epr-method (2003) - IAEA Publications - International Atomic Energy ...

Nuclear weapons accident
Description
A crash, without a nuclear explosion, of a vehicle or aircraft carrying a nuclear weapon.
Potential hazards
Detonation of the high explosives contained in the weapon represents a hazard near the crash. Inhalation of plutonium
and other toxic material from the smoke from a burning aircraft, vehicle or conventional explosives and from
resuspension of the Pu deposited on the ground could be immediately life threatening to those without inhalation
protection to about 1 km downwind. Normally available radiation monitoring instruments may not be able to detect
hazardous levels of Pu. Fire fighters are generally equipped with respiratory protection, which provide good protection
against the inhalation hazard.
Emergency response
Incident commander (lead first responder):
— Observe from a distance and assess all possible hazards.
— Approach from upwind or use respiratory protection if possible and other available protective
clothing and ensure those approaching scene take action to prevent inadvertent ingestion of
contamination (e.g. wear gloves, do not smoke- or eat).
— Perform life saving measures and provide first aid for serious injuries immediately, before
conducting radiological monitoring.
— Control fires and other consequences that are an immediate threat to life.
— Establish an inner-cordoned area (safety distance) in accordance with Appendix 5 (Table A5-I).
— Record names of potentially exposed individuals.
— Activate response using the ICS (see Appendix 13) co-ordinated under an incident commander
from an incident command post near the scene.
— Establish the incident command post upwind 88 , at a safe distance (> 1 km) and in a secure area.
— Arrange to transport seriously injured people to local medical facility. If they may be contaminated,
wrap them in a blanket to control the spread of contamination. Tell those transporting the victim
and the receiving medical facility that the person may be contaminated and that the risk to those
treating such a patient is negligible but care should be taken to prevent inadvertent ingestion of
contamination.
— Gather potentially exposed or contaminated people, who are not seriously injured, in a safe location
(victim assembly point) to: register them, give them a medical and radiological evaluation (triage)
and arrange for their treatment.
— Arrange to alert local medical facilities of the potential for arrival of concerned people (worriedwell
89 ) if there is wide spread public concern.
Incident commander (local officials):
— Notify national officials.
— Ask national officials for advice and an emergency team of radiation specialists (radiological
assessor) (see Element A3.1).
— Provide respiratory protection to protect emergency workers and control their dose (see Elements
A6.7, A6.10).
— Implement action to protect the public, workers, responders, and the economy from the actual or
perceived radiological risk by implementing action consistent with international standards (see.
Ref. [11]).
88 Wind direction is often very variable, especially in an urban area; thus, this is a secondary concern.
89 A person who has received neither radiation exposure nor contamination sufficient to warrant medical treatment or
decontamination but who is worried and wishes to be assessed for radiation exposure/contamination.
157