by Brianna Crandall — November 27, 2017 — BIFM, the UK-based professional body for facilities management (FM), has launched its latest Guidance Note: Counter Terrorism Advice for FM. Although geared toward risks in the United Kingdom, the guidance contains principles applicable to many other countries.
The counter-terrorism document introduces FM professionals to key parts of terrorists’ thinking, such as what types of targets they tend to choose and why. For example, the document says that terrorists tend to attack high-profile targets that affect a country’s economy as well as impact national and international psyche, and suicide attacks allow concealment of the weapon.
Despite modern technology, the terrorist typically relies on the bomb, bullet or the knife to carry out their attacks, and all these items can be found with good searching techniques, reminds the guide. The counter-terrorism document also warns about insider threat, cyberterrorism, and drones, among other issues, and includes a security audit checklist.
The Guidance Note concludes: “So it is important that all facilities management professionals understand the threat they face and then take action to reduce their vulnerabilities. When a terrorist attack happens, it’s too late to do your planning…Businesses can and should do all they can to deter any terrorist from attacking their site. The best way to do that is to have good and obvious security that makes the terrorist believe that an attack would fail.”
The free Guidance Note was produced in partnership with UK Security Expo to help FM professionals evaluate the risks to their buildings and decide what they should do about them. It was released ahead of this year’s UK Security Expo, which will take place November 29-30 in London, where the impact of the prolonged terror threat to businesses will be a key theme under discussion.
Peter Brogan, Research and Information manager, said:
This guidance is an extremely important addition to our suite of knowledge resources to support facilities management professionals with their business continuity and disaster recovery plans. With counter terrorism being such a vital issue that is high on the agenda for many FMs, this resource offers expert advice to FM professionals who may need to deal with the evolving threats from terrorism to the UK.
Chris Phillips GCGI FSyI FCIISCM, managing director, Ippso ltd, added:
Facilities Management plays a key role in keeping people safe. This includes protection against terrorist attacks and it is brilliant that BIFM is helping FM professionals to get organized and be better informed. I urge all FM professionals to take a little time, read this advice and do their bit to keep our country, employees, customers and the public safe.
The Counter Terrorism Advice for FM Guidance Note is free to download to members and non-members along with other Guidance Notes from the BIFM Web site.
This Guidance Note is one of many new or updated guides to be released by BIFM this year. BIFM’s Guidance Notes and Good Practice Guides offer jargon-free, practical advice on a diverse range of subjects specific to FM professionals. They provide hints and tips that FM professionals are able to implement into their working practices with ease, many of which are accompanied by Webinars. Find out more on BIFM’s Knowledge page.
