Webinar: Protection of Emergency Workers and Helpers in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency

Emergency workers play a critical role in mitigating the consequences and protecting the public in the aftermath of a nuclear of radiological emergency. These workers can be exposed to additional risks in the performance of their duties and protective measures must be taken to ensure that these risks can be minimized.

The IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will jointly launch a webinar on how to protect emergency workers and volunteers from the public helping in the response (i.e. helpers) in a nuclear or radiological emergency in line with the international safety standards. The three hour webinar will be held on 6 May 2016 at 11:00 UTC, with lectures conducted by IAEA and ILO staff in English.

Participants will emerge from this webinar with a global perspective on the work being undertaken at the international level to guarantee protection and safety of emergency workers and helpers. This will include:

• An understanding of the role of the IAEA in nuclear or radiological emergency preparedness and response. In particular, staff of the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre will underline how their work helps countries better prepare to protect emergency workers and helpers.
• Participants will also learn about the work of the ILO in ensuring the occupational radiation protection of emergency workers and about the role of the ILO in representing workers, employers and governments.
• Speakers will also explain the framework that must be in place to guarantee protection of emergency workers and helpers in line with the international safety standards.

The webinar is open to representatives (employers, emergency workers, decision-makers, emergency planners etc.) of governmental authorities with responsibilities for occupational radiation protection in a nuclear or radiological emergency. NGOs facilitating voluntary emergency response and staff of the relevant international intergovernmental organizations, including the IAEA and ILO, are also encouraged to participate.

Registration for this webinar is open until 5 May 2016 and can be done here. Following the registration, participants will receive an electronic mail containing information how to access the webinar by simply following a hyperlink to join the WebEx meeting or by calling by phone.

Background

The work of the IAEA includes establishing of standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of danger to life and property (including such standards for labour conditions) in consultation and collaboration with competent organs of the United Nations and with specialized agencies concerned.

In November 2015, a new Safety Standards Series publication entitled "Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency" (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7) was published in joint sponsorship of 13 international intergovernmental organizations, including the IAEA and ILO. This standard establishes the requirements for ensuring an adequate level of preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency, irrespective of its cause. In this context, it elaborates comprehensively the various arrangements to be put in place by respective Member States to protect effectively emergency workers and helpers in a nuclear or radiological emergency.

The IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7 is intended to be used by governments, emergency response organizations, other authorities at the local, regional and national levels, operating organizations and the regulatory body as well as by relevant international organizations at the international level.

This webinar will be the first in a series of webinars focusing on the implementation of the IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7.

A video recording of the webinar can be found here

Available presentations from the webinar can be found below:

IAEA Roles and Responsibilities in Nuclear or Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response, Rodrigo Salinas, IAEA

ILO Activities on Occupational Radiation Protection: Safety and health at work and radiation protection of workers, Shengli Niu, ILO

International Framework for Protection of Emergency Workers and Helpers in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency, Svetlana Nestoroska Madjunarova, IAEA