I527-290 ESRIF Final Report (WEB).indd - European Commission

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Since it is quite evident that there is no single detection technology for all threats, integration and networking of sensors
will play an important role in all scanning equipment deployed at borders or other transit points. Furthermore, inspection
equipment will have to integrate all sensors both from the hardware side and from the point of view of signal analysis (data
correlation, data fusion algorithms, imaging and 3-D reconstruction techniques, artifi cial intelligence). Another important
avenue of improvement could come from the development of specifi c detection architectures (for airports, seaports, border
checkpoints). For the use of fi rst responders, the development of multipurpose detectors is highly important, as well as
detectors that are embedded in daily-use equipment.
Development of new instrumentation will require the parallel development of international standardization and, by
consequence, testing and validation procedures.
Since preparedness is an issue with a strong technical component, a key element will be training, including practical emergency
exercises. Most of the people involved in security controls at crucial points (borders, main transport nodal points, buildings of high
institutional/religious/cultural importance, places hosting major public events, etc.) do not have a special education in the fi eld of
CBRN hazards. Nor do most people involved in reaction activities in response to a terrorist attack (fi re brigades, rescue teams, police,
medical staff , crisis management teams, etc.). Dedicated training for all these categories of people should be prepared and carried
out in the fi elds of awareness, detection, protection, response, and mitigation/remediation. Establishing specialized dedicated
training centres at the European international level will be extremely benefi cial. Moreover, politicians and public administration
managers should be made aware of the need to set up proper security measures and available means and techniques. Finally, the
public should be adequately informed to complete the goal of building a comprehensive “security culture.”
6.3.4 Response
CBRN incident management is diffi cult due to many adverse factors. First responders have at best a theoretical experience with
handling such events, as they fortunately do not happen on a regular basis. This makes it necessary to train fi rst responders,
but also all other involved authorities, adequately to these relatively rare incidents. Besides their direct impact on the physical
health of aff ected persons, CBRN agents pose a special challenge to manage their psychological eff ects on the population. The
terror caused by the application of CBRN agents may outweigh the physical damage by far. A timely, competent, and reliable
communication by fi rst responders and authorities is crucial in the management of a CBRN crisis.
In addition, the technical means of the fi rst responders to handle an incident are currently far from ideal. Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) is heavy and bulky and is a physiological burden that interferes with the operational duties of fi rst responders.
In addition, PPE is not standardized or universal.
Not having the capability to detect and identify CBRN agents without the aid of analytical devices causes further impediment.
An ideal instrument would identify all relevant agents instantaneously at the site of the incident, have a high sensitivity,
produce no false positive results, and be easy to operate. Currently available detection and identifi cation systems are mostly
characterized by a narrow spectrum of detectable agents and an insuffi cient sensitivity to measure toxic / contagious amounts
of agent. Moreover, they do produce false positive results. To compensate these lacks, the operators need a very good
knowledge of the agents and the devices used to identify them. Operators have to be particularly knowledgeable about the
limitations of tools they are using to avoid producing wrong results.
The degree or dose of contamination of persons should also be diagnosed on-site. This would expedite triage and allow
medical staff to begin treatment as early as possible.
Easy-to-use tools must be developed to provide enhanced situational awareness, needed for prioritizing resources,
developing response plans, reducing vulnerabilities, and mitigating consequences. These instruments should have integrated
communication systems to allow instantaneous support by off -site experts, e.g. in the interpretation of results. All decision
makers should be kept informed.
CBRN incidents are not just local events. To manage such an event successfully, a fast and effi cient co-operation of many diff erent
agencies at the local, national, and often international level is crucial. To achieve this, fi rst responders need to adopt a joint doctrine
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 2 • Working Group: CBRN