Chernobyl first response

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

I would appreciate any comments. Thank you, mike.

"Shlala gashle" (Zulu greeting, meaning "Stay safe")
mike (mcnaught@LANL.GOV)

===============================
	I understand that the Chernobyl firemen were not even advised to
wash thoroughly after leaving the scene, and this was the cause of
appreciable damage from beta activity on their skin.

Bernard L. Cohen
===========================
comments:

Let's considerer the IAEA Safety Series 75 - Summary Report on the Post
Accident Review Meeting on the Chernobyl Accident --1986

GOING TO page 11 (10)

"Fighting fires in a nuclear power plant with an added large scale
radiological hazard was an entirely new experience. The types of procedures,
equipment and protective clothing used in this event should be examined
carefully by all those responsible for such emergency responses"

GOING TO page 45:

"Firstly, at Chernobyl there was a combination of fire and high radiation
fields. It appears that these conditions would require further
improvement of fire-fighting equipment designed to cope with extreme
conditions and radioactive materials (fuel, burning graphite, etc.). There
is a need for the development of scientific and technical measures directed
towards improved effectiveness in extinguishing fires and preventing the
spread and transport of radioactive material that may be involved
(fire-fighting with specific provisions for nuclear safety)
"Methods and equipment might include automated systems for monitoring and
detection, fire-fighting robots, the use of less flammable turbine oils, etc. 

Secondly, there is a need for lighweight cloting, not only to protect the
fire fire-fighters from the high temperatures, but also to provide
protection from radioactive contamination"

GOING TO RECOMMENDATIONS: page 84 (12)

The IAEA should organize a symposium on fire protection covering:

a) The development of the scientific and technical bases for fire prevention
and fire-fighting techniques, account being taken of severe contitions such
high temperatures and fire-fighting equipment for nuclear materials present;

b) Improvements in fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment for nuclear
power plants.

It is expected that the results of the symposium would serve as imput in
developing possible new standards for fire-fighting.

NOW: 10 years later Please, GO TO: 

www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/thisweek/preview/1997meet/m7sm345.html

Symposium on Upgrading the Fire Safety of Operating Nuclear Power Plants
 
 LOCATION,   DATE:      Vienna Austria, 17-21 November 1997
 
 ORGANIZED BY:

                     International Atomic Energy Agency 
                     Vienna International Centre 
                     P.O. Box 100 
                     A-1400 Vienna, Austria 
                     Telephone: +43-1-2060 0, Fax: +43-1-20607 
                     e-mail: Official.Mail@iaea.org

It is intended that the Symposium should cover all elements of the upgrading
process, namely: the identification of fire safety related deficiencies, the
search for the most appropriate corrective measures, and the implementation
of selected engineering or organizational solutions. 

I hope this help

J. J. Rozental <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>
Consultant, Radiation Safety and Regulation
for developing countries
Israel