Emergency Preparedness
The safety of the peaceful use of nuclear energy has been a widely discussed topic for decades. With the shutdown of the last three nuclear power plants (NPPs) in April 2023, Germany has completed its nuclear phase-out. However, in other neighbouring countries of Austria, new nuclear power plants are being planned and put into operation. It is clear that the consequences of a NPP accident can be far-reaching, as shown by the events in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011). Since the radioactive substances carried by air – the so-called radioactive cloud – do not recognize national borders, Austria also faces potential risks. Therefore, it is crucial to have thorough emergency planning to minimize the impact on the population through various measures in the event of a radiological emergency.
International Emergency Preparedness
After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, international agreements were made in addition to bilateral information agreements. These require countries to inform the international community in the event of a possible release of radioactive substances into the environment. This early warning time allows affected countries to estimate the effects using specially developed dispersion simulation programs before the arrival of radioactively contaminated air masses. As a result, authorities can prepare and implement protective measures for the population in a timely manner.
National Emergency Preparedness
In Austria, detailed emergency plans, a catalogue of measures, and a sampling plan have been developed and continuously updated since the Chernobyl disaster and the experiences from Fukushima in 2011. The emergency plans at the federal and state levels include the following key points:
- Involved organisations and their responsibilities
- Possible scenarios of radiological emergencies
- Emergency planning
- Report and alert channels
- Assessment of the impact of a radiological emergency
- Measures to protect the population
- Public information
- Medical assistance
- Emergency drills
- Emergency contacts
The catalogue of measures covers all protective actions to be considered in the event of widespread contamination with potential radiological impacts on Austria. The sampling plan regulates the organisation and execution of sampling, sample transport, measurements, and the transmission of measurement data in cases of large- or small-scale radioactive contamination. Large-scale contamination of Austrian territory could occur following a NPP accident, while small-scale contamination might result from transportation accidents or fires involving radioactive materials. The sampling plan is part of the national emergency plan.
The responsible federal ministries, federal states, and we regularly participate in international and national emergency drills, ensuring that the necessary skills for emergencies are continuously trained and reinforced. This ensures continuous improvement in emergency preparedness.
More information on emergency preparedness and the current situation in Austria can be found on the emergency website of the BMK (Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology).
Austrian Early Warning System for Radiation and Monitoring Network
Since the early 1980s, Austria has operated an automatic, nationwide monitoring network for gamma radiation to detect and assess large-scale radioactive contamination quickly. It was the first automatic radiation monitoring system in Europe and, with over 300 measuring stations, remains one of the densest monitoring networks worldwide. Measurement results are automatically transmitted every 10 minutes to the Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the BMK, and the state warning centres. The data from 111 measuring stations is available on the BMK's radiation protection website.
Additionally, ten air monitors continuously measure alpha, beta, and gamma radiation in aerosols. All measurement data from the Austrian Early Warning System for Radiation are available online at the federal radiation warning centres. To ensure reliability, two data centres are operated in parallel.
More information on the Early Warning System for Radiation is available on the BMK’s website.
To reliably detect new releases of radioactive substances into the environment, the Early Warning System for Radiation is complemented by a laboratory-based monitoring network. At locations in Vienna, Linz, Graz, and Innsbruck, various monitoring tasks are carried out in state-of-the-art radiation protection laboratories. Our primary task is to detect even small increases in radioactivity in the environment and food nationwide at all times.
More information on environmental radioactivity monitoring can be found here.
A special monitoring programme called "Preservation of Evidence - Temelín" has been conducted in cooperation with the state of Upper Austria since 1992. Systematic sampling of various environmental media and foodstuffs over many years has created a radioecological database that enables the detection of any radioactive emissions from the operation of the NPP Temelín (Czech Republic). In 2016, this monitoring programme was renamed "Preservation of Evidence for Nuclear Power Plants" and expanded to include seven additional sampling locations near borders throughout Austria. This allows us to build a database in other federal states for detecting any radioactive emissions from nearby nuclear power plants. It also provides the opportunity for annual training of sampling personnel and laboratories outside of major emergency exercises.
AGES Radiation Protection Laboratories
Our radiation protection laboratories are prepared to handle large volumes of potentially highly contaminated samples in a short amount of time in the event of an emergency (for example, an NPP accident in a neighbouring country). The management of the laboratory during a radiological emergency, sample logistics, staff protection, and avoiding cross-contamination are the main focus. All off these aspects are rehearsed regularly. The measurement results are forwarded to the responsible authorities and serve as a basis for informing the public and implementing protective measures. Radiation protection experts are also involved in emergency planning at both the federal and state level.
AGES emergency response teams
All our emergency response teams receive a minimum of 90 hours of training under the 2020 Intervention Regulation, complemented by specialised training and annual refresher courses of at least 16 hours. To ensure preparedness, regular emergency drills are conducted in cooperation with authorities and emergency services. Our specially trained response teams can perform quick and accurate radioactivity measurements both in the laboratory and on-site.
Various radiation detection devices and methods are used, such as dose rate meters, contamination monitors, nuclide identification devices, wipe tests, and mobile high-purity germanium gamma spectrometry equipment. The measurement data and an initial assessment of the radiological situation on-site are quickly transmitted to the BMK to support the decision-making process. During radiological emergencies our response teams are capable of detecting even hard-to-detect radioactive substances, such as trans-uranium elements.
Mobile Radioactivity Measurement Laboratory
To enhance our emergency preparedness and response capabilities, our emergency response teams can deploy a mobile radioactivity measurement laboratory on-site. These mobile laboratories are designed to operate fully independently for at least 24 hours and can be set up in a tent or buildings. This is particularly useful for localised radiological emergencies where accredited measurement results and quick decision-making are required, or when long travel distances to the AGES laboratories are not feasible due to time constraints or tactical reasons.
Contact
Mag. Dr. Claudia Landstetter
- strahlenschutz.wien@ages.at
- +43 50 555-32901
-
Spargelfeldstraße 191
1220 Wien
Last updated: 23.10.2024
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