RAD205 Emergency Preparedness

Lectures: Overview of the different types and phases of nuclear and radiological accidents and incidents. ICRP and IAEA INES (International nuclear and radiological event scale) classification. Introduction to the Norwegian Crisis Committee for Emergency Preparedness. Accident scenarios and radiological impact modelling (SNAP, ARGOS). Triage, protective and remediation actions. Socioeconomic and psychological impacts of accidents. Public perception, communication and social media response.

Emergency Accident Response Exercise: Drawing from experience of IAEA, NEA and national emergency exercises, the students will spend one day running through a simulated nuclear emergency, demonstrating the different phases of an emergency, and the various decisions and challenges to be addressed.

Knowledge: Students will understand the different types and phases of nuclear and radiological incidents. Students will understand different approaches to monitoring and responding to nuclear accidents, including non-radiological impacts on society, the different roles of emergency preparedness actors and the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement.

Skills: The students will be able to analysis and classify different radiological incidents. They will be able to carry out basic assessments of the potential human and environmental impacts and acquire basic training in stakeholder communication. Through analysis of real-life case studies, students will be able to apply the knowledge learnt to practical applications.

General competence: The students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex challenges that nuclear emergency preparedness presents for society. They will learn how to apply critical thinking to the evaluation of case-studies, as well as to prepare and present technical and scientific work, orally and in writing.