INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANNING | SPECIAL REPORT
Nuclear Waste Services is one of 14 members of the Radsafe non- profit organisation. Source: NWS
Being more responsive for transport Great Britain’s nuclear organisations have found an effective way to address this potential gap since 1992, with the birth of Radsafe, a ‘mutual aid’ organisation. Based on similar arrangements between organisations in the chemicals industry (dubbed Chemsafe), it requires the nearest member to act in the event of an emergency, no matter which member is the consigner. It means expert representatives can be sent to an event site much faster, to provide advice to emergency services, local authorities and other stakeholders. In addition, it makes the response much simpler
for the country’s resilience and emergency services, government and the nuclear regulator, because the Radsafe organisations work to a single plan, instead of different plans from each company. It builds on the Nuclear lndustries Road/Rail Emergency Plan, lrradiated Fuel Transport Flask Emergency Plan and Scottish Nuclear Limited lrradiated Fuel Transport Flask Emergency Plan and thus ensures there is no confusion about which plan is activated. The system is very simple in practice. If there is an event, the emergency services or other responders call a 24/7 helpline that also serves Chemsafe, the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC), operated, which gives phone advice and immediately dispatches a two-person expert team (including for example a health physicist) from whichever of Radsafe’s members is closest to the event. They provide radiological advice, make measurements, adjust the perimeter and meet any other short-term needs, allowing for a guaranteed early response and provision of advice to the emergency services Specifically, the Radsafe responder has to be able to:
● Advise the site of arrival as soon as practicable ● Notify the emergency services officer who is leading the emergency response
● Take part in multi-agency meetings providing
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technical (radiological) advice/support
● The Fire Service manages the cordon, the Rasdafe team provide advice on cordon size and radiological risk and monitoring of personnel and equipment leaving it (typically, a 45m cordon will be set by the emergency services)
● Consider whether to increase or reduce the size of the cordon
● Measure the radiation dose rates in the vicinity of the package(s) for leakage and check for local contamination. Air samples may be necessary, particularly in the area downwind of the package, to establish whether an inhalation hazard exists
● Limit the spread of contamination and make the area safe, including monitoring other personnel
● Give frequent situation reports ● Liaise with other health physicists
Radsafe was created in 1992 as a ‘mutual aid’ organisation for nuclear transport Source: Nuclear Transport Solutions
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