The Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear (CTN) of Instituto Superior Técnico, in Loures, hosted an intensive training course in Radiological Protection and Safety, intended for first responders in radiological emergency scenarios and new CTN laboratories workers. Organised by the Radiological Protection and Safety Laboratory (LPSR) between 7th and 10th July, the main aim of the course was to strengthen the operational response capacity of firefighters and emergency responders in situations involving class 7 hazardous materials – radioactive materials.
The theoretical and practical modules covered the principles of radiological protection, risk assessment, types of radiation, radiation-generating equipment, the operation of measuring equipment and procedures for dealing with radiological emergencies.
“There is still little literacy among the intervention forces in this specific area”, warns Alfredo Baptista, Coordinator of the LPSR’s Radiological Protection Operational Centre. “Training courses like this are crucial to filling critical gaps and guaranteeing an effective response”, he adds.
The proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the importance of communicating with first-line operatives in incidents involving radioactive materials were widely emphasised throughout the training.
The syllabus reflected real CTN practices, including the handling of sealed and unsealed sources and the use of equipment emitting ionising radiation. Practical simulations with radiation monitors and PPE allowed trainees to apply the knowledge they had acquired in a simulated context – a component that was particularly valued.
João Alves, Deputy Director of the LPSR, emphasises that “the participants were very receptive and interested in these issues, although their levels of prior knowledge were quite diverse”.
The training was attended by the Sacavém Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Lisbon Sapper Fire Brigade and new CTN workers.
Alfredo Baptista, Augusto Oliveira, Isabel Paiva, João Alves, Maria de Lurdes Gano, Mário Reis and Octávia Monteiro Gil, as well as a guest specialising in nuclear law, Maria Manuel Meruje, led the various modules under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team of experts – including technicians and researchers from the LPSR, the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares and the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering at Técnico.
Although Portugal does not have nuclear power stations, there are several sources of radiological risk distributed throughout the territory: from hospital units with high-activity sources, to industry – such as gammagraphy or the transport of radioactive materials. The CTN itself, has multiple facilities with radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment, requires robust and prepared emergency plans.
The training programme is part of a wider collaboration protocol between Técnico’s CTN and rescue organisations such as the Lisbon Sapper Fire Brigade and the Sacavém Volunteer Fire Brigade. This protocol provides for the continuous development of training, joint actions and drills, with a view to strengthening the national response to radiological accidents.
“The first to arrive and the last to leave” – this is how Alfredo Baptista describes the emergency professionals who intervene in these contexts. However, the scarcity of specific equipment and the lack of specialised training continue to limit their ability to act to the full. “More than knowing the risks, it’s essential to know how to act in accordance with safety procedures”, he emphasises.
