Incident and Emergency Centre
The Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) serves as the Agency’s focal point for responding to nuclear or radiological incidents and emergencies and for promoting improvement in Member States’ emergency response and preparedness. It provides for an integrated system through which States, their competent authorities, international organizations, technical experts and the Secretariat can effectively share information and experience, and coordinate the provision of assistance for response to or preparedness for incidents or emergencies.
The Incident and Emergency Centre was established 1 February 2005. It supersedes the former Emergency Response Centre (ERC) and its functions have been extended to include: incident reporting (INES/NEWS), coordinating prompt assistance to requesting States in the case of a nuclear security incident, and to providing coordinated technical support to the Agency’s Division of Public Information in the case of an event of safety or security concern to the media.
Background
Developments in recent years have indicated there was a need to consolidate, integrate and draw added benefits from the Secretariat’s various activities related to incident and emergency reporting, preparedness and response. This includes the reporting of and response to nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies, threats and events of media interest, and the exchange of information for the purposes of early warning and for identifying lessons.
The new Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) should now serve as a unified and coordinated incident and emergency response system that represents a more visible and accessible focal point for Member States and the Secretariat for the reporting of and, if necessary, the prompt, coordinated response to all such events, and exchange of information relating to preparedness and response.
To achieve this, there will be a need to develop and implement new operational arrangements; gradually to optimize available human and financial resources; to incorporate additional activities during 2005 supported by extrabudgetary funding; and to consolidate the activities of the new, integrated centre into the Programme and Budget 2006–2007.
Organization and functions
The work of the IEC is structured in four different functions:
Function 1, Incident Reporting, aims to manage and coordinate the development, operation and maintenance of a unified platform for the receipt, validation, retrieval and appropriate sharing of information on incidents and emergencies.
Function 2, Response System, seeks to develop, operate and maintain the Agency’s incident and emergency response system. This implies to effectively coordinate response to incidents and emergencies relating to nuclear and radiological safety and security threats and events of media interest. This also includes the coordination of follow-up actions and the evaluation of incidents.
Function 3, Intergovernmental and Inter-Agency Matters, aims to maintain and continuously improve intergovernmental and international arrangements for emergency preparedness and response.
Function 4, Strengthening States’ Preparedness, intends to harmonize and facilitate information sharing for the review of lessons, development of safety standards, provision of guidance and tools, and assessment of specific needs. It also seeks to provide advice and appraisal services and support for consistent implementation of relevant programmes.
Programme
Incidents and emergencies continue to occur — often involving lost, stolen, damaged or discovered sources. Relatively minor incidents occur at nuclear facilities that may raise undue anxieties among the public, and there remains the unlikely possibility of a severe emergency that could result in transnational impacts. In recent years there has been increased concern about the possibility of incidents or emergencies resulting from the malicious use of radioactive material or attacks on nuclear facilities. Early on in the course of such events it is usually unknown whether the cause is accidental, due to negligence or is deliberate. The principal aim is to mitigate the event and its radiological consequences, but it is also important to address non-radiological issues in part through consistent and authoritative provision of information to the public. Coherent initial assessment, crisis and consequence management is needed, which can only be achieved through coordinated and effective preparedness involving all the relevant authorities and response organizations.
Objective
To have in place effective and compatible national and international arrangements for early warning, for responding to actual and potential nuclear/radiological incidents and emergencies independently of their cause, and for feedback and continuous improvement.
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