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

contaminated areas and kept informed of their status, the health risk and the state of their
relatives and property. Field centres are established in the vicinity for screening,
decontamination, and triage of potentially contaminated people and/or disposal of
contaminated items. The affected population is monitored according to predetermined criteria,
decontaminated and admitted to hospital if appropriate. If needed, additional expertise and
equipment are promptly requested through the IAEA under the Assistance Convention [15,
23]. A system is established to ensure that products and people leaving the area are not
contaminated above predetermined criteria. Before recovery efforts begin, a long term plan is
developed that has objectives and criteria consistent with international guidance.
Decontamination and other restoration methods are tested before long term application.
Methods for compensation are carefully considered and targeted at the consequences of the
emergency.
For emergencies involving contaminated products, monitoring and interviews are conducted
to identify and isolate the source of contamination. If the contaminated products may have
originated from another State or may have been taken across a border, the potentially affected
States and the IAEA are notified in accordance with the requirements [2] and consistent with
IAEA recommended procedures [23]. An analysis is performed to determine the risk and the
criteria – on the basis of international guidance – for clearance. The national media are briefed
before or shortly after monitoring or protective actions are initiated in public areas. A system
is established to ensure that products leaving/entering the areas are not contaminated above
predetermined criteria.
In response to a nuclear weapons accident, the first responders take initial life saving actions,
isolate the area and notify national officials. Specially trained and equipped personnel
provided by the State responsible for the weapon conduct monitoring and other follow-up
actions.
In response to the re-entry of satellites with significant amounts of radioactive material, the
State responsible for the satellite notifies the IAEA of the estimated time and location of reentry
and provides an analysis of the risks. The IAEA informs the potentially affected States.
These States inform the public of the limited nature of the hazard. If — following re-entry —
the area of concern can be bounded (e.g. through sightings), the public is instructed to avoid
and report possible debris and monitoring is conducted to locate radioactive debris. Ground
based monitoring is used to investigate reported possible debris or areas first identified by
airborne monitoring. Airborne monitoring is initiated, possibly through the IAEA, if a limited
area of concern has been identified.
Transport emergency
The carrier immediately takes initial life saving and first aid action without concern for the
risk associated with the presence of radioactive material. The carrier isolates the source and
notifies local emergency response services. First responders take the initial actions
appropriate for the UN number, labels and placards [16]. Typically, this involves isolating the
accident scene, getting the names of people who may have been in the area (for possible
follow-up) and requesting radiological assistance from regional or national officials. National
officials send a team to conduct monitoring and cleanup if needed.
Serious overexposure emergency
The operator should conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the overexposure, take
action to prevent further overexposures, and protect information that may be important in
investigation of the cause. National officials should promptly identify causes of the overexposures
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