Project partners are eager to announce that another important chapter towards the creation of the first 10 “CBRN intervention groups”, trained and equipped to operate in contaminated environments, have concluded. WP3 was key to identifying training programmes and operational guidelines for public and private operators of Critical Infrastructures. Below the results from said activities.
Based on the results obtained in the “Training Need Assessment” (activity 2.2), “Equipment Needs Assessment” (activity 2.3) and “Validation Workshop” (activity 2.4), multiple training modules were designed based on end-users’ requirements and in order to fit in with the operational context and emergency plans of the CIs: As such, horizontal training needs common to all CI sectors were accompanied, where relevant, by more tailored programmes. The identified modules include: “Introduction to CBRN risks and general aspects related to the protection and resilience of CIs”, “Warning and Reporting”, “Chemical Hazards and CIs”, “Radiological and Nuclear Hazards and CIs”, “Protection from CBRN agents: collective and personal protective procedures and equipment”, “Communication and Psychology”, “Intervention Model and Operational Guidelines”, “Table Top and Field Exercises”.
Concerning the operational guidelines for public and private operators of the Critical Infrastructures, project partners under the guidance of end-users were able to identify the following:
• OP1 Recognition and Collection of Information: operators have to recognize the type of CBRN event/threat by using specific indicators and questions to collect information.
• OP2 Internal and External Plans Activation: control room operators must alert the external bodies/authorities while activating the internal emergency response plan of the CI.
• OP3 Equipment Preparation: internal operators must prepare themselves (wear PPE and other appropriate tools).
• OP4 Support to First Responders: operators have to support CBRN first responders in several activities: securing the area, the personnel, the structure, and the critical activities of the CI while giving information regarding available water resources and safe zones for the victims.
• OP5 Logistic Support: the role and detailed actions operators have to take varies from CI to CI and their Operators Safety Plans. Generally, however, operators have the duty to fully support the incident commander (i.e at logistical/tactical level).
• OP6 Decontamination Support: operators can also assist first responders during decontamination procedures.
• OP7 to OPn: customized based on specific operational needs and CI contexts.
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