Electronic radiation simulators provide trainees with realistic first-hand experience of handling detector equipment that is identical to that which they will use in the field.
But while the use of simulator detectors can offer significant advantages for both student and instructor, as with any form of training method there may be some compromises.
In this blog post we explore some of the pros and the cons of radiation safety training using simulator detectors.
CBRNe and HazMat incidents have the potential to contaminate large numbers of the general public.
Emergency response teams are constantly looking for ways to improve their operations.
Simulated exercises, training classes and seminars can all provide valuable insight into tactics and technologies that can be applied in real life HazMat incidents.
However unless feedback on incident response and command is recorded (and can be easily shared with personnel), a valuable learning opportunity can risk being lost.
The latest product developments and innovations in HazMat training and safety will be on show at the International Hazmat Response Teams Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, June 13th to 16th 2019.
This highly-regarded annual event is organized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and typically attracts a wide range of HazMat professionals working in the fields of first response, emergency planning, regulatory compliance, counter-terrorism, federal facilities and law enforcement.
The 13th CBRNe Protection Symposium (formerly the CBW Protection Symposium) will take place at the MalmöMassän Exhibition and Congress Center in Malmö, Sweden this September 24th to 26th 2019.
The ever-evolving character of modern-day CBRNe threats has relevance that reaches far beyond military defence circles, with an increasing number of biological, chemical and explosive terrorist acts taking place in civilian settings throughout the world.
In April 2019 Birmingham played host to the largest gathering of CBRNe officials in Europe at CBRNe Summit Europe 2019.
For those who attended, the three-day event offered the opportunity to hear analysis on the CBRNe threats currently facing the UK, to get an overview of European military CBRNe capabilities and to gain better understanding of first responder techniques in the event of a terrorist attack.
Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are highly toxic chemicals that have been used in modern military conflicts dating back to the First World War.
In the last couple of decades however, particularly close attention has been paid to the acute and chronic health effects associated with exposure to these agents.
In this blog post we define five of the most common forms of CWA, their methods of dispersal, their modes of action and their effects on the human body.
CBRN and WMD terrorism, whether it occurs at home or abroad, remains an ongoing threat with the potential to inflict mass casualties. And the effects of terrorist incidents can persist long after the event, as evidenced by the after-effects of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
Just this week there were reports of the recent deaths of a further three retired FDNY firefighters, all of whom succumbed to the effects of 9/11 related illnesses believed to be caused by toxic dust at Ground Zero. All three lost their lives within a 48 hour period, bringing the number of post-9/11 FDNY employee deaths to more than 180.
Argon Electronics will join global radiation protection professionals at the Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) Annual Conference which takes place in Scarborough, UK, May 21st to 23rd, 2019.
The event will provide an invaluable opportunity to network among a diverse range of key speakers and fellow colleagues and to gain insights from leading international radiation practitioners.
In this blog post we summarise a selection of the SRP 2019 Conference highlights, as well as listing some of the key information you will need to plan your visit.
Uranium is a radioactive element that is well-known for its use as the essential fuel for commercial nuclear power plants, with around 11% of the world's electricity being generated from uranium in nuclear reactors.
In March 2019, an incident on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil sparked global media coverage, when an armoured convoy transporting uranium fuel to the Angra 2 Power Plant became caught up in a shootout between two rival gangs.
Following the incident, a spokesperson for Brazil's nuclear agency stated that the uranium posed "no risk" to humans or the environment, due to the fact that it was being transported in its"natural form."