Change how menu appearsCHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR INCIDENTS (CBRN)
Background
The events of 11 September 2001 changed many of the assumptions for planning for major incidents overnight. Terrorists were clearly prepared to undertake large-scale suicide attacks, causing thousands of civilian deaths in the process.
Other incidents since then have not been so costly in terms of human life, but have caused massive economic disruption - for example, the contamination of the US mail service with anthrax spores. Locally, a 'white powder' incident involving Government Offices proved extremely disruptive of normal services, even though the powder concerned was harmless.
Since that eventful date, and in common with all other countries, the Island has been obliged to undertake new work to guard against the possible effects of such a terrorist attack, which might threaten the Island's population.
A Working Group was formed in 2001 to assess the potential impact of any future CBRN incidents on the Isle of Man.
The following Departments and Statutory Boards form membership of the CRBN Working Group:
- Emergency Planning
- Fire Service
- Police
- Coastguards
- Noble's Hospital
- Ambulance Service
- Civil Defence
- Public Health Directorate
- Government Laboratory
- Water Authority
- Environment Safety and Health
The need for specific planning, investment and countermeasures
While some aspects of terrorist risks can be handled by existing 'all hazards' emergency planning, it is clear that many of the threats now considered to be plausible require specific precautions to be in place, and that these new plans be fully integrated with existing planning arrangements.
A wide range of possible biological, chemical or nuclear agents could be used for bioterrorist purposes. Precautions cannot be put in place against every conceivable risk, but assumptions can be made as to which of these are likely or even feasible in the Island context.
It is prudent that contingencies be put in place in order to minimise the effects of such incidents. These contingencies broadly consist of comprehensive plans for handling an incident, the availability of specialist items of equipment and supplies for emergency use, and the training of key personnel in likely scenarios and use of emergency equipment.
It is also vital that plans are not only reviewed regularly, but also exercised regularly to ensure that they are likely to be robust in the event of a real incident. Such planning is difficult at the best of times, and countermeasures cannot be put in place overnight. It also involves a significant volume of work that needs to be properly supported.
Risk assessment
Our geographical status as a small island nation may also lull us into a false sense of security. Indeed, it is unlikely that the Island would be specifically targeted. However, the Island, with its many transport links to major European cities, is at significant risk of importing cases of contagious disease, or even those contaminated by a persistent chemical agent, resulting from distant terrorist activity. Should this occur, especially with a contagious disease, the local situation could easily escalate rapidly out of control unless effective countermeasures are in place ahead of the event. Substantial expenditure is required to return the Island to an acceptable state of readiness, and to maintain readiness thereafter. This issue was considered by Tynwald in July 2003 and finance has been identified to progress our emergency planning preparations.
Decontamination
Decontamination of casualties is an essential part of any credible plan for dealing with chemical incidents, deliberate or accidental. While every effort would be made to decontaminate individuals at the scene of an incident, this can be difficult to achieve where large numbers of casualties are involved. Small numbers of casualties would be decontaminated by Ambulance Service staff, though if numbers were large, the arrangements would be in the hands of the Fire Service. There is, however, always the danger that individuals will leave the scene and then self-refer to hospital. In so doing, they could render the hospital unusable through contamination, and also put staff at hazard for the same reason. Because of this, a means of rapidly putting decontamination facilities into place at the hospital at the first suspicion of such an incident is vital. Discussions are at an advanced stage to achieve this.
Communications
Additional resources will be spent on improving communications, not only for emergency staff, but particularly for the general public. A population that knows what to do (and indeed what not to do) when an emergency occurs is at a huge advantage. While some basic advice can of course be given ahead of events, it is essential to be able to communicate with the public to keep them informed of the situation, and to be able to advise them on appropriate actions that they can take for themselves.
Some measures are quite simple, though expensive:
An effective, Island-wide, siren system can be used to alert the public during the silent hours (tests of this system take place on a regular basis). By means of previously distributed information, members of the public would then know to tune in to local radio services for further information.
Click here to link to the ‘Be Alert but not Alarmed’ booklet issued by Emergency Planning.
Other measures involve the use of sophisticated modern communications facilities - for example, the use of group calling arrangements to mobilise essential staff, and the control of the mobile telephone network so that only essential traffic is permitted in times of emergency.
Training
It has become apparent that there is a massive requirement for training to ensure that staff are in a position to recognise somewhat alien situations, respond appropriately to them, and are able to operate specialised equipment in unusual circumstances.
At present, key officers are being offered training to ensure that familiarity and skills are acquired which can then be cascaded to numerous staff who will need to know how to function in extremely difficult circumstances.
Website Links
Isle of Man Government Emergency Planning
The Emergency Planning Society
This page was last updated on 18 September 2008.
| DisabledGo Information |  | Terms & Conditions | ©2008 Isle of Man Government |