Protection for response staff

Following an accident at a nuclear power station, certain people (emergency service staff, police, radiation protection staff, etc.) are required to carry out emergency response work within a contaminated zone.The actions to be taken by these people are determined by the Crisis Cell on the basis of the radiological situation, location and exposure time.

In principle, the emergency response staff are not sent into regions that have been evacuated or where the population have been advised to take shelter during the release phase unless their task is to save lives, prevent serious radiation-induced health problems or avert catastrophic situations.

Depending on the location and level of exposure, response staff are required to wear specific protective clothing, rubber boots, single-use gloves, protective breathing masks and even protective goggles for the eyes. They may also be provided with an individual dosimeter.