Global Nuclear Emergency Response Network Goes Operational
Written by NucNet
Friday, 07 March 2008
NucNet News No. 11
7 Feb (NucNet): An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-based
international nuclear emergency response network has become operational
after receiving its first pledges of assistance from four member states.
The IAEA said in a statement yesterday that Finland, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the US have made initial commitments to the Response Assistance Network (Ranet), a global response arrangement designed to coordinate international assistance in case of a radiation incident or emergency.
Warren Stern, head of the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC), said with these initial registrations the IAEA has successfully launched the first phase of Ranet. He said the IAEA was looking forward to further registrations from member states.
The backbone of Ranet's capabilities consists of technology and trained experts which could be made available for on-site emergency response assistance. In the event of a serious radiological incident, a member state can ask for support from Ranet if its own response capabilities are not enough.
The first pledges of assistance made to the network include technology used to calculate radiation doses to potential accident victims; capabilities in radiation monitoring, environmental measurement, source, search and recovery, and internal dose assessment; and measurement capabilities and a source search and recovery team.
The IAEA said commitments such as those made by Finland, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the US are vital to Ranet's effectiveness.
Ranet also aims to harmonise emergency assistance and share information and feedback about emergency experiences.
The impetus for Ranet stemmed from responsibilities assigned to the IAEA from a convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency. The convention was adopted by the IAEA General Conference in a special session in 1986, and was motivated in part by the Chernobyl accident.
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
IAEA Official Warns Industry On Complacency (News in Brief No. 2, 13 February 2006)
