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15 Initial Emergency Response Efforts
Sect. 15.3. If radiation dose rates are noted to be increasing as the investigators
approach the location(s) of interest they should notify their chain of command in
accordance with departmental policies and procedures. If dose rates on the approach
(e.g. in the hallway leading to an apartment) reach a designated level (e.g. 20 µGy
hr
−1 the approach should stop at that point and an entry/egress corridor should
be established at that location; otherwise the entry/exit corridor should be established sufficiently close to the area to be investigated as to permit relatively easy
access to the area(s), but sufficiently far so as to provide a degree of safety from
any materials—including explosives—that might be in the room. In addition, this
area—where workers are donning and doffing their protective equipment, meeting
to discuss survey results, planning the next entry, and so forth—should be located in
an area where radiation dose rates are low enough to permit personnel to remain for
a significant amount of time without approaching a dose limit. In the US, the default
is to try to find a location with a dose rate of no more than 20 µGy hr
−1 , although it
might be necessary to accept a higher dose rate in order to maintain easy access to
the work area.
All persons on the entry team should be briefed prior to entering the area(s); this
briefing should include:
• The reason for investigating this particular location (e.g. human intel, elevated
radiation dose rates, strange odors, etc.)
• Observations made during any earlier entries (if any)
• Any known or suspected risks present (e.g. chemicals, explosives, weak floorboards, etc.)
• Summary of any previous entries (e.g. bomb technicians) and their results
• Photos, drawings, sketches, etc.
• Any other relevant information about the scene
• Medical contingencies (e.g. location of first-aid kit, identity of any team members
with CPR, first aid, or other medical training, location of nearest hospital
emergency room or trauma center, etc.)
• Goal of entry (e.g. initial radiological scoping survey)
• Each team member’s task(s) during entry (e.g. radiation survey, recording information, managing entry/exit corridor, radiological survey of persons leaving area,
etc.
Following the briefing the entry team should don their protective equipment,
reset the accumulated radiation dose on their electronic dosimeters to zero, and
enter the area via the entry/exit corridor. The other personnel at the scene should
remain in areas in which radiation dose rates are less than 20 mGy hr
−1 unless their
presence is required to perform decontamination, bring tools or other equipment to
the entry team, assist with decontamination, or other duties. When all team members
understand their duties and are ready to do so the entry team can perform the entry.
The entry of each person should be logged to permit accounting for each person upon
egress.
15 Initial Emergency Response Efforts
Sect. 15.3. If radiation dose rates are noted to be increasing as the investigators
approach the location(s) of interest they should notify their chain of command in
accordance with departmental policies and procedures. If dose rates on the approach
(e.g. in the hallway leading to an apartment) reach a designated level (e.g. 20 µGy
hr
−1 the approach should stop at that point and an entry/egress corridor should
be established at that location; otherwise the entry/exit corridor should be established sufficiently close to the area to be investigated as to permit relatively easy
access to the area(s), but sufficiently far so as to provide a degree of safety from
any materials—including explosives—that might be in the room. In addition, this
area—where workers are donning and doffing their protective equipment, meeting
to discuss survey results, planning the next entry, and so forth—should be located in
an area where radiation dose rates are low enough to permit personnel to remain for
a significant amount of time without approaching a dose limit. In the US, the default
is to try to find a location with a dose rate of no more than 20 µGy hr
−1 , although it
might be necessary to accept a higher dose rate in order to maintain easy access to
the work area.
All persons on the entry team should be briefed prior to entering the area(s); this
briefing should include:
• The reason for investigating this particular location (e.g. human intel, elevated
radiation dose rates, strange odors, etc.)
• Observations made during any earlier entries (if any)
• Any known or suspected risks present (e.g. chemicals, explosives, weak floorboards, etc.)
• Summary of any previous entries (e.g. bomb technicians) and their results
• Photos, drawings, sketches, etc.
• Any other relevant information about the scene
• Medical contingencies (e.g. location of first-aid kit, identity of any team members
with CPR, first aid, or other medical training, location of nearest hospital
emergency room or trauma center, etc.)
• Goal of entry (e.g. initial radiological scoping survey)
• Each team member’s task(s) during entry (e.g. radiation survey, recording information, managing entry/exit corridor, radiological survey of persons leaving area,
etc.
Following the briefing the entry team should don their protective equipment,
reset the accumulated radiation dose on their electronic dosimeters to zero, and
enter the area via the entry/exit corridor. The other personnel at the scene should
remain in areas in which radiation dose rates are less than 20 mGy hr
−1 unless their
presence is required to perform decontamination, bring tools or other equipment to
the entry team, assist with decontamination, or other duties. When all team members
understand their duties and are ready to do so the entry team can perform the entry.
The entry of each person should be logged to permit accounting for each person upon
egress.