CBRN / HazMat Training Blog

Radiation safety training is a core requirement for all personnel who are responsible for the handling, transportation, transfer or receipt of packages that contain radioactive materials.

In the US, the federal government's Department of Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency responsible for the planning and support of land, air and sea-based movement of hazardous materials (HazMat) shipments.

Additionally, the department also sets out the training requirements for all employees who are responsible for working in a HazMat capacity.

Incidents that involve the unexpected presence, the deliberate dispersal or the illegal trafficking of radioactive materials are rare.

However, for those tasked with border security, law enforcement or first response, the effectiveness with which they can identify, manage and contain a radiological hazard is crucial.

Whether dealing with the consequences of transportation accidents, major spills, trafficking or suspected terrorist activity, the actions taken in the first crucial minutes following a radiological event are pivotal.

The individuals and teams that are involved in addressing the immediate and short-term effects of CBRNe emergencies span a diverse array of personnel - from police, paramedics and the fire brigade to hospital staff, crisis management teams and those tasked with detection, verification and warning.

The consequences of CBRNe incidents can stretch national capabilities to their very limits, often relying on transnational cooperation in order to achieve a successful outcome.

Hands-on training for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) incidents has a hugely beneficial role to play in the development, application and practice of emergency response preparedness.

Participation in practically-based learning scenarios is especially advantageous due to the way in which it engages both sides of the brain - stimulating not only the processes of listening and analysing in the brain's left hemisphere, but also the visual and spatial processes in the brain's right hemisphere.

Effective response to chemical, biological, tradiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) threats relies on the implementation of robust policies and programmes and the provision of rigorous training that is both efficient in its delivery and long-lasting in its learning outcomes.

The use of simulations or 'war games' to exercise military strategic planning and to enhance operational readiness is a practice that has been in existence for many hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

The earliest documented records of war gaming can be traced back as far as the ancient Greeks in the 5th century BC, who are known to have played a skill-based board game called petteia or 'pebbles'.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to accelerate, it is creating an unprecedented level of disruption around the world, both in terms of its devastating impact on human life and its repercussions for the global economy.

In the midst of government lockdowns, enforced business closures and social distancing restrictions, public and private organisations have been forced to review their processes and look for innovative new ways to ensure they remain 'open for business.'

In what is a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging global environment, the importance of maintaining international cooperation in countering CBRNe threats has never been more crucial.

The successful management of any form of cross-border hazard - be it biological, chemical, nuclear or otherwise - relies on targeted, sustained and collaborative action.

Resilience and preparedness are at the heart of effective emergency response - and they are qualities that look set to prove increasingly important as the global CBRNe and HazMat community contends with the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19.

As the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic dominate the world news, more and more people are being asked to work remotely in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

The introduction of new radiation safety standards, combined with the as yet unknown outcome of Brexit, have contributed to a plethora of challenges that are likely to impact those operating within the radiation protection (RP) community for many years to come.

The quest to find practical solutions to these many issues will provide a central focus for the upcoming Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) Annual Conference, which is scheduled to take place at the Bournemouth International Centre, UK, from April 28th to April 30th 2020.