In the spring of 2021, the HazMat Guys invited Argon Electronics’ North American Business Development Manager Bryan Sommers to join them in a podcast discussion where they talked about ongoing challenges in the provision of HazMat training and what new simulation technologies are bringing to the table.
Training is an essential aspect of preparing radiation professionals for the realities of live radiological incidents, whether they are operating in the field of first response, law enforcement, customs and border control or the military.
While much of the essential theoretical and regulatory information can be conveyed in the classroom setting, there is also the vital need to exercise, hone and verify that knowledge through hands-on training.
With the increasing use of radioisotopes within educational institutions, industrial facilities and healthcare environments, there also comes the need to maintain a rigorous and robust approach to radiological safety.
Protecting people and the environment from the effects of radioactive materials relies on two core practices - implementing appropriate radiological safety measures to prevent exposure to radiation and ensuring that there are robust security systems in place to prevent radioactive materials being misappropriated for malicious use.
Radioactive sources provide a vast array of benefits within the field of nuclear medicine, from their use in diagnostic scanning procedures to the sterilisation of equipment and the treatment of cancers.
The earliest applications of nuclear medicine date back to the mid-twentieth century when physicians with an interest in the endocrine system first used iodine-131 in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease.
Technology and equipment is making a powerful contribution to the realism and learning outcomes of radiological training programs for emergency responders, firefighters and HazMat personnel.
With the help of innovative new simulator-based training tools, instructors are able provide their trainees with the crucial hands-on experience that they need to safely handle the challenges of live radiation incidents.
The use of simulation within a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) training environment is not a new concept.
Over the years, CBRN instructors have become well used to employing a variety of different simulation types - from notes written on index cards, to the calling out of verbal cues over the trainee’s shoulder, or the use of multiple harmful chemicals as false positives that react to chemical detectors.
While the controlled use of radiological and nuclear materials continues to benefit society in a multitude of ways, the risk of these materials being used in the carrying out of terrorist or other criminal acts remains a substantial global concern.
Law enforcement agencies worldwide are committed to supporting prevention, preparedness and response activities that can be used to counter the effects of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) terrorism.
The ability for emergency responders to make informed decisions in the face of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incident is a critical factor, both in ensuring that they are able to save lives and that they themselves do not become victims.
In the face of evermore complex and multi-dimensional CBRN threats, the use of new diagnostic and detection technologies is playing an increasingly important role in guiding decision-making and in aiding the accuracy and efficiency of emergency response.
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.
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.