Scenario: An employee working late is leaving the building when they observe an individual on a bicycle circling the entrance. As the employee exits the parkade, they see this person enter the parkade on their bicycle. The employee immediately drives around to the outdoor surface lot, parks their vehicle and enters the building to inform reception.
Geographic areas or outside locations that are considered very safe during daylight hours can take on a different feel when the workday ends or when it’s dark. When there is no security on site, it is important that staff don’t put themselves in harm’s way when a suspicious person is observed in or around a building. If you notice anything suspicious, staff should enact our CODE WHITE procedure.
The basic steps to follow for a CODE WHITE are as follows:
- Shout or page, “CODE WHITE (AND THE LOCATIONS)” if inside a building;
- Notify the police if required by calling 911*. Staff will be expected to speak with police should they be called;
- If the situation is urgent and you cannot get to a phone, try to get to a fire alarm pull station and activate the fire alarm;
- If notified of a CODE WHITE situation, staff working in and/or adjacent to the impacted area should respond and provide assistance as required.
The police will respond to a CODE WHITE (e.g., a suspicious stranger is in the building that has no plausible reason for being there or someone is behaving erratically and/or violently or has locked or barricaded him/herself in a room). If you do encounter or observe a suspicious person, it is important to complete a Hazardous Conditions Report ASAP so that the incident can be documented and properly followed up on. If you suspect someone is lurking outside, shout or page CODE WHITE and/or call the police.
Consideration can be given to designated parking spots that are close to the building which are well-lit for those who work after hours.
While it is not always hazardous to work late or outside of regular work hours, it can mean you are working alone and/or traveling to or from work when the building is dark. That said, we should pay attention to any suspicious person or packages we see in and around our buildings and report it. Any questions or comments, please contact: Safety@Bethanyseniors.com
ADDITIONAL LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Here are a few more things you can do to keep safe if you are working late, alone or leaving work after dark.
- Always let a friend, co-worker, family member or supervisor know you are working late and when you expect to leave.
- Have a check-in procedure with someone you know.
- Use the “buddy system”. Arrange to work late on the same night as a friend or colleague.
- Plan ahead and think about which areas are safe where you can retreat to and/or call for help.
- Before it is dark outside, move your car to a well-lit area that is close to your building.
- Before your co-workers leave, check that all the doors and windows are locked and make sure nobody is in the washrooms and storage rooms.
- If you enter a room and suspect that someone might be inside, do not call out. Back out quietly and go to a safe area and call for help.
- If you encounter someone you don’t know, indicate that you are not alone. Say, “my supervisor will be right here and will be able to help you”.
- Be aware of the services offered by your local transit company for after-hours commuters (e.g., they may have a “request stop” service that allows commuters to get off anywhere along the route after dark, rather than at a designated stop).
*Be aware of the emergency number at your site. It may be 0-9-1-1 (dialing 9 to reach an outside line) and for most staff at Bethany Calgary, it is 3-9-9 (the business office, who will then call 911).
