ASTM E2601-08
(Practice)Standard Practice for Radiological Emergency Response
Standard Practice for Radiological Emergency Response
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
It is essential for response agency personnel to plan, develop, implement, and train on standardized guidelines that encompass policy, strategy, operations, and tactical decisions prior to responding to a radiological incident. Use of this standard is recommended for all levels of the response structure.
Documents developed from this standard practice shall be referenced and revised as necessary and reviewed on a two-year cycle (at a minimum). The review shall consider new and updated requirements and guidance, technologies, and other information or equipment that might have a significant impact on the management and outcome of radiological incidents.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides decision-making considerations for response to incidents that involve radioactive materials. It provides information and guidance for what to include in response planning, and what activities to conduct during a response. The scope of this standard does not explicitly consider response to INDs or nuclear power plant accidents. It does not expressly address emergency response to contamination of food or water supplies.
1.2 This practice applies to those emergency response agencies that have a role in the response to a radiological incident, excluding an IND incident. It should be used in emergency services response such as law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical response actions.
1.3 This practice assumes that implementation begins with the recognition of a radiological incident and ends when emergency response actions cease or the response is assumed by specialized regional, state, or federal response teams.
1.4 AHJs using this practice will identify hazards, develop a plan, acquire and track equipment, and provide training consistent with the descriptions provided in Section 6. AHJs not able to meet the requirements should refer to the United States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) for guidance on how to manage radiological incidents (DOT, current version). This standard provides additional guidance and is not intended to replace the ERG, rather to supplement it (see Annex A1 ).
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E2601 − 08
StandardPractice for
Radiological Emergency Response
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2601; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
One of the legacies of the Oklahoma City bombing and the attacks of September 11, 2001 is
recognition that terrorists use weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This awareness has changed the
philosophy of emergency response across disciplines. Incident response is still based on accepted
procedures and safe work practices developed over the years, but the new mission must include
concernsthatarespecifictoanintentionalreleaseofhazardousmaterialsdesignedtokillorinjureand
cause destruction of property. This standard practice provides guidance for responding to incidents
where radioactive materials might be used with that intent. The standard also applies guidance for
general radiological emergency response. The purpose of the guidance is to save lives, prevent
radiation dose, and move members of the public out of perceived danger areas.
Thisstandardpracticeprovidesdecisionmakingconsiderationsthatjurisdictionscanusetorespond
to incidents that involve radioactive materials.The standard provides a consistent set of practices that
can be incorporated into the development, planning, training, and implementation of guidelines for
radiological emergency response.The standard does not incorporate long-term recovery or mitigation
considerations, nor does it include provisions for improvised nuclear devices (INDs). Jurisdictions
using the standard shall incorporate their own procedures for notification and requests for assistance
from specialized radiological response assets.
The following are key concepts associated with this standard practice:
The standard applies to the emergency phase of an event (0 to 24 h or until specialized resources
arrive on scene if they are requested).
Itadherestoarisk-basedresponse;thismeanstheguidancepresentedisintendedtobecoupledwith
the authority having jurisdiction’s (AHJ’s) understanding of local vulnerability and capability when
developing its plans and guidance documents on the subject.
ItiscompliantwiththeNationalIncidentManagementSystem(NIMS)andusesIncidentCommand
System (ICS) common terminology. Full compliance with NIMS is recognized as an essential part of
emergency response planning. In developing this standard, every effort was made to ensure that all
communications between organizational elements during an incident are presented in plain language
according to NIMS 2007. In keeping with this NIMS requirement, key definitions and terms, using
plain English, are incorporated.
It is not intended for large-scale nuclear scenarios (for example, IND), which may quickly exhaust
the capabilities of local emergency responders.
The standard is not intended to prepare communities for nuclear power plant accidents. The state
of preparedness for communities in close proximity to nuclear power plants far exceeds the minimum
requirements and capabilities described in this standard.
TRACEM (Thermal, Radiological, Asphyxiant, Chemical, Etiological, Mechanical) issues were
consideredthroughout.Whileresponsetoradiologicalhazardsisthefocusofthisstandard,responders
must consider all hazards during a response; it is possible that non-radiological hazards may present
a greater danger at an incident.
The standard does not address airborne contamination levels of radioactive materials exposure. It
assumes that respiratory protection is required for emergency responders as a consequence of current
training requirements. Equipment is not yet widely available or adapted for responder use to monitor
airborne contamination levels.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2601 − 08
1. Scope for Homeland Security
CDC 2007Population Monitoring in Radiation Emergen-
1.1 This practice provides decision-making considerations
cies:AGuide for State and Local Public Health Planners
for response to incidents that involve radioactive materials. It
CRCPD 2006Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)—First
provides information and guidance for what to include in
Responder’s Guide, the First 12 Hours
response planning, and what activities to conduct during a
29 CFR 1910Occupational Safety and Health Standards
response. The scope of this standard does not explicitly
3 49 CFR 173.403Shippers General Requirements for Ship-
considerresponsetoINDsornuclearpowerplantaccidents. It
ments and Packages
does not expressly address emergency response to contamina-
DOT, current version, Emergency Response Guidelines
tion of food or water supplies.
(ERG)
1.2 This practice applies to those emergency response
EPA400-R-92-001Manual of ProtectiveAction Guides and
agencies that have a role in the response to a radiological
Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents
incident, excluding an IND incident. It should be used in
EPA-402-F-07-008Communicating Radiation Risks, Office
emergency services response such as law enforcement, fire
of Radiation and Indoor Air
department, and emergency medical response actions.
FEMA 2008Application of Protective Action Guides for
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised
1.3 This practice assumes that implementation begins with
the recognition of a radiological incident and ends when Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents
Homeland Security Act of 2002
emergency response actions cease or the response is assumed
by specialized regional, state, or federal response teams. IAEA 2006Manual for First Responders to a Radiological
Emergency
1.4 AHJsusingthispracticewillidentifyhazards,developa
ICRP Publication 96Protecting People against Radiation
plan, acquire and track equipment, and provide training con-
Exposure in the Event of a Radiological Attack, 96
sistent with the descriptions provided in Section 6. AHJs not
NCRP Commentary No. 19Key Elements of Preparing
able to meet the requirements should refer to the United States
Emergency Responders for Nuclear and Radiological
(US) Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Re-
Terrorism
sponse Guidebook (ERG) for guidance on how to manage
NCRP Report No. 138Management of Terrorist Events
radiological incidents (DOT, current version). This standard
Involving Radioactive Material
provides additional guidance and is not intended to replace the
4 NCRP Report No. 116Limitation of Exposure to Ionizing
ERG, rather to supplement it (see Annex A1 ).
Radiation
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
NFPA 472Standard for Professional Competence of Re-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sponders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 17
NIMS 2007Draft revised NIMS for interim use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
NRF 2008
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NIST2006aResultsofTestandEvaluationofCommercially
AvailableSurveyMetersfortheDepartmentofHomeland
2. Referenced Documents
Security—Round 2
2.1 Referenced Standards and Documents: NIST2006bResultsofTestandEvaluationofCommercially
ANSI N42.33-2006aAmerican National Standard for Por- Available Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) and Ra-
table Radiation Detection Instrumentation for Homeland diation Pagers for the Department of Homeland
Security Security—Round 2
ANSI N42.32-2006bAmerican National Standard Perfor- NIST2005aResultsofTestandEvaluationofCommercially
manceCriteriaforAlarmingPersonalRadiationDetectors
AvailableSurveyMetersfortheDepartmentofHomeland
Security
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E54 on Homeland
Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.02 on For access to document, go to http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/pdf/population-
Emergency Preparedness, Training, and Procedures. monitoring-guide.pdf.
Current edition approved July 1, 2008. Published August 2008. DOI: 10.1520/ For access to document, go to http://www.crcpd.org/publications.asp#RDD.
E2601-08. For access to document, go to www.access.gpo.gov.
2 9
An improvised nuclear device is defined as follows: A device incorporating Available from http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/gydebook.htm.
fissile materials designed or constructed outside of an official government agency Available from www.epa.gov.
and that has, or appears to have, or is claimed to have the capability to produce a Available from http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17645.htm.
nuclear explosion. It also may be a nuclear weapon that is no longer in the custody For access to document, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/
of competent authority or custodian, or has been modified from its designated firing bill/hsl-bill.pdf.
sequence, or it may have been assembled from illegally obtained nuclear weapons For access to document, go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/
components or special nuclear materials. PDF/EPR_FirstResponder_web.pdf.
3 14
Local response to nuclear facilities incidents should follow nuclear facility For access to description and site for ordering, go to http://www.elsevier.com/
plans, especially in accordance to ingestion pathway zone actions, such as wps/find/bookdescription (cws_home/707248/description#description).
distribution of potassium iodine. Available from www.ncrponline.org.
4 16
Annex A1 material is labeled to complement the standard practice section Available from www.nfpa.org.
numbers and can be found at the end of the standard before the appendices. The For access to document, go to www.fema.gov.
annex provides additional information for responder consideration. For access to document, go to www.dhs.gov.
5 19
Available from http://standards.ieee.org/getN42/. For permission to access document, go to https://www.rkb.us/.
E2601 − 08
NIST2005bResultsofTestandEvaluationofCommercially gency decontamination is reducing dose to a lower level;
Available Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) and Ra- however it may not be possible to completely eliminate
diationPagersfortheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity contamination.
NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1 AddendaCriteria for
3.1.10 emergency operations center (EOC)—the physical
Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency
locationatwhichthecoordinationofinformationandresources
Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
to support incident management activities normally takes
Power Plants, Final Report
place.AnEOCmaybeatemporaryfacilityorinapermanently
NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1Criteria for Preparation and
established location in a jurisdiction. NIMS 2007
Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans
3.1.11 emergency responder—emergency response provid-
and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants
ers include federal, state, and local government, fire, law
enforcement, emergency medical, and related personnel,
3. Terminology
agencies, and authorities. Homeland Security Act of 2002
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.12 emergency response—the performance of actions to
3.1.1 authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)—theorganization,
mitigate the consequences of an emergency for human health
office, or individual responsible for approving equipment,
andsafety,qualityoflife,theenvironmentandproperty.Itmay
materials, an installation, or a procedure. NFPA 472
also provide a basis for the resumption of normal social and
3.1.2 ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable)— a prin-
economic activity. IAEA 2006
ciple of radiation protection philosophy that requires that
3.1.13 evacuation—organized, phased, and supervised
exposures to ionizing radiation shall be kept as low as
withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of civilians from dangerous
reasonablyachievable,economicandsocialfactorsbeingtaken
or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in
into account. The protection from radiation exposure is
safe areas. NIMS 2007
ALARA when the expenditure of further resources would be
unwarranted by the reduction in exposure that would be
3.1.14 high exposure rate—exposure rate beyond which
achieved. NCRP Commentary No. 19
emergency response is not recommended for rescue operations
unless the incident commander (IC) determines it can be
3.1.3 committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE)— com-
carefully controlled for a short duration for priority operations
mitted effective dose equivalent is the sum of the products of
such as life-saving, and the emergency responder is informed
the weighting factors applicable to each of the body organs or
of the hazards and consents to performing the operation(s); the
tissuesthatareirradiatedandthecommitteddoseequivalentto
recommendation of this standard is for a high exposure rate
these organs or tissues.
less than or equal to 100 R/h (1 Sv/h).
3.1.4 decision points—predefined exposure rates or doses at
3.1.15 hot zone—the control zone immediately surrounding
which a decision-maker must determine a path forward to
maximize responder safety and public protection. a hazardous materials incident, which extends far enough to
prevent adverse effects from hazardous materials releases to
3.1.5 decontamination—the reduction or removal of radio-
personnel outside the zone. NFPA 472
active material from surfaces (for example, skin) by cleaning
and washing. NCRP Commentary No. 19 3.1.16 hot line—the line of demarcation that may become a
decision point to control the hot zone; for a radiological
3.1.6 defensive operation(s)—emergency response mea-
response, the hot line shall correspond to a previously estab-
sures taken from a safe distance (for example, outside the hot
lished exposure rate (for example, the low exposure rate) or
zone) to prevent or limit radiation exposure or the spread of
contaminationlevelabovewhichpersonnelshallbetrainedand
hazardous material; life-safety operations are not a concern if
protected appropriately by personal protective equipment
defensive operations are the only operations supporting the
(PPE) to operate. The location of the hot line may not be
response.
determined based on radiation exposure rate or contamination
3.1.7 dose—radiation absorbed by an individual’s body;
level if a higher hazard associated with the incident presents
general term used to denote mean absorbed dose, equivalent
greater risk.
dose,effectivedose,oreffectiveequivalentdose,andtodenote
3.1.17 incident commander (IC)—theindividualresponsible
dose
...
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