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The UK Recovery Handbook for Chemical Incidents

This handbook assists Recovery Coordination Groups in post-chemical incident decision-making to protect the public from long-term risks and facilitate a return to normality. By incorporating lessons from past incidents and offering a six-step decision framework, it aims to reduce exposure and aid in recovery. The project team, led by Dr. Stacey Wyke-Sanders, collaborated to develop evidence-based recovery options to address the complex nature of chemical incidents. With a focus on clean-up and restoration, the handbook provides guidance on clearance goals, decontamination strategies, and risk assessment protocols. It is not a substitute for specialist advice but serves as a valuable tool for decision-makers in shaping recovery strategies.

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The UK Recovery Handbook for Chemical Incidents

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  1. The UK Recovery Handbook for Chemical Incidents Dr Stacey Wyke-Sanders Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards International Research and Development Group 8th November 2012

  2. Introduction • Development of the Handbook • Worked example • HPA Resources

  3. The Health Protection Agency provides authoritative scientific and medical advice to the NHS and other bodies about the known health effects of chemicals, poisons and other environmental hazards. • Protecting people Preventing harm Preparing for threats

  4. History UK Recovery handbook (Rad) v1 EURANOS generic handbooks (Rad) v1 2005 2006/7 European stakeholder networks e.g. FARMING

  5. History ‘Demonstration’ EURANOS generic handbooks (Rad) v1 UK Recovery handbook (Rad) v3 EURANOS generic handbooks (Rad) v2 2009 Handbook Users Group

  6. The UK Recovery Handbookfor Chemical Incidents Handbook to aid decisions in the recovery phase after a chemical incident Based on the methodology of the UK Handbook for Radiation Incidents Incorporate lessons from responses to incidents Intended for use by Recovery Coordination Groups and others who need it to protect public from long term risks Aim: reduce exposure and return to ‘normality’ • Handbook to aid decisions in the recovery phase after a chemical incident • Based on the methodology of the UK Handbook for Radiation Incidents • Incorporate lessons from responses to incidents • Intended for use by Recovery Coordination Groups and others who need it to protect public from long term risks • Aim: reduce exposure and return to ‘normality’

  7. Chemical Recovery HandbookProject team Handbook to aid decisions in the recovery phase after a chemical incident Based on the methodology of the UK Handbook for Radiation Incidents Incorporate lessons from responses to incidents Intended for use by Recovery Coordination Groups and others who need it to protect public from long term risks Aim: reduce exposure and return to ‘normality’ • Dr Stacey Wyke-Sanders • Mr Nicholas Brooke • Mr Alec Dobney • Miss Aya Osman • Prof Raquel Duarte-Davidson • Mrs Shelly Mobbs • Dr Anne Nisbet • EHE Scientists • Prof David Baker • Prof Virginia Murray

  8. Definition of recovery ‘ the process of rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitating the community following an emergency’ HM Government (2005) Emergency response and recovery: Non- statutory guidance accompanying the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Version 2.

  9. The four stages of an incident Hearings Trials Inquest Public Inquiry InitialResponse Response RecoveryPhase Restorationof normality Time

  10. Why develop a Recovery Handbook? • Chemical incidents occur • Clean up of the environment is not straightforward • How clean is clean? • No comprehensive, evidence based guidance • Complexity of chemical ‘mixtures’

  11. Chemical release Overview of UK Recovery Response phase actions Preliminary clearance goals Site specific risk assessment: Clearance goals Characterisation sampling and analysis Decontamination strategy (UKRHCI) Decontamination (GDS) Clearance sampling No Yes Site specific clearance goal met? Reoccupy

  12. Development of the UKRHCI • Project duration 2009 – 2012 • 9 Stakeholder workshops • Feedback from stakeholders has been key to the development of the Handbook • Generic physiochemical properties approach • 6-step decision-aiding-framework • UKRHCI recommends 85 recovery options based on an evaluation of the evidence base and lessons learned from chemical incidents

  13. Scope of UKRHCI • Focus on clean up and restoration. • Does not address all aspects of the recovery phase • Risk assessment protocols • Sampling or monitoring strategies • Not a substitute for specialist advice but will aid decision makers in the development of a recovery strategy

  14. Structure of the UKRHCI

  15. What is a “recovery option”? • Definition: “An action intended to reduce of avert the exposure of people to chemical contamination” • Example protection options • Product recall; Precautionary dietary advice • Prohibit public access; Impose restrictions on transport; Temporary relocation • Isolate and contain drinking water supply; Restrict water use (DND/ DNU notices) • Example remediation/ removal options; • Removal/ relocation of topsoil; Ploughing methods • Pressure hosing; Dismantle and disposal of contaminated material; Storage, covering and gentle cleaning • Water treatment at the point of use [tap]; Flush distribution system

  16. Developing the UKRHCI • Building the evidence base • Literature search • Retrospective study • Recovery options database • Development of physicochemical approach • Decontamination of different environments (including surface types) • 6-step decision framework for constructing a recovery strategy

  17. Things to consider……. • Spatial and temporal factors • Effectiveness • Technical feasibility and capacity • Economic cost • Legal implications/ obligations • Waste disposal • Environmental issues • Chemical impact • Societal and ethical aspects • Information and communication issues Multidimensional and complex issues at stake requiring a stakeholder participative process

  18. e.g. Outdoor surface removal & replacement

  19. Introduction to the 6-step Decision Process Developing a recovery strategy - Sulphur Mustard Case Study

  20. Outline • Developing a recovery strategy • Factors influencing implementation of options • 6 step decision framework • Worked example of developing a recovery strategy for a contaminated inhabited area

  21. Chemical release Overview of UK Recovery Response phase actions Preliminary clearance goals Site specific risk assessment: Clearance goals Characterisation sampling and analysis Decontamination strategy (UKRHCI) Decontamination (GDS) Clearance sampling No Yes Site specific clearance goal met? Reoccupy

  22. Developing a recoverystrategy • Before a recovery strategy can be developed information is required on: • Contaminant(s) • Types of surfaces contaminated • Level of hazard or risk • This allows prioritisation of areas for recovery and cleanup. • The recovery handbook can then help users to develop the recovery strategy

  23. The 6-step decision framework Step 1: Obtain information regarding the incident Determine physicochemical properties of contaminated area Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Step 3: Determine effectiveness of recovery options A: Eliminate options based on physicochemical properties B: Eliminate options based on surface material Step 4: Review key considerations and constraints Eliminate further options according to other considerations (public health, waste, social, technical, cost and time) Step 5: Consult recovery option sheets Eliminate further options following a detailed analysis of options on a site and incident-specific basis. Step 6: Compare remaining recovery options Based on steps 1-5, select and combine options

  24. Constructing a recovery strategy • 24th Sept 2009 a member of the public reported to police the discovery of a piece of military ordinance in sand dunes at a beach in North Gower, Swansea. • Shell was disabled by Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal experts (same day). • 3 days later, PHW notified that 2 members of the disposal team were in hospital with severely blistered skin.

  25. Incident overview • MOD confirmed the shell had contained sulphur mustard, and that a small amount may have been released during the routine disposal of the ordinance device. • Due to the delay in symptoms being reported (3 days) a multi-agency Incident Response Team was convened.

  26. Step 1: Obtain information regarding the incident Determine physicochemical properties of contaminated area Areas contaminated: • Recreational area (sand-dunes) • Not densely populated • Access has been restricted Physiochemical and toxicological properties • Expert advice required

  27. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Has the area surrounding the incident been contaminated? Yes Is there potential for contamination of water or the food chain? No

  28. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Is there a critical facility in the contaminated area that needs to be manned? No Is the contaminated area used for recreation? Yes

  29. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Are people occupying the contaminated area? (e.g. sheltering?) No Does the chemical have a short persistency? No

  30. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Is there evidence of visual hotspots of chemical contamination? Yes

  31. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Is there a risk of adverse health effects to the population in the area? No Does the chemical have a short persistency? No

  32. Step 2: Consult flow chart decision tree’s for specific inhabited areas Identify potentially applicable recovery options Consult Food/ Water sections of Handbook (if applicable) Is there a risk of adverse health effects to the population in the area? Yes

  33. Step 3: Determine effectiveness of recovery options A: Eliminate options based on physicochemical properties B: Eliminate options based on surface material

  34. Step 3: Determine effectiveness of recovery options A: Eliminate options based on physicochemical properties B: Eliminate options based on surface material

  35. Step 4: Review key considerations and constraints Eliminate further options according to other considerations (public health, waste, social, technical, cost and time)

  36. Step 5: Consult recovery option sheets Eliminate further options following a detailed analysis of options on a site and incident-specific basis.

  37. Step 6: Compare remaining recovery options Based on steps 1-5, select and combine options Protection options • Restrict public access • Remediation options • Soil and vegetation removal • Huw Brunt, David Russell, Nick Brooke. Sulphur Mustard Incident, Swansea. • CHaP report 2010; 17: 4-5. http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1274091561553

  38. Summary • UKRHCI is a user friendly guidance document, based on an evaluation of the evidence base for the remediation and recovery of the environment after a chemical incident • Practical 6-step decision framework for constructing a recovery strategy • UKRHCI is applicable to all chemicals due to the general physicochemical properties approach and consideration of different surface types

  39. Handbook resources E-learning module available at; http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/RemediationAndEnvironmentalDecontamination/

  40. Handbook resources Useful links and bookmarks; HPA http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/RemediationAndEnvironmentalDecontamination/ UK Recovery Handbook for Chemical Incidents; http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/RemediationAndEnvironmentalDecontamination/1205UKrecoveryhandbookforchemincidents/ UK Recovery Handbook for Radiation Incidents; http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1259152442006

  41. Handbook resources • Worked examples; • Contamination of Irish pork (Dioxins) • Contamination of beach (Sulphur Mustard) • Contamination of private drinking water supply (Lead) • Case studies; • Irish Dioxins Incident • Nicotine contamination of ground beef • Asbestos release in residential flats • Sulphur mustard incident (Swansea) • Long-term leakage of heating oil into soil leading to permeation of • plastic water supply pipes • MSC Napoli • Volcanic eruptions

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