Medical and Physical Security

1.  Preventative measures taken by Continuity Advisers Inc. to mitigate the risk of exposure and the spread of airborne pathogens within its facility

The basis for the measures taken by CAi to control the spread of pandemic infection is the report titled Preventing Febrile Respiratory Illness, produced in September 2005 by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Public Health Division, Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC).  This report provides guidelines to prevent the transmission of droplet spread febrile respiratory illness (FRI) to others, to help quickly detect and contain clusters and outbreaks of respiratory infections and to help detect and contain any new or virulent micro-organism causing respiratory infections.

Although the report is directed towards procedures to be undertaken by medical facilities, CAi believes that the application of the essential principles and the use of certain recommended items is both practical and responsible.  While CAi can not guarantee the prevention of any outbreak within our facilities, we will do all we can to mitigate the likelihood of this happening.

Some of the specific procedures that have been addressed are as follows:

• All CAi employees will be able to provide evidence of annual influenza immunisation
• Clients will be encouraged to have annual influenza immunisations for all of their staff.  CAi will arrange for immunisations to be provided at client sites upon request
• CAi will employ full time nursing (RN) coverage (24/7) immediately upon the onset of an influenza pandemic.  A permanent nursing station will be constructed in our main entrance lobby
• Once a nurse is stationed on-site, CAi will employ an active approach to case evaluating the health status of all those who want to enter the facility i.e. the nurse will screen all entrants into the facility.  In the case of a proven localised risk, a mobile negative pressure entrance tunnel will be used within the facility to perform each screening.

Some of the specific infrastructure that has been addressed is as follows:

• Where possible, HEPA filters will be placed in HVAC trunks.  These are sufficient for removing airborne pathogens such as the H5N1 virus.  Clients are welcome to install additional air purification systems within their suite – these may be mounted within the ceiling cavity or on the floor
• No-Touch alcohol based sanitising dispensers will be stationed in every corridor and common space
• No-Touch sink faucets and lavatories are used throughout the facility
• Shower areas will have manual alcohol based sanitising sprays in each stall
• All biometric security pads will have manual alcohol based sanitising sprays and wipes present
• Every CAi suite will initially be provided with kits containing Particulate Respirators, Nitrile examination gloves, surface disinfectant, alcohol based hand sanitizing solution and anti-microbial hand-wipes.  Additional kits may be purchased from CAi at any time for a fixed, preset cost
• All common space surfaces will be cleaned regularly with surface disinfectant.  CAi has established a relationship with Metrex to ensure a regular supply of appropriate disinfectants
• Dry food storage areas will be provided to all clients
   

2.  Physical security measures adopted by Continuity Advisers Inc. surrounding and within its facility

The security of our facility and of our client suites is of paramount importance to CAi.  State of the art access control systems, monitoring systems and security protocols are used.

Access to each client suite requires a five stage process:

• Access to the facility parking area is controlled by swipe card or digital PIN
• Access through the main entrance is the first stage in the biometric security process.  A recognised palm print will open the outer door
• Once the main door has closed the entrant is in a man-trap situation.  CCTV will record the next step whereby another palm print will open the interior main entrance
• Once the client is successfully in the main lobby, they will be able to gain access to the corridor system using a single finger biometric identification system
• Each suite has another single finger identification system at its doorway

Egress from the building, through the man-trap, also utilises biometric scans.  A record of every entry and egress from the facility will be kept and a client may view their particular records upon request.

Monitoring:

• The parking area and the exterior of the building are monitored and recorded by CCTV
• All common areas and corridors are monitored and recorded by CCTV
• The raised floor area within the facility is monitored and recorded by CCTV
• Clients are at liberty to install any additional monitoring or sensory devices within their suites

Additional security items:

• Our facility has 24/7 manned security
• All external windows are coated with a blast mitigation application which will prevent any damage to or entry through exterior glass
• Even though the parking area is gated and the exterior windows are treated, concrete bollards will be set in place in front of areas where grade is a factor to eliminate the risk of vehicular charging

The nearest police station is 4.7 km away.  The nearest fire station is 2.2 km away.  The nearest hospital is 4.8 km away (Etobicoke General Hospital).