Capability Target 5.2: Monitoring and Decontamination of Emergency Workers, Equipment, and Vehicles

ASSESSMENT – DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION GUIDANCE

By observing the OROs’ capability to address the appropriate bullet points below and while considering the overall capability being assessed, the following key points of review and associated questions should be considered and will support an evaluation of this capability target.

OROs demonstrate the capability to:

  • Set-up operations.
    • Where will monitoring and decontamination of emergency workers occur?
    • Where will emergency workers’ equipment be monitored and decontaminated?
    • Was the facility set up and operational? Did it include route markings, instrumentation, record keeping, and contamination control measures?
    • What supplies were available to set up the facility?
    • What supplies were available to prevent and control spread of contamination?
    • What personal protective supplies were available?
    • How was contamination minimized within the facility?
    • What contamination control provisions were utilized?
  • Operationally check instruments and equipment.
    • Were the instruments current in calibration?
    • Were instruments and equipment operationally checked using an appropriate check source against a known range of reading to verify proper operation?
    • Was an appropriate radioactive check source used to verify proper operational response for each low-range radiation measurement instrument?
    • Were background readings taken?
    • How were background radiation levels established?
  • Monitor emergency worker personnel and their equipment and vehicles for contamination.
    • Was there adequate space for emergency workers at the facility?
    • Were there an adequate number of personnel trained to operate monitoring equipment at the facility?
    • During vehicle monitoring, were the following monitored: air intake systems, radiator grills, bumpers, wheel wells, tires, and door handles?
    • What provisions were in place to ensure privacy?
  • Decontaminate emergency worker personnel and their equipment and vehicles based on trigger/action levels.
    • What is the action level for determining the need for decontamination of personnel, equipment, and vehicles?
    • What process is used to decontaminate personnel, equipment, and vehicles?
    • How was decontamination conducted for small areas of contamination?
    • What was done when an emergency worker could not be successfully decontaminated?
  • Control the spread of contamination.
    • What procedures are used to minimize contamination within the facility?
    • How are contaminated emergency workers separated from non-contaminated emergency workers?
    • How are contaminated clothing and other personal belongings addressed? Will clean clothing be provided to emergency workers?
    • Were contamination control procedures, including storage of contaminated clothing and possessions followed?
  • Create and maintain a record of monitoring and decontaminating workers upon completion of monitoring and decontamination activities.
    • Was a record of monitoring and decontamination (if necessary) kept for each emergency worker?
  • Process for prioritizing emergency workers and equipment before the public in facilities where the public and emergency workers are both processed for contamination.
    • What is the process for prioritizing emergency workers and equipment before the public in facilities where the public and emergency workers are both processed for contamination?