Facility system design
features that are capable of incorporating this rapidly evolving
technology will most likely offer a greater level of protection.

While it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk

of an NBC terrorist attack, several measures can be taken to
reduce the likelihood and consequences of such an attack.
Employers and managers should assess their workplaces by
looking first for those items that are most vulnerable and can
be addressed easily. Additional measures should be

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implemented as feasible. The goals are to make your facility

an unattractive target for an NBC attack and to maximize
occupant protection in the event that such an attack occurs.

C. LEARNING ACTIVITIES/EXERCISES
Identification
1. ______________ for the most part is an unlawful use
of violence and intimidation, especially against
civilians, usually stemming from domestic influences.
2. A ______________ uses conventional explosives to
disperse radiation into the air.
3. Extend outdoor air intakes – an extension height of
________ meters will place the intake out of reach of
individuals.
4. Out of all the basic terrorism acts, __________ are
the most common.

Enumeration
1. What are the three (3) potential weapons for terrorist.
2. The three (3) suggested anti-terrorism security
measures.
3. The six (6) basic terrorism acts.

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D. ANSWER KEYS
Identification
1. Terrorism
2. Dirty Bomb
3. 3.7
4. Bombing
Enumeration
1. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons
2. Low-cost Actions, High-cost Actions, and Blast
Protection
3. Bombings, Assassinations, Armed assaults,
Kidnapping, Barricade and hostage situations, and
Hijackings

E. REFERENCES
Reese, C. D. (2018). Occupational Health and Safety
Management: A practical approach. CRC Press, Taylor &
Francis Group.
Terrorism. (2023, May 25). Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism

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