Advice and Support

In a radiation emergency, senior HPA representatives would provide radiological advice to government and to the local emergency centres dealing with the accident.

The HPA is responsible for specifying and providing guidance on Emergency Reference Levels (ERLs) of dose for use in accident situations. ERLs for the urgent countermeasures (Documents of the NRPB, Volume 1 number 4) of evacuation, sheltering and administration of stable iodine and guidance on the protection of on-site personnel in the event of a radiation accident (Documents of the NRPB, Volume 16 number 1)  have been published together with advice on the control of food and drinking water.

Guidance on recovery measures (Documents of the NRPB, Volume 8, number 1) to be taken after an accident has also been published. A working group has recently published revised advice on the use of iodine tablets to reduce doses from a nuclear accident (Documents of the NRPB, Volume 12, number 3).

The HPA is directly involved in national discussions of matters relating to nuclear emergency response. The Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group (NEPLG), chaired by the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, brings together emergency planners from government departments, emergency services and the nuclear industry. In this context, the role of the HPA in emergency response will continue to evolve.

The HPA contributes to the national co-ordinating committee responsible for the development of RIMNET, which was set up as part of the National Response Plan for dealing with overseas nuclear accidents, but its facilities could be available to those required to deal with a nuclear accident in the UK.

Monitoring

In an emergency, the HPA would send monitoring teams to the affected area to measure dose rates and surface contamination using hand-held instruments. The teams would also gather environmental samples for laboratory analysis at the Chilton headquarters of the HPA Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) and its centres in Leeds and Glasgow. A highly specialised team would be equipped with transportable monitoring instruments for measuring radionuclides in people. This information would contribute to a scientific assessment of the impact of the accident.

At Chilton, the HPA would make measurements of radionuclides in people using a sensitive whole-body monitor. The results of these measurements would be used to respond to enquiries, to assess the doses received and to check that countermeasures have been effective.

Data collation and assessment

In the aftermath of an accident, a large number of organisations would be able to carry out a range of environmental and personal monitoring activities. The HPA needs to be able to collate and interpret data, and provide advice on a timely basis. The HPA would co-ordinate the overall radiation monitoring strategy and utilise specialists provided by industry and government.

Press and public relations

Effective communication with the media and the public is fundamental to the successful handling of any emergency. As an authoritative voice on radiological matters, the HPA has developed a strategy which ensures consistent advice and information, and effective use of resources.

A HPA media spokesperson would take part in conferences and briefings at the media briefing centre. The senior adviser at the national centre would assist in preparing ministerial statements and press releases. HPA advisers would maintain close liaison with the Chilton Emergency Operations Centre (CEOC) to ensure consistency of advice.

A team would be available at the CEOC to answer public enquiries directly. Contact details would be publicised in an emergency.

Last reviewed: 22 October 2009