CBRN / HazMat Training Blog

Maintaining combat readiness is a vital requirement for military personnel who are deployed to potentially environments where there is risk of exposure to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) or toxic industrial chemicals (TICs).

The development, production and use of chemical weapons continues to remain a significant global concern, due in no small part to the wide availability of the active substances that are used to create them and the relative ease with which the methods or recipes for CWA production can be obtained and shared online.

The successful detection, identification and mitigation of radioactive threats relies on having access to the right equipment, knowing which equipment to select in which environment and being able to interpret the readings that are obtained.

In situations where there is a known presence of radioactive materials, the primary objective will be to monitor and measure in order to improve awareness - whether to establish the strength of the radioactive field, to define the boundaries of the radioactive area or to monitor the spread of contamination.

Realistic hands-on training is perhaps one of the most proactive steps that can ensure emergency response personnel are equipped to counter the challenges of hazardous materials and CBRN incidents.

The events of the past twelve months however have been quite unlike anything ever experienced before, with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic placing unprecedented pressure on training budgets and on the way in which programs of instruction are delivered.

Major incidents involving ionising radiation are thankfully rare, but this can mean that many firefighters or first responders may have little or no first-hand experience of handling the challenges  of a real-life radiological emergency.

While the prospect of attending the aftermath of a deliberate radiological act such as the detonation of a “dirty bomb” is highly unlikely day-to-day, there are other less obvious examples of radiological hazards that may be overlooked in the course of attending what appears to be a routine event. 

According to statistics released by the US Bureau of Labor, more than 2 million workers enter a permit required confined space environment every year for the purposes of routine maintenance, repairs, or inspections.

The uncontrolled and unpredictable nature of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents can place a substantial strain on the psychological and physical health of those tasked with emergency first response.

While the importance of wellbeing in the workplace is a subject that has gained increasing momentum in the UK in response to rising mental health issues within the wider labour market, it is only recently that the mental health needs of first responders have started to receive more attention.

Regular and rigorous training has a hugely important role to play in ensuring that military personnel acquire the essential knowledge, experience and practical skills that their demanding roles require.

The invisible and intangible nature of many chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats however can make them especially challenging to train for, and especially so when it comes to the conducting of effective chemical agent detection.

Seventy years ago, electricity was generated by a nuclear reactor for the very first time at the EBR-I experimental station on the outskirts of Idaho, USA.

Three years later, in Obninsk Russia, a nuclear power station would go on to produce the world's first ever electricity for a power grid.

Through the 1960s and 70s many more nuclear reactors were constructed all over the world, with many countries envisioning a future of cheap and emission-free electricity.

Radioactivity and natural sources of radiation are ever-present features in our environment, with radioactive substances playing an invaluable role in the development of global medicine, industry and agriculture.

The risk that exposure to radiation can pose to workers and the wider public however is something that must be continuously monitored and managed.

Effective chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat detection relies on ensuring that response personnel are fully confident in the use of their operational equipment before they step foot into a real-life hazardous situation.

While essential knowledge can of course be gradually acquired through exposure to live incidents, the ability to handle vital CBRN detection equipment, and to interpret the readings that are obtained, is not something that can simply be 'picked up on the job.'