IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response Exercise Objectives Lecture Module L-053

IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response

Exercise Objectives

LectureLecture

Module L-053Module L-053

L-053: Exercise Objectives 2

Objectives

• Understand what exercise objectives are

• Understand how they affect the scenario

• Be familiar with planning and response objectives

• Understand the concept of exercise program

• Know how to select exercise objectives

• Know how to develop exercise evaluation criteria


Why Response Objectives

• Exercises measure performance, i.e. do the plans and procedures actually work?

• To measure performance, one must define performance objectives• How performance is measured

• Performance is measured by results!


What are Response Objectives?

• Actions that the overall emergency response organization must be able to accomplish

• Timings: how quickly must these actions be accomplished

• Extent: how much must be accomplished


Response Objectives - References

• There are a number of references for emergency response objectives, including:• NUREG 0654

• INPO guidelines

• EPR-METHOD 2003

• EPR-METHOD 2003 is a practical consolidation of current guidelines and practices:• It is the basis for this course

• It must be adapted to the national context


Criteria

• Support each emergency response objective

• Allow a breakdown of the function for the purpose of:• Procedures development

• Evaluation


Emergency Response Objectives

• The following list of on-site and off-site response objectives is based on EPR-METHOD 2003

• Refer to EPR-METHOD 2003 for suggested timing and details

• Keep in mind that the following is an overview:• Several details can be added

• Levels and timings are suggested in EPR-METHOD 2003 but need to be approved by the appropriate national authorities


On-site Response Objectives: Examples


1. Establishing Emergency Management and Operations

• Execute on-site emergency response promptly without impairing performance of the normal operational safety functions• Make functional Operational Support

Centre• Activate Emergency Operations Facility /

Incident Command Post• Make Emergency Operations Facility /

Incident Command Post fully functional


2. Identifying, Notifying and Activating

• Promptly determine the appropriate emergency class or the level of the response, initiate on-site actions• Detect the emergency

• Classify the emergency


2. Identifying, Notifying and Activating (cont’d)

• Notify and provide updated information to the off-site notification point• Notify with appropriate message

• Provide the right initial information

• Initiate actions based on the event classification

• Activate the on-site and off-site organizations


3. Taking Mitigatory Actions

• Take all appropriate actions to minimize consequences of radiation emergency• Confine the hazard

• Dispatch emergency response teams

• Prevent or reduce releases


4. Protecting Emergency Workers

• Keep the dose to personnel and emergency personnel below established limits• Assess the on-site hazard

• Broadcast appropriate messages

• Keep non-essential personnel out of harms way

• Implement dose control procedures for emergency workers, including off-site assistance services (e.g. fire fighters)

• Provide medical first aid


5. Protection of the Public

• Promptly assess the potential off-site impact and communicate it effectively to the off-site authorities• Update the emergency classification as required

• Recommend protective actions

• Project dose off-site

• Carry out survey around the station

• Communicate the results in a timely manner


Off-site Response Objectives:

Example


1. Notification and Activation

• Promptly and effectively inform, activate and coordinate all organizations, groups and agencies that perform emergency response tasks • Notify all response organizations

• Activate sufficient personnel to be able to perform critical functions in a timely manner

• Notify and inform the IAEA and neighbouring countries


2. Urgent Protective Actions

• Promptly implement urgent protective actions to prevent deterministic health effects and to avert doses consistent with national guidance• Properly assess required protective actions

• Based on emergency classification• Based on surveys

• Instruct the public in a timely manner• Evacuate the precautionary action zone in a timely

manner• Evacuate affected zones outside the PAZ in a timely

manner


2. Urgent Protective Actions (Cont’d)

• Implement sheltering in a timely manner

• Implement stable iodine distribution in a timely manner

• Evacuee support services available in a timely manner• Contamination control

• Reception centres

• Evacuee centres

• Traffic control

• Implement measures to prevent or control spontaneous evacuation


2. Urgent Protective Actions (Cont’d)

• Continue surveys of affected areas• Update gamma surveys regularly

• Get isotopic data in a timely manner


3. Emergency Worker Protection

• Keep the dose to emergency workers below established limits• Implement dose control procedures for

emergency workers in the urgent protective action planning zone

• Make appropriate decisions regarding radiation protection measures

• Implement contamination control for emergency workers and equipment leaving the affected area


4. Medical and Other Emergency Services

• Provide adequate medical, police, and fire support services• Medical care of evacuees, including

conventional care and care for overexposed individuals

• Maintain security and other essential services in the evacuated zone


5. Public Information

• The public is kept accurately informed of the hazard and of measures in place to protect the population• The Public Information Centre is operational in

timely manner• Information provided to the media is clear and

timely• Information by various organizations is

coordinated• Rumours are controlled


6. Longer-term Protective Actions

• Effectively implement longer term protective actions and interventions related to food in a manner consistent with national guidance• Identify affected areas

• Implement food control measures in accordance with established levels

• Relocate or resettle populations in accordance with established levels


7. Non-radiological Impacts

• The psychological impact on the affected population, emergency workers and relatives is minimized• Keep evacuees informed

• Time of return• Health impacts

• Keep populations in the affected areas informed• Health impacts• Planned measures

• Keep emergency workers and their families informed• Health impacts• Measures taken to minimize them


Response Objectives - Summary

• The previous examples provide an overview of response objectives

• Response objectives are results-oriented• For each objective, criteria can be defined

based on the national context, plans and procedures

• Timing must be defined based on a reasonable assessment of the risk and on practical considerations


Exercise Objectives

• Exercise objectives are related BUT are not the same as response objectives

• Example:• Response objective: evacuate the precautionary

action zone in four hours:• not necessarily practical during an exercise

• Exercise objective: evacuate a representative sample of the precautionary action zone (say one tenth) in 30 minutes


Exercise Objectives (Cont’d)

• It is not necessary to verify all response objectives in each exercise• Some objectives cannot be simultaneously

verified• e.g. activation during the day and activation at night

• It is usually not practical or overly costly to verify all response objectives in one exercise

• Verification of all response objectives should be part of a well planned exercise program


Exercise Program

• It is a plan to conduct a series of exercises at a pre-established frequency, covering all response objectives over a set cycle• A five-year cycle is common, with one exercise per

year for each major facility

• Over five years, all response objectives should be tested

• Some response objectives may be tested every exercise, while others may not

• e.g. test assessment every time, but not evacuation


Selection of Exercise Objectives

• Be practical; over-ambitious exercises are not necessarily better exercises

• Select key response objectives and those that have not been tested for some time

• Adapt the response objective to the scope of the exercise. This then becomes a specific exercise objective

• Keep track of objectives tested• Exercise matrix


Factors Affecting the Selection

• Restrictions on exercise start time• Exercise duration• Participating organizations• Scope• Political context• Resources available (human and financial)• Equipment available (e.g. reactor simulator)• Preparation time available


Objectives and Scenario

• The exercise objectives must be selected first

• Then, the scenario is developed to meet the objectives• Sometimes, it is difficult to meet all objectives

and adjustments must be made


Standard Scenario Objectives

• On-scene control

• Medical response

• Radiological response

• Media relations

• Public Health

• International assistance

• Post-exercise critique


On-scene Control

• Emergency response services arrive promptly at the scene• On-scene command and control is promptly established• The medical response at the scene is well coordinated with other

response organizations, particularly radiological response, in terms of cooperation, command and control and communication links

• The radiological response at the scene is well coordinated with other response organizations, particularly medical response, in terms of cooperation, command and control and communication links

• The capability to direct and control emergency operations is demonstrated and maintained

• The transfer of responsibility at the site, if it occurs, is carried out seamlessly and effectively

• Immediate conventional hazards are promptly mitigated• Notification of public health and governmental authorities is

demonstrated


Medical Response

• The medical responders at the emergency scene promptly address the immediate medical consequences (critical first aid)

• Life-saving medical first aid is given priority over decontamination

• Field triage is performed appropriately based on medical needs, contamination and potential overexposure

• Critical patients are promptly transferred to the appropriate hospitals while minimizing, to the extent possible, the spread of contamination

• Patient transport is performed safely using appropriate equipment

• Patient care during transport is adequate

• Effective initial and subsequent medical management of symptomatic, asymptomatic, externally contaminated, and internally contaminated patients is provided

• Medical authorities correctly assess the current and potential public health issues


Radiological Response

• Qualified radiological specialists promptly notify medical authorities of the presence of high radiation

• A safe perimeter is promptly established and confirmed safe by scene survey and measurements of contamination

• Capability of continuous monitoring, dose evaluation, and radiation protection of emergency workers, patients, and the public is demonstrated

• Measures to prevent the spread of contamination are taken

• Procedures for the monitoring and decontamination of emergency workers, equipment, and vehicles are adequate

• Hazardous sources are recovered or made safe in a timely manner


Media Relations

• The media at the scene is properly managed including rumour control

• Media liaison is coordinated between the various response organizations

• Factual media statements are formulated and issued to the public

• Medical information is promptly provided to relatives and the media; and is coordinated with other response organizations


Public Health

• The principal short-term risks to the population are identified and characterized

• Decisions are taken and actions are outlined to allay fear and panic

• An action plan that conforms to governmental guidelines is developed to control potential exposure from food production, sales, and consumption

• A program of long-term medical follow-up is established


International Assistance

• The need for additional specialized assistance or medical referral is identified and assessed

• If required, international assistance is requested

• Appropriate coordination is established with international experts


Post Emergency Critique

• The capability of the emergency responding organization to conduct a post-exercise self-assessment and responders' exit interviews is demonstrated


Summary

• First define response objectives that apply to your situation

• Then establish an exercise program for each facility, region or level of government concerned

• Define: exercise start time, exercise duration, participating organizations, scope, resources available, equipment available, and time available

• Select practical and feasible exercise objectives based on the response objectives

Documents

IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response Exercise Objectives Lecture Module L-053