Incident Commander actions in response to general radiological emergency

Actions (as appropriate and practical):

  • Stand off, observe and assess
  • Determine inner cordoned area
  • Reposition response personnel, vehicles and equipment
  • Ensure safe operations at the scene
  • Follow personnel protection guidelines
  • Take life saving actions
  • Establish an incident command post (ICP) and staging area
  • Consider terrorism/bomb/second event
  • Check and identify packages, people, papers and vehicles
  • Mark inner cordoned area
  • Evacuate public from inner cordoned area
  • Request radiological assessor — get phone advice on radiation issues
  • Request initial assessment from first responder monitor
  • Establish response areas/facilities
  • Account for all response personnel
  • Manage field triage, registration, monitoring and decontamination
  • Establish a security perimeter at scene and other facilities
  • Limit spread of contamination
  • Notify transport/medical facilities
  • Notify national EOC. Consider need for full response (specialised teams)
  • Brief requested teams upon arrival
  • Keep the public informed through a single official source
  • Treat scene as a crime scene
  • Do not attempt recovery or decontamination of the scene
  • Follow the general on scene response action guide