Exercise Objectives

IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response Exercise Objectives Module L-053 Lecture

Objectives • Understand what exercise objectives are • Understand how they affect the scenario • Be familiar with planning and response objectives • Understand the concept of exercise program • Know how to select exercise objectives • Know how to develop exercise evaluation criteria L-053: Exercise Objectives

Why Response Objectives • Exercises measure performance, i.e. do the plans and procedures actually work? • To measure performance, one must define performance objectives • How performance is measured • Performance is measured by results! L-053: Exercise Objectives

What are Response Objectives? • Actions that the overall emergency response organization must be able to accomplish • Timings: how quickly must these actions be accomplished • Extent: how much must be accomplished L-053: Exercise Objectives

Response Objectives - References • There are a number of references for emergency response objectives, including: • NUREG 0654 • INPO guidelines • EPR-METHOD 2003 • EPR-METHOD 2003 is a practical consolidation of current guidelines and practices: • It is the basis for this course • It must be adapted to the national context L-053: Exercise Objectives

Criteria • Support each emergency response objective • Allow a breakdown of the function for the purpose of: • Procedures development • Evaluation L-053: Exercise Objectives

Emergency Response Objectives • The following list of on-site and off-site response objectives is based on EPR-METHOD 2003 • Refer to EPR-METHOD 2003 for suggested timing and details • Keep in mind that the following is an overview: • Several details can be added • Levels and timings are suggested in EPR-METHOD 2003 but need to be approved by the appropriate national authorities L-053: Exercise Objectives

On-site Response Objectives: Examples L-053: Exercise Objectives

1. Establishing Emergency Management and Operations • Execute on-site emergency response promptly without impairing performance of the normal operational safety functions • Make functional Operational Support Centre • Activate Emergency Operations Facility / Incident Command Post • Make Emergency Operations Facility / Incident Command Post fully functional L-053: Exercise Objectives

2. Identifying, Notifying and Activating • Promptly determine the appropriate emergency class or the level of the response, initiate on-site actions • Detect the emergency • Classify the emergency L-053: Exercise Objectives

2. Identifying, Notifying and Activating (cont’d) • Notify and provide updated information to the off-site notification point • Notify with appropriate message • Provide the right initial information • Initiate actions based on the event classification • Activate the on-site and off-site organizations L-053: Exercise Objectives

3. Taking Mitigatory Actions • Take all appropriate actions to minimize consequences of radiation emergency • Confine the hazard • Dispatch emergency response teams • Prevent or reduce releases L-053: Exercise Objectives

4. Protecting Emergency Workers • Keep the dose to personnel and emergency personnel below established limits • Assess the on-site hazard • Broadcast appropriate messages • Keep non-essential personnel out of harms way • Implement dose control procedures for emergency workers, including off-site assistance services (e.g. fire fighters) • Provide medical first aid L-053: Exercise Objectives

5. Protection of the Public • Promptly assess the potential off-site impact and communicate it effectively to the off-site authorities • Update the emergency classification as required • Recommend protective actions • Project dose off-site • Carry out survey around the station • Communicate the results in a timely manner L-053: Exercise Objectives

Off-site Response Objectives: Example L-053: Exercise Objectives

1. Notification and Activation • Promptly and effectively inform, activate and coordinate all organizations, groups and agencies that perform emergency response tasks • Notify all response organizations • Activate sufficient personnel to be able to perform critical functions in a timely manner • Notify and inform the IAEA and neighbouring countries L-053: Exercise Objectives

2. Urgent Protective Actions • Promptly implement urgent protective actions to prevent deterministic health effects and to avert doses consistent with national guidance • Properly assess required protective actions • Based on emergency classification • Based on surveys • Instruct the public in a timely manner • Evacuate the precautionary action zone in a timely manner • Evacuate affected zones outside the PAZ in a timely manner L-053: Exercise Objectives

2. Urgent Protective Actions (Cont’d) • Implement sheltering in a timely manner • Implement stable iodine distribution in a timely manner • Evacuee support services available in a timely manner • Contamination control • Reception centres • Evacuee centres • Traffic control • Implement measures to prevent or control spontaneous evacuation L-053: Exercise Objectives

2. Urgent Protective Actions (Cont’d) • Continue surveys of affected areas • Update gamma surveys regularly • Get isotopic data in a timely manner L-053: Exercise Objectives

3. Emergency Worker Protection • Keep the dose to emergency workers below established limits • Implement dose control procedures for emergency workers in the urgent protective action planning zone • Make appropriate decisions regarding radiation protection measures • Implement contamination control for emergency workers and equipment leaving the affected area L-053: Exercise Objectives

4. Medical and Other Emergency Services • Provide adequate medical, police, and fire support services • Medical care of evacuees, including conventional care and care for overexposed individuals • Maintain security and other essential services in the evacuated zone L-053: Exercise Objectives

5. Public Information • The public is kept accurately informed of the hazard and of measures in place to protect the population • The Public Information Centre is operational in timely manner • Information provided to the media is clear and timely • Information by various organizations is coordinated • Rumours are controlled L-053: Exercise Objectives

6. Longer-term Protective Actions • Effectively implement longer term protective actions and interventions related to food in a manner consistent with national guidance • Identify affected areas • Implement food control measures in accordance with established levels • Relocate or resettle populations in accordance with established levels L-053: Exercise Objectives

7. Non-radiological Impacts • The psychological impact on the affected population, emergency workers and relatives is minimized • Keep evacuees informed • Time of return • Health impacts • Keep populations in the affected areas informed • Health impacts • Planned measures • Keep emergency workers and their families informed • Health impacts • Measures taken to minimize them L-053: Exercise Objectives

Response Objectives - Summary • The previous examples provide an overview of response objectives • Response objectives are results-oriented • For each objective, criteria can be defined based on the national context, plans and procedures • Timing must be defined based on a reasonable assessment of the risk and on practical considerations L-053: Exercise Objectives

Exercise Objectives • Exercise objectives are related BUT are not the same as response objectives • Example: • Response objective: evacuate the precautionary action zone in four hours: • not necessarily practical during an exercise • Exercise objective: evacuate a representative sample of the precautionary action zone (say one tenth) in 30 minutes L-053: Exercise Objectives

Exercise Objectives (Cont’d) • It is not necessary to verify all response objectives in each exercise • Some objectives cannot be simultaneously verified • e.g. activation during the day and activation at night • It is usually not practical or overly costly to verify all response objectives in one exercise • Verification of all response objectives should be part of a well planned exercise program L-053: Exercise Objectives

Exercise Program • It is a plan to conduct a series of exercises at a pre-established frequency, covering all response objectives over a set cycle • A five-year cycle is common, with one exercise per year for each major facility • Over five years, all response objectives should be tested • Some response objectives may be tested every exercise, while others may not • e.g. test assessment every time, but not evacuation L-053: Exercise Objectives

Selection of Exercise Objectives • Be practical; over-ambitious exercises are not necessarily better exercises • Select key response objectives and those that have not been tested for some time • Adapt the response objective to the scope of the exercise. This then becomes a specific exercise objective • Keep track of objectives tested • Exercise matrix L-053: Exercise Objectives

Factors Affecting the Selection • Restrictions on exercise start time • Exercise duration • Participating organizations • Scope • Political context • Resources available (human and financial) • Equipment available (e.g. reactor simulator) • Preparation time available L-053: Exercise Objectives

Objectives and Scenario • The exercise objectives must be selected first • Then, the scenario is developed to meet the objectives • Sometimes, it is difficult to meet all objectives and adjustments must be made L-053: Exercise Objectives

Standard Scenario Objectives • On-scene control • Medical response • Radiological response • Media relations • Public Health • International assistance • Post-exercise critique L-053: Exercise Objectives

On-scene Control • Emergency response services arrive promptly at the scene • On-scene command and control is promptly established • The medical response at the scene is well coordinated with other response organizations, particularly radiological response, in terms of cooperation, command and control and communication links • The radiological response at the scene is well coordinated with other response organizations, particularly medical response, in terms of cooperation, command and control and communication links • The capability to direct and control emergency operations is demonstrated and maintained • The transfer of responsibility at the site, if it occurs, is carried out seamlessly and effectively • Immediate conventional hazards are promptly mitigated • Notification of public health and governmental authorities is demonstrated L-053: Exercise Objectives

Medical Response • The medical responders at the emergency scene promptly address the immediate medical consequences (critical first aid) • Life-saving medical first aid is given priority over decontamination • Field triage is performed appropriately based on medical needs, contamination and potential overexposure • Critical patients are promptly transferred to the appropriate hospitals while minimizing, to the extent possible, the spread of contamination • Patient transport is performed safely using appropriate equipment • Patient care during transport is adequate • Effective initial and subsequent medical management of symptomatic, asymptomatic, externally contaminated, and internally contaminated patients is provided • Medical authorities correctly assess the current and potential public health issues L-053: Exercise Objectives

Radiological Response • Qualified radiological specialists promptly notify medical authorities of the presence of high radiation • A safe perimeter is promptly established and confirmed safe by scene survey and measurements of contamination • Capability of continuous monitoring, dose evaluation, and radiation protection of emergency workers, patients, and the public is demonstrated • Measures to prevent the spread of contamination are taken • Procedures for the monitoring and decontamination of emergency workers, equipment, and vehicles are adequate • Hazardous sources are recovered or made safe in a timely manner L-053: Exercise Objectives

Media Relations • The media at the scene is properly managed including rumour control • Media liaison is coordinated between the various response organizations • Factual media statements are formulated and issued to the public • Medical information is promptly provided to relatives and the media; and is coordinated with other response organizations L-053: Exercise Objectives

Public Health • The principal short-term risks to the population are identified and characterized • Decisions are taken and actions are outlined to allay fear and panic • An action plan that conforms to governmental guidelines is developed to control potential exposure from food production, sales, and consumption • A program of long-term medical follow-up is established L-053: Exercise Objectives

International Assistance • The need for additional specialized assistance or medical referral is identified and assessed • If required, international assistance is requested • Appropriate coordination is established with international experts L-053: Exercise Objectives

Post Emergency Critique • The capability of the emergency responding organization to conduct a post-exercise self-assessment and responders' exit interviews is demonstrated L-053: Exercise Objectives

Summary • First define response objectives that apply to your situation • Then establish an exercise program for each facility, region or level of government concerned • Define: exercise start time, exercise duration, participating organizations, scope, resources available, equipment available, and time available • Select practical and feasible exercise objectives based on the response objectives L-053: Exercise Objectives

Exercise Objectives