The UK approach to post-accident decontamination Rosina Kerswell - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The UK approach to post-accident decontamination

Rosina Kerswell

Contents

• UK recovery response
• Utilisation of private sector capabilities
• Development of capabilities
• Considerations

UK Recovery Response

National control mechanism National coordinated

• perational

response Multi agency response Private sector

Multi Agency Response

• Private sector
• Government implements private sector capability

to support multi agency response in decontamination

• This is managed by the UK Government

Decontamination Service (GDS)

• Part of Defra floods, water and CBRN

Emergencies

GDS Remit

Provide advice, guidance and support to those responsible for dealing with the consequences of an accidental or deliberate release of CBRN and hazardous materials; Enable quick access to a Framework of specialist suppliers able to offer expert decontamination and related services in response to a CBRN or major HazMat incident; Advise the Government on the national capability for the decontamination of buildings, infrastructure, transport assets and the open environment.

Default SAGE, STAC interaction model

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_dat a/file/80087/sage-guidance.pdf

Who Can Use The Service?

Crown Ministers Government Departments House of Commons House of Lords NI, Welsh and Scottish Assemblies UK overseas territories Any Local Authority (LA) Any NHS Healthcare trust Any UK Fire Authority All UK Police Govt or LA joint ventures, PFIs, etc National Parks & Broads Authority And others via respective Local Authorities

GDS Primary Functions

Advice, guidance and support Operational Capability Framework

Advice

• Broad capability to provide advice on issues
• utside the normal capabilities at a local level
• Advice to local government on how to implement

PHE guidance in handbook to be operationally deployable

• Highlight gaps in capability and raising within

central government

Private Industry Operational Capability

Normal Environment

Nuclear power station maintenance, decommissioning and legacy remediation Clinical sterilisation Industrial chemical spills and asbestos removal

Counter Terrorism Environment

Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Devices (IND) Anthrax remediation (dispersion

• f Bacillus anthracis)

Deliberate releases of chemical warfare agents

GDS Framework 2016-2020

Chemical

Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis Decontamination Decontamination Waste Management and Disposal Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis Decontamination Waste Management and Disposal National Arrangements for Incidents Involving Radioactivity (NAIR)

Biological Radiological

Waste Management and Disposal

GDS Supplier Roles

Sampling, monitoring & analysis to determine the extent of the contamination Prioritising the appropriate resources and equipment for decontamination Decontamination of the built and open environment, transport assets and

• ther items

Sampling and monitoring to assess the effectiveness of decontamination for reoccupation or reuse Managing contaminated waste (throughout)

Framework Costs

No retainers are paid for resources or resourcing

££££

Building capability

Assurance Deployment Exercise Event Deployment Research and development Supply chain resilience

Assurance Process

Level 1 procurement process Level 2 paper-based assessment using based on previous industrial experience Level 3 paper-based assessments and workshops using CBRN planning scenarios Level 4 practical exercises using simulants in enclosed environments (offices etc) Level 5 practical exercises using real agents in realistic settings

Deployment Exercises

• Assessment
• Test lessons identified
• Identify capability gaps
• External independent

assessors

Challenging environment Temporary waste storage

Event Deployment

• Relative of deceased contacted Public Health

England

• Local Authority requested help from GDS
• Back garden radiochemistry laboratory

Research and Development

• National and international collaboration
• Information sharing
• Technology Reference Levels
• Academia
• Working groups
• Industry
• National Decommissioning Authority
• Sellafield

Supply Chain Resilience

• Radiation monitoring instrumentation
• Laboratory capability
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Logistical support
• Waste packaging
• Heavy machinery
• Power supplies

Considerations

• Procurement of additional resource and recourses
• Supply chain
• Release from day jobs
• Training of additional staff to work in the radiation contaminated

environment

• Maintaining skills
• Recovery teams working together
• Radiation protection
• Harmonised results
• Scaling up of technologies for wide areas / large volumes
• Difficult environment / terrain
• Prioritisation of decontamination areas
• Waste storage, agreement before operations begin

Considerations

• Logistics
• Utilities
• Accommodation
• Operation control
• Housing for operational resourcing
• Security, maintaining secure environment for public and

workers during decontamination operations

• Payment for decontamination operations
• Value for money
• Working with international partners

Summary

• Example of how the UK uses private sector

capability for multi agency response to decontamination

• Developing decontamination capability through

training, assessment and knowledge sharing

• Considerations for decontamination operations

UK Government Decontamination Service

www.gov.uk/government/groups/government-decontamination-service

General Enquiries number: 0300 1000 315 gds@gds.gsi.gov.uk Building 14 MOD Stafford Beaconside Stafford ST18 0AQ UK Rosina.kerswell@defra.gsi.gov.uk