CBRNeWORLD
Gwyn Winfield and Steve Johnson go in search of the half full cup…
The cup
isW HAT?
“I have to assume that [the threat is] not going down.
Is it going up? Hard to tell.”
Navy Admiral James Winnefeld, Head of US Northern Command
Firstly – apologies. This is not going to be
pleasant reading for some, while for others
(in the civil community) it is going to be
of only passing interest, and for another
group it is going to result in a certain
amount of hair-pulling and name calling.
It’s all to do with change. Despite the fact
that CBRN replaced NBC in the taxonomy
about six years ago it had, in reality, been
banished rather than usurped – still
lingering around the borders. Defence
shelled out for new signs and letterhead
and gave themselves a bit of a spruce up
with light role team concepts, but
remained wedded to Good King NBC. We
knew that the paradigm had changed, that
the Cold War was dead, that there wasn’t
the need for the huge amounts of decon
the old template demanded, that the skillset needed to change and – dare I say it –
the very way the force structure was
constructed could be improved. But in the
military you never say “never”, and as long
as there was that all-in warfighting need
there was an all-in CBRN requirement too,
so in reality the changes were cosmetic.
While the military can never say “never”
the bean counters have no such qualms…
The budget cuts that are sweeping
Europe are cutting meat. Germany, for
example, now has the second lowest
defence spending per capita in the G8 after
Japan – see Box 1. No longer just the fat is
going, but capabilities are too – and as
those get lopped off, the support elements
start to look a little over-exposed. As the
main battle tanks and fast jets get shelved,
mothballed or sold off, what need is there
for the weighty decon process that
sustained them? This is not the case for all
forces; the UK has spurned decon for at
least a decade, but those countries to the
east of France have always had a large,
efficient decon capability. It made sense;
the clash was going to fall on the Central
European plains, it was going to be tankdriven and, with a form of civilisation
hanging in the balance, there was the
necessity to get troops back into
combat quickly. As long as the
tanks were there, so was the
need for that level of decon. But
now, with the tanks being
mothballed…
Detection and recon
weathered the old paradigm
shift rather better. Being able
to take TICs under their
wing, as well as CWA – and
even the promise of bio
detection on the horizon –
there seemed to be a
continuing and burgeoning
role. Yet the economic
changes are forcing the
military to be threat-driven in
a way that they haven’t been
for 80 years – the focus is on
now, rather than tomorrow. As
the capability to maintain
current conflict gets adversely
impacted, future conflicts, and
esoteric threats, become less of
an issue.
Despite flirting with
CBRNE, very few forces have
whole-heartedly embraced
the changing mission and
ensured their troops are
kept busy. There is a
marked difference
between the US
forces, on whom the burden of fighting
has largely fallen, and their CBRN forces,
and those who have been less heavily
engaged. Even if you discount the strategic
changes in the US forces, such as the
formation of 20th Support Command,
their soldiers on the ground are being
used, and trained, in ways that wouldn’t
have been previously imagined. There had
always the concern that “when the cuts
came” CBRN would need to be at the
forefront of the commander’s mind –
being able to name numerous occasions
when they had had good advice from their
CBRNE advisor… It’s later than you think:
“The cuts are here – now”.
There seems little doubt that in two
years’ time there will be less people doing
CBRN in the military, and some nations
are facing down a requested cut of 50 per
cent of their force. So what now? Is this
What state will decon be in after
the cuts? ©CBRNe World
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
26
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
A I R T E C H N I Q U E S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
A N I S O 9 0 0 1 C O M PA N Y
THE RISK IS REAL
M A S K S
W I L L
F A I L
Totally Tested, Totally Trusted
Protective Mask Leakage Tester
(410) 363-9696 www.ATItest.com
The BEST solution for Radiological
and Chemical Decontamination
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Apply, let Dry and Peel
Use on any hard, porous or nonporous 3D surface (vehicles
weapons, pavement, buildings)
Safe and water soluble
No mixing, Peels easily
Spray, brush or trowel on
Proven effectiveness
Super tensile strength
Encapsulates all contaminants
Minimized waste generation
Reduces potential exposure
Cost effective, easy to use
Order or Questions go to
http://www.Decongel.com
CBRNeWORLD
The cup isW HAT?
the time to retire to the smoking room
with a balloon of brandy and pass sage
comment on “Well, we told you so! We
said not to cut it and now look what’s
happened?” Or is now the time to see that
the accountants are actually providing the
last rites of the old NBC capability and
forcing nations to embrace CBRNE – or
lose all capability, and relevance.
We – CBRNe World – remain
convinced of, and unapologetic about, the
threat. At the risk of sounding like the
start of too many Powerpoint
presentations, the shift from the Cold War
has not made the world a safer place.
Proliferation and terrorist activity on an
international scale have increased; the old
client state relationships have changed and
nations have more political freedom of
movement; releases are going to be
insidious and hard-to-detect; and the CWC,
IAEA and BWC can be circumvented and
are incapable of being tightened. Most
worryingly, the use of toxic industrial
chemicals has become part of the terrorist
“golf bag” in Afghanistan – which some
pundits wrote off as mass-delusion. At the
same time, outside of Nato, other forces
are increasing their capability. The
augmentation of the Israeli Defence
Force’s CBRN defence capability, and their
CBRN Defence Company, is a clear sign.
They might not be perfect, but you could
never accuse Israeli intelligence of being
under-informed about what is going on in
their region and, always prepared, they
have decided to “plus-up” their already
impressive capability rather than cut it.
Equally, the EU and its CBRN Action Plan
have decided to beef up, rather than pare
down, their civil CBRN defence capability.
Yet, when this threat trend meets financial
imperative, there can be only one
European winner.
Now is the time to decide that the cup
is half full rather than half empty – to
accept the minimum changes out of
economic necessity (rather than risk all by
not accepting any change) and to create a
better force out of what is left. This is the
challenge; it is hard to provide a one-sizefits-all template, but there are some
universal truths.
There will always be a need for EIH
specialists on the battlefield. Either
through degradation of the infrastructure,
a la Iraq, or through poverty of the host
country, a la East Timor, there is likely to
be the need for a survey team to ensure
Rumoured Defence Cuts
Germany: €9.3bn cuts in procurement, including transport and combat
helicopters, fastjets, UAVs and strategic air lift.
UK: €7bn (est) cuts in procurement, likely to be in fastjets, strategic air lift,
carriers, submarines and air to air refuelling.
France: €3.5bn in procurement, likely to be in frigates
US: $1.5bn cut from various CBRN/C-WMD programmes
Source: Reuters, Global Security Newswire
safety of billeting, water supply, etc. Due
to the threat of IEDs there is always
going to be a need for specialised Search
teams, trained in making safe everything
from IEDs through to booby traps.
Search and EIH should be the poles –
both of them specialised, both of them
currently understaffed – around which
CBRNE would turn. Flowing out of those
two there has to be a mission set, either
as augmentation and support to them, or
as part of them, for CBRNE forces.
Admittedly, the equation seems
straightforward – EIH/Search, which is
specialised, educated and understaffed vs
CBRNE, which is specialised, educated
and (according to the current economic
climate) overstaffed, yet the detail is
more complicated.
Environmental health teams have
traditionally been drawn from the medical
arms of the military, and their perceived
(not necessarily correctly) domain was
eating and excrement. CBRN units have
either been standalone or drawn from
engineering arms. They certainly saw
themselves as closer to the front line of
operations. Where this paradigm differs –
for example in the Canadian Response
Force – you see a coming together of other
“minority” capabilities. Military police
support SIBCRA and investigative efforts,
fire services support both decon and SCBA
experience. These occupations all lend
multiple capabilities to an armed force –
so is that a better way to deliver CBRN
capability? Like the naval grouping of
CBRN under “DAMCON”, can CBRN be
seen as one of many jobs that need doing
but can’t be allowed to absorb someone’s
full time?
The answer in this area is almost
certainly YES – not least because there
are efficiencies in training personnel that
already get recruited because of their
higher intelligence or technical aptitude,
rather than training combat or combat
support soldiers in a role they may never
have anticipated or desired. Wouldn’t
expansion of medical capabilities also
have obvious benefits as well? Wouldn’t
every force commander appreciate
bringing along a force package with
troops that can act as a medical surge
component as well as CBRN cover? At
the moment, CBRN as a discrete
capability is easily left off campaign
planning as “Not required, no threat,”
thus exposing forces due to the apparent
clairvoyance of their commanders.
Equally, the demand for search teams
in a theatre has led to incredible expansion
in their numbers, and it is still not
sufficient. Teams which carry dual-use
equipment that a CBRN team would use,
that may have been trained in Hazardous
Environment Search, IED disposal and
other key core skills that one might want
to see in a CBRN response team. Even
conceptually, unless a CBRN team has
Search or EOD components, they will
rarely be the first response into a location
or a building until the threat of booby
traps has been cleared.
Added to this is the risk of clandestine
labs. These are roundly despised by the
military as “Not our job,” and quite right
too. But sometimes they become their job.
Afghanistan set the template for what
happened when a corrupt police force and
a “Not our Job” mentality collided –
chemicals confiscated from terrorists and
criminals during the course of routine
operations were handed to police, who
sold them back to the criminals.
Suddenly, dealing with these chemicals
became “our job”.
Afghanistan and Iraq are always going
to be tough templates for future conflicts.
Each has individual reasons for the
insurgency being the way it is, making it
difficult to predicate a standard level of
clandestine lab activity. Yet the link
between terrorist, criminals and narcotics
is not going to go away. Neither is the
likely theatre of operations being a failed
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
28
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
038 · © composé communication · 0210
CBRNe Security Systems & Technologies
Systems for Systems. by OWR
CBRNe threats are directly aimed at
people, public life, the most sensitive
parts of civil services and military
structures.
With a precautionary approach and
technical readiness, threats created by
terrorist violence or the impact of an
attack by the enemy can be limited or
even avoided.
With highly mobile user optimi zed
system solutions we help protect
the people and the environment and
secure the success of peacekeeping
operations.
OWR GmbH · OberschefÅenzer Str. 9 · 74834 Elztal-Rittersbach · Germany
phone: +49 (0)6293 73 1 · fax: +49 (0)6293 73 219 · welcome@owrgroup.com · www.owrgroup.com
CBRNeWORLD
The cup isW HAT?
state (where these activities are able to
flourish), so some form of capability to
deal with them is required. Equally, there
is always going to be a hazmat
requirement in a failed state, especially
when the conventional threat level is too
high for civilian contractors, and this
requirement also needs to be filled. When
you add the rise in meth labs as a cheap
and effective way of raising capital, and the
use of pesticides as a terror weapon, you
start to feel around the edges of what
could become a capability gap. The range
of possible tasking can’t afford stovepipes,
either financially or within a CONOPS.
Decon is, without doubt, where the axe
is going to fall; it is manpower heavy and
lacking a current role. There is little that
can be done to stop this. Decon needs to
become lighter, less manpower-intensive
and quicker. A deal will have to be struck
with the accountants and lawyers whereby,
with the cutting of capability, an end will
be brought to the “How clean is clean”
debate that has allowed decon to remain
the size it is. But the UK’s (and others’)
reliance on hand-pumped back sprayers
and scrubbing brushes must surely have
stood a safety case and provide a certain
basic flexibility, even if they do appear
somewhat “chip shop” compared to US
and German capabilities.
A legal and environmental standard
will have to be created which will allow the
military to clean to that level. This
standard will have to embrace a certain
amount of risk but, fundamentally, the
current economic atrophy forces an
acceptance of risk (no longer being able to
fight all forms of conflict). This is the
moment that the military can turn around
and provide a decon capability to a set
standard; this standard will allow the force
to be leaner, lighter and more efficient. If,
the argument goes, they cannot decide on
a standard, then they should not cut the
force, since all capability needs to be
maintained. This result – a maintenance of
the decon status quo – would be a
strategic failure, however. CBRNE needs
to keep the lawyers’/accountants’ feet to
the fire; the “How clean is clean” debate
has held back the force for too long. The
military accepts risk in other areas –
vests, armour, etc; the same needs to be
mandated in decon. This will result in a
more efficient and, frankly, happier
decon force.
If the cuts continue, however, perhaps
it is worth thinking the unthinkable and
considering a reservist CBRN force. The
military was not able to maintain the cost
of medical staff in periods of lower conflict,
so they went back into the general,
civilian, medical service as reservists –
called up in time of higher risk. Couldn’t
the same be true of CBRNE? The UK
military, at its largest (including
Yeomanry), had 600 trained CBRN
professionals. The UK fire and police
services (if official figures are to be
believed) have more than 20,000. Yes,
there are challenges (in the UK you aren’t
supposed to be a reservist and a member of
the police), as there are differences
between medical and CBRN roles. But
these largely occur at the high end
warfighting stage. For example, a medical
doctor in Liverpool dealing with a gunshot
wound has a similar level of capability as a
medical doctor in Kandahar dealing with a
gunshot wound – the technology and
surroundings might be different, but the
core skills are the same. Arguably, the
skills that a civilian CBRN officer needs
when responding to a hazmat call are not
the same as those needed when providing
advice to a commander about casualty
levels incurred in crossing contaminated
ground in full PPE. Yet these are problems
of training and understanding – of CBRN
staff capabilities rather than fundamental
obstacles – and can be embraced.
Given that CBRN defence officers and
staff advisers in many armed forces are
not themselves from a CBRN background
but have attended a staff course means
there is already a divide between staffing
and capability. This is not the carte
blanche saving that it might appear to
our bean counting brothers; there would
still be a requirement to maintain a
catalogue of equipment, and the training
budget is likely to rise, rather than fall.
But with a little sleight of hand, the
capability is maintained.
We also need to be careful about
believing too many Powerpoint
presentations. The US has its reservist
CBRN capabilities, and indeed it is
claimed they are now being utilised in
non-traditional roles (drug labs in
particular). But they are not necessarily a
cost efficient way of maintaining
capability. Maintaining a team of
hundreds when a team of 20 could cope is
not the way forward. There is also the
important thorn of planning assumptions.
A reserve force which has a defined
homeland role may come into conflict
with an expeditionary force that needs to
deploy with assets at home. This isn’t
impossible, but would require flexibility
and mutual support in the home arena.
Of course another solution – the one
most palatable on the spreadsheet but also
the most difficult to achieve – would be
some form of European CBRN Force. This
would see the military capability pooled, in
much the same way the Nato Response
Force (NRF) has worked – with a large
force capable of being deployed on
operations quickly. The European Defence
Agency and EU Military Staff certainly
have the intellectual investment in making
this possible, from studies and projects on
the feasibility through to examples of cooperative programmes. This has the added
advantage of not needing any form of
change. Looking at EU-wide – rather than
national – operations, it is easier to see the
big picture and, foreseeing European
pitched tank battles, maintain the need for
all those decon forces. This is something
Reuters suggested (28 July) might be
happening on the larger scale, as cuts
forced the major European countries
closer together. And, if we are doing it for
other things, why not CBRN too? The
difficulty with this solution is that some of
the smaller Nato countries, or even the
larger ones, that came in the last tranche
of new entrants – Slovakia, Slovenia,
Romania, etc – have prided themselves on
their CBRN forces, devoted time, effort and
money to them and built them into a
centrepieces of their military crown, since
the investment needed for CBRN is less
than it is for naval or aviation assets. Yet
they lack the political voice at the Nato
table that the larger nations – Germany,
France, the UK, etc – have, and their
ability – and investment – could be
sacrificed to “the greater good”. This is not
necessarily a bad thing. It is not as if the
major nations have a bad capability, but it
would stagnate European CBRN thought
and capability rather than move it on.
A sceptical reader might well pick up
on the blurring of geographic, political and
capability boundaries being suggested.
He’d be right to do so, because the stakes
are very high. For years, CBRN capability
has risen and fallen (see any of Al
Mauroni’s excellent surveys for the
rollercoaster of the US Chemical Corps).
Indeed, so many capabilities have been
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
30
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
CBRNeWORLD
traded for one another – having box A
means we don’t need boxes B and C – that
unpicking the impact of a cut should
never be simplified. This is magnified by
“calvary syndrome” – otherwise known as
resilience planning that assumes a “deus
ex machina” solution to poor planning or
funding. If it all goes wrong, the
army/insert-mysterious-government-body
will come rushing to the rescue. This
misses the rather important point that, if
you don’t make this contingency very, very
clear (and fund it), it will disappear. Those
soldiers you think might man a cordon
may well not be much use at all when
taken from a military that has watered its
annual CBRN tests, and units that have
cut any CBRN work in favour of focus on
the present operational challenges.
There are instructors in chemical
schools around Nato who, having taught
half-empty classes for years, suddenly
found whole units claiming they knew
nothing about CBRN, and had hundreds to
train prior to the Gulf War – an experience
repeated for the second Gulf War.
Warehouses of equipment had to be
replaced or written off due to neglect and
lack of maintenance. Perhaps sharing of
capability and redefinition will stop this
epic waste of money (and we haven’t even
started on countries that allowed staff
officers to procure hobby projects that
now sit in store rooms, unused and
unuseable, while soldiers’ jobs may be lost
due to cuts.)
It is difficult to judge when the
economic turmoil will end. It seems
likely that it will last another two years at
least, but hopefully the worst is over.
Defence, however, is the proverbial
supertanker. Already stressed from long
years of conflict, it is only turning now to
deal with a challenge that in reality it
faced long ago. It is likely the economy
will pick up while defence is still
struggling through. It is not, of course,
only defence that has been so affected –
other government departments such as
health, security and the environment
have been equally hit, and as the
economic climate improves it will be
these that benefit first – rather than the
less politically sensitive defence.
So there is going to be a prolonged
period of economic pain for defence
CBRN; it cannot be waited out so we can
all return to normal. Indeed, it would be
wrong to do so – this should be an
exciting time to rid the force of the some
of the NBC shibboleths, and to finally
transform the force. The exact direction of
that change will be specific to individual
nations and economies, but there are
opportunities to be had – from closer
working relationships with EIH and
Search, to modernising decon through
standards and legislation, and even to a
closer partnership, through reservists,
with civilian forces. It would be a
platitude to suggest this is a time of
opportunity, but there needs to be a
fundamental shift away from trying to
keep the CBRN force the way that it is. It
will only smack of conservatism and capbadge politics, and will result in greater
ire. It is time to put away some of the old
toys and prepare for the new.
CBRNeWORLD
Charlotte Bro, Head of the Danish Joint Civil-Military CBRNInstitute, tells CBRNe World about the true spirit of togetherness
Something convergent
in the state of Denmark
CW: What is the purpose of the Institute?
What are your core aims and objectives?
CB: We are part of the system to prevent
and handle terrorism in Denmark. This
was made more efficient after 9/11, and
especially after Madrid in 2004 and
London in 2005. This led to a Danish
action plan against terrorism, and a lot of
steps were taken in order to improve the
existing emergency preparedness system,
from the intelligence services to the
rescue services. In 2005 there was a
political decision that there should be a
CBRN Institute that would ensure we have
an efficient, holistic system to handle
CBRN terrorism now and in the future.
Resources would be made available across
the civilian military system, and also
across the civilian rescue services, and it
was decided we should have a system and
organisation that reflects the threat
situation. That was decided in 2005, and
they found the funds in 2006.
A number of working groups were
established where representatives from
various ministries, and operational
experts from parts of the rescue services
– mainly police, defence and the rescue
services – were put together to discuss
the best way to make this institute. They
discussed whether it should have an
operational role or be an analytical
Institute. The latter was chosen. The
operative rescue services were already
The Danish Military has always been a model for convergence with large multinational exercises like Brave Beduin ©CBRNe World
there, so the focus was put on whether
the procedures to deal with CBRN
terrorism were good enough. We had to
be an analytical institute, and our job is
to pose the odd question and make sure
there is transparency through the
system; you can’t co-operate across a
system if you don’t know what the
others do. Our role is therefore to bring
these individual parts, that work well
alone, closer together.
CW: Analysis is fine, but are they
bound in any way to listen?
CB: They don’t have to do all of what we
tell them to do, as we are there in an
advisory and inspirational role. The
Danish system is largely a consensus
system, where responsibilities are
divided across sectors and where
discussion and co-ordination has to be
undertaken continuously and – at least
in principle – the best arguments
prevail. We are that co-ordinating body
for CBRN security. It gives us a certain
leverage that we came into being as a
result of a government decision, and it is
also helpful that all Danish actors in
CBRN security are bound by the
government’s policy against terrorism
and towards a more efficient Danish
emergency management system. We all
have to work towards the same goals –
to make terrorism, including CBRN
terrorism, as difficult as possible and to
ensure our ability to endure and
overcome a terrorist attack. I expect
discussions from time to time as to
which solutions are best. This, in my
opinion, is healthy and necessary in a
world of scarce resources, but I do not
foresee major discrepancies when it
comes to fundamental questions of
improving the system.
CW: How do you inspire them when
they say, “That is all very good and
inspiring, but I don’t have the funds or
manpower to do that”?
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
32
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
BIODETECTION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
BIRAL’S IN-SERVICE BIO-DETECTORS
Visit us at the
XIII CBRN Defence
Symposium
in Shrivenham, UK
2-4 November, 2010
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS
STAND-OFF TECHNOLOGY FOR
BIODETECTION
- Realtime generic and
non-specific bio-detectors
EU BODE
anti-terrorism
project to develop
a spectrally
resolving
fluorescence LIDAR
- Intelligent detection
software
IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
FOR BW AGENTS
Biral has
delivered the
PIBBDT portable,
specific biodetector to the
UK MoD for trials
T: +44 (0)1275 847787
E: biodetection@biral.com
www.biral.com/cbrn
Aspect
VeroTect
FULL SPECTRUM PROTECTION
WE GO BEYOND
VISIT US AT THE FUTURE SOLDIER IN PRAGUE
(OCTOBER, 14-16, STAND 217, HALL 2, SECTOR B/C)
. #
&%$
,
$%@"*'%#
+++"*'%#
)
&%$
,
$%@"*'*!%#
+++"*'%#
. #
&%$
,
$%@"*'(-()#(%#
+++"*'(-()#(%#
CBRNeWORLD
Something convergent in the state of Denmark
CB: That is where our steering
committee comes into play; there it is
ensured our ideas are heard and seen at
a higher level. One of the discussions
among our “funding fathers” was
whether we should be under the MoD,
which is also under the Ministry of Civil
Protection, or under the Ministry of
Health and Internal Affairs? It became
the Ministry of Defence, with a Steering
Committee composed of representatives
from MoD, the Ministry of Health and
Internal Affairs as well as a number of
central actors in the Danish emergency
management system. This committee
gives the overall direction and priorities
of the Institute, but also listens to
advice as to how to adapt the system and
improve it. We cannot force another
part of the system to change, but we can
point out to the steering committee and
our ministries if there is something
which could work better or be improved
and, if need be, the ministries can make
it political decision.
CW: In terms of new suggestions, what
process do you go through to find
them? Is it CBRN navel gazing – where
you come up with a concept but they
need to investigate and validate it – or
do you provide them with a finished,
tested idea?
CB: New suggestions may come up
directly from the Institute or via the
sector responsible. Either way it will, in
general, be through a process of
consultations and negotiations. Let me
give you an example. The EU Action
Plan from November 2009 about
strengthening CBRN security in Europe
has to be implemented in Denmark.
This implementation can take a
multitude of forms. The Institute has
written to 32 Danish institutions and
authorities and has asked them to
inform us to what extent the 124 action
points in the EU Plan has been
implemented, and if there are any holes
in the Danish system. Once we get all
the answers we will, in co-ordination
with the relevant authorities, come up
with suggestions on the way forward. It
will be the responsibility of particular
authorities to undertake some steps
forward. In those cases, the Institute
will just take note of it being
implemented, while in the case of cross-
sector solutions we will have the role as
co-ordinating and inspiring body on the
road to a new solution. We haven’t tried
any of it yet, as we were only established
in May, but this is how we envision the
process and what we have told all the
actors about what is going to take place.
CW: What happens after this immediate
bow wave of work and its aftermath?
How do you envisage the Institute
growing? Will you turn to the EU, for
example, and bid in there as an expert
research institute?
CB: For the time being I do not expect
the Institute to grow in numbers. It is
an advantage that we are small – only
seven people – so we don’t get the
problem of not knowing what the other
people in the team are doing. Our focus
will of course change a bit over time.
For instance, we could in the future say
to the EU there are areas where we
could take on a burden, be it in sharing
areas we already know or developing a
certain area. That is part of the idea of
us being there – to make sure what is
going on in EU, Nato and other
international forums is as well-focused
and as co-ordinated as possible. Why do
we want to use international forums?
Because CBRN terrorism is transnational and needs to be dealt with both
nationally and internationally.
Our role in research is to help
bridge the gap between the EU and
science and industry in Denmark. We
can, for instance, point out to Danish
research and industry which resources
the EU has for research in CBRN
security and assist in the application for
these resources. So, just as the efforts
against CBRN terrorism have to be done
both nationally and internationally, they
also need to be done both in
government and in private business.
CW: How do you avoid duplication?
Other agencies will be working on
CBRN and doing their own internal
evaluation of where they feel weak
spots might be, developing TTPs, etc.
How do you stay relevant if they
already have a cadre of people doing the
same job that your seven staff are
trying to do?
CB: I am not sure they have a cadre of
people; they have enough people to fulfil
their operational requirements. What we
will do over the coming months is form
co-operation agreements with the
various bodies to ensure we do things
that are supplementary, rather than
duplication. Nobody told us that they
have too many resources; they all want
additional resources and there are lots
of things we can do, but the idea is that
we look for ways of better using
resources across government.
CW: When will the international
community be able to look at the
Institute and say, “I wish we had
done that”?
CB: It is our goal to have a plan for
Danish CBRN security sometime in
2011, and maybe that plan could be
inspiring for other parts of the world. Or
elements of the Danish system could be
useful to other countries – for instance
Denmark is quite good at bio security
and security in the radiological area,
and one of the things we will do is assist
in exporting those and other well
functioning concepts. We are not
looking to be world leaders, just to have
an efficient system in these areas.
CW: As you get better at forcing them
to think of these things, isn’t there a
concern that you will work your way
out of a job? That, once you have a
close-to-optimal system, there will be
nothing left for you to do?
CB: I believe there will always be a need
to ensure co-ordination across sectors,
and as long as we have the all-hazards
system, where first responders have to
deal with all kinds of incidents, then it
is important to have a body that says:
“Please ensure you are also well
equipped and well trained to handle
CBRN terrorism. The probability of a
CBRN terror attack might be low, the
impact may well be high”. The need to
remind the system of that will be there
as long as the threat is there, because of
the structure of the system. I don’t
think we will be put out of work, but I
don’t foresee a need for us to be bigger.
We will, as any organisation does, have
to change our focus over time. But who
knows? The institute is insurance in a
system of sector responsibility; you hope
you never need it, but if you don’t keep
up the payment it could be foolish.
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
34
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
CBRNeWORLD
Steve Johnson thinks it might be time to start saying “yes” to drugs –
at least in an investigational way
W hose line
is it anyway?
ong before the bean counters’
squeeze started to make its effect
felt, first responders in the US had
been examining synergies across
different “genres” of hazard. This
inevitably means some teams or forces
making cases to carry out another
team’s job. This won’t be easy and will
lead to huge amounts of political
infighting. CBRN teams have looked
over the fence to Illicit Drug Lab (IDL)
Response as a natural expansion of
capability. This article will seek to
scrutinise both the scale and key
challenges of effective IDL response. Its
aim is to highlight the skill base that
IDL responders have developed over the
years, to make sure it isn’t overlooked
or lost, and to highlight that there is
still much to do for those only just
coming across the IDL problem.
It is easy to understate the frequency
of response and the challenge faced by
IDL responders. Meth and amphetamine
labs offer a particularly hazardous
environment which, when combined
with explosive and booby trap hazards,
has given officers operational experience
that very few CBRN teams could
genuinely claim. Nor does it help that
meth labs can take up very little space –
the so-called “mom and pop” or “Beavis
and Butthead” operations.
All drug labs have hazards, but meth
labs are particularly hazardous. It would
be nice to accurately describe the scale
of the problem, but UN figures are
inconclusive; drug production figures
are estimates based on seizures,
production facilities discovered and
arrests or medical treatments. The
rough scale and geographical
L
Counter-narcotics might become a land forces mission as well ©DoD
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
36
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
CBRNeWORLD
W hose line is it anyway?
distribution of the problem can be
gauged, however. Amphetamine-type
finds in the US dropped markedly from
18,639 in 2004 to 8,245 in 2006. But
this is attributed to a rapid decline in
the detection of small-scale
methamphetamine labs in the US,
which peaked in 2004. The UNODC
warns that illicit methamphetamine
production has not declined globally
because it is “increasingly manufactured
in super or mega-laboratories” (UNODC
World Wide Drug Report, 2008).
All the meth production methods
are filled with nasty hazards, and the
following groups are common to them:
less chemical waste than amphetamine,
which involves several steps. US federal
authorities estimate that the production
of 1kg of methamphetamine results in a
total of 3kg of waste, depending on the
skills of the producer. Such waste
consists mainly of chemicals, including
ether, freon, acetone, anhydrous
ammonia, toluene, sodium hydroxide,
sulphuric acid, lithium and red
phosphorus. This waste is often dumped
in the nearby environment or drained
into the sewer, causing environmental
pollution. Cleaning up
methamphetamine labs or dump sites is
a costly and hazardous task – they
countries (nameless to save blushes)
won’t even start a cleanup until leaving
the lab for a year to see if anyone else
will come forward (owners, local
councils etc).
In the US, the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) has
specific training requirements that
must be met prior to a responder
entering a meth lab. The UK has,
through the Association of Chief Police
Officers (ACPO), developed some
guidelines for officer protection. But
setting up teams and providing them
with appropriate equipment and
training is not cheap. If the number of
Oh wait a minute, here are the keys! It’s not only explosives that are hidden in cars ©DoD
solvents; metals and salts; and acids and
bases. These present a range of
inhalation and contact hazards
depending on the exact recipe being
used and the proficiency of the cooks.
Contamination of the lab location is
inevitable, although methamphetamine
production is often carried out through
one-step reaction methods, resulting in
require, in effect, miniature CBRN
incident resolution every time. These
costs can spiral up to $100,000 or more.
Cleanup costs are exorbitant because
solvent-contaminated soil usually must
be incinerated, and there are questions
of how to remediate fit for re-habitation.
Who picks up the bill is a seriously
debatable question, and in Europe some
incidents is small (as in the UK, for
example) you can see the bean cutters
hand over the “cut” button.
Multi agency response rears its head
for IDLs, just as it does for CBRN.
Hazmat guys will, with typical good
humour, say dangerous chemicals are
their bag and it is just “business as
usual”. There is, however, a world of
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
38
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
CBRNeWORLD
W hose line is it anyway?
methamphetamine recipes. Some of
these are incorrect, either in substance
or method, and add to potential danger
for responders. Cooks often follow these
recipes slavishly, down to purchasing
the exact brand, and this can help
identify both the activity and,
potentially, the method being used. This
itself can enhance both the safety and
investigative process at a site.
difference between hazmat incidents,
where an accident has occurred causing
a release from an otherwise legal
enterprise, and a meth cook up with
scant regard to any safety in production.
A distinction must also be made
between a hazmat unit and a fire crew –
one often lost on the public and
politicians. Police are quite obviously
involved in the criminal component,
and it may be their SWAT units that
carry out the initial entry – especially
where booby traps are expected.
Recently, a number of people have been
saying that WMD response assets have
been told to support IDL responses. This
ranges from DEA and FBI co-operation
on “All Hazard Courses” through to the
National Guard Civil Support Teams.
While I can see the utility, in limited
cases, I am not sure whether they are
really appropriate tools for highfrequency, small-sized operations.
Worryingly even trained personnel
are suffering injuries from exposure to
drug labs. Surveys of law enforcement
chemists present low, but unacceptable,
levels of exposure and injury. A
retrospective cohort study was
conducted among an international
group of 59,with more than 2,800
combined investigations.
Methamphetamine laboratories
accounted for 81–97 per cent of all
responses. Total illness incident rates
varied between 0.75–3.4 per cent of
responses. Most exposures were
through inhalation, and many occurred
in the years prior to the use of personal
protective equipment. Symptoms were
primarily those of headache and
respiratory, mucous membrane and
skin irritation. Most illness episodes
occurred during the processing phase
of laboratory responses, and none
occurred during the entry phase.
Responding to an active laboratory was
associated with a seven-to-15-fold
increase in the risk of becoming ill.
This exposure during the clean up
phase highlights a potential lack of
focus in the CBRN community on the
remediation phase. We can add to this
the horrifying figures for child exposure
during the production process.
The tendency is to describe
remediation as a contractor
responsibility in some countries. (In the
UK, a recent find of cyanide on an
allotment handed in by a concerned
citizen even led to them being charged
£2,000 for hazmat disposal – a great way
to encourage vigilance!) Some states,
such as California, have had such a
frequency of meth labs they have had to
become much more proficient and run
their own remediation teams. California
leads the US (their own declaration) in
the number of illicit drug laboratory
seizures. The Californian Clandestine
Drug Lab Removal Program has funded
and co-ordinated removal and disposal
actions at more than 12,000 illegal
drug labs and drug lab waste
abandonments in the last five years.
That is a staggering 200 a month!
Globally, or even just in the US, you
may wish to ask how many CBRN
response teams, when developing their
capability, have asked California for
lessons learned or to ride along. You
may well ask...
So here is a quick round up of some
top points for meth/IDL lab response.
The discerning reader may wish to note
down those which they feel are equally
valid for a CBRN responder:
RECIPE SYNDROME. The Internet
has numerous websites listing
WHOSE JOB IS IT ANYWAY? Just
who the first agency in contact with a
meth lab will be is not in the gift of a
policy planner. Other agencies do come
in contact, unwittingly, with
methamphetamine labs. For example,
child protection agencies that visit
homes where methamphetamine is
being produced, and fire departments
that respond to fires caused by
methamphetamine-producing
chemicals, both come in contact with
these labs. Sanitation or environmental
health workers may also come into
contact with chemicals or waste from a
methamphetamine lab. In many cases
some of these non blue light services
may not fully understand the risks they
are being exposed to or even the most
appropriate agency to call.
SIMPLE TOOLS FOR A COMPLEX
JOB. The most effective tools of the
investigator remain video and/or still
cameras. Photographing the evidence is
excellent documentation, since many
items in a methamphetamine lab are
contaminated and cannot be stored in
an evidence room.
I ONLY TOLD YOU TO BLOW THE
DOORS OFF. Or rather, I didn’t tell
you! While the temptation in a highly
odorous environment might be to dilute
or air out, don’t. It is a complex
decision that you should leave to
hazmat chemists.
JUST STICK IT IN THE TRUNK.
Again, please don’t. A single-step
process may seem small and easy – just
to double wrap and drive to the
fire/council/station – it is ill-advised and
illegal in most countries. Only people
with proper certification and equipment
should transport materials found in a
methamphetamine lab.
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
40
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
L M
NA A
FI GR
O
PR
60% Sold! Register online
N OW at www.icbrnevents.com
CBRNe
CONVERGENCE
3rd Annual CBRNeWorld Conference and Exhibition
CBRN e Convergence:
U nique Benefits
2-5 November 2010,
Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, Florida
Growing closer, staying distinct: merging civilian and
military response to CBRN and IED threats
Speakers confirmed to date include:
Brigadier General Les Smith,
CO 20th Support Command
Brigadier General Jess Scarbrough,
JPEO CBD
Lt. Col. Paulo Malizia,
Chief CBRN Division, Brazil
Dr Vahid Majidi,
Director WMD Directorate, FBI
Dr Christopher Barnett,
R&D Director, Genencor
Commandant Ray Lane,
Chief EOD Instructor, Irish Defence Forces
Supdt.Alan King,
CBRN Coordinator, Met Police, UK
Asst. Chief Michael McClary,
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Lt. Col. Jaroslav Bartos, Commander
Afghanistan LRU, Czech Army
Chief Bob Ingram,
Fire Department New York
Sgt.Troy Glassel, EOD & Technology
Section Special Support Unit, RCMP
Frank Kaemper, Project Officer
Protect, European Defence Agency
Col. (ret.) Gili Shenhar,
Former Head of Doctrine,
Israeli Homefront Command
Dr Jose Luis Sagripanti, Edgewood
Chemical and Biological Center
Joe Miller,
Director of Strategy, Policy, SOCOM
Vil Mirzayanov,
Novel chemical agent expert
Kryzysztof Paturej,
Director Special Projects, OPCW
Dennis Fitzgerald,
Medical Director, ASPR
Dr Randall Kincaid,
Scientific Director,TMT
Supporting partner organisations
FBI W MD
Directorate
FBI
Orlando
44th CST
TMT
20thSupport
Command
ASPR
CBMS
Orange
County Police
Orange
County Fire
Programme planned by Gwyn Winfield,
Editor of CBRNe World magazine
Expert speakers from Europe, North
America, South America, SE Asia and the
Middle East, chosen for their insight and
threat: allowing you shortcuts to best
practice.
Pre-Conference Workshop –
hosted by TMT, ASPR and CBMS.
CBRNe World’s global brand, bringing
delegates from over 30 countries
together annually.
Hear from the best civil and military
organisations about how their recent
attacks, exercises and research is
improving their CBRN defence capability.
Streamed sessions allow you to chose
the presentations that fit the needs of
your organisation.
Poster presentations, so that you can
appreciate some of the developments in
science and technology.
Final day capability exercise –
Dynamic CBRNE exercise utilising a
wide range of civilian and military
assets. A multi-threat exercise that
will bring hazmat, CBRN, EOD and
tactical units together.
Understand how you can bring civil and
military forces together in such fields as
CBRN, EOD and hazmat, to better
prepare for the challenge.
CBRNE exhibition of over 70 companies.
Equip your organisation with some of the
leading technology available.
Icebreaker and reception to allow you to
maximize your networking potential.
Gold Sponsor
Register online today at www.icbrnevents.com
Alternatively fax your registration to +44(0)1323 637777 or call +44(0)1323 637716
CBRNe
Conference Programme
CONVERGENCE
Updates to the programme can be viewed at
www.icbrnevents.com
DAY ON E N ovember 3
08.00 – Registration and Coffee
08.50 – Chairs Welcome, Major General (Ret) Steve Reeves
09.00 – WM D – an FBI priority
10.00 – Promoting Chemical Security and safety
Why the fuss about a White Powder Letter?
Synthetic Biology – the impact of new technology
Trends in WM D from the FBI perspective
Counterproliferation – the Global initiative
OPCW role in providing increased assurance in security
The role of OPCW as a platform of national support
Promoting OPCW’s chemical security best practice
Working with member states, chemical associations and industry
Plenary: Krzysztof Paturej, Director Office of Special Projects, OPCW
10.30 – Brigadier General Les Smith, CO 20th Support Command
Plenary: Dr Vahid Majidi, Assistant Director,WMD Directorate, FBI
09.30 – Training the Responders
Plenary: Dennis Fitzgerald, Medical Director, Counter Narcotics & Terrorism
Operational Medical Support, ASPR
11.00 – 20th SUPCOM on site display to further illustrate their unique
capability and Coffee sponsored by RSDecon
ST REAM A
‘Home’ Game
11.45 – The ARM OR Task Force
ST REAM B
‘Away’ Game
11.45 – Enhancing European CBRN countermeasures
CBRNE Terrorism with Criminal Intent
Fusion CBRNE Integration
Overall Structure of Task Force
CBRNE Capabilities; Future of CBRNE Related Terrorism
Assistant Sheriff Michael McClary, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
12.30 – V2010
Identifying European capability requirements based on current challenges
Refocussing post-incident response to pre-incident – shifting the centre of gravity
to prevention
Enhancing situational awareness Shaping civil-military cooperation
Bio Edep: proof of principle
Frank Kaemper, European Defence Agency, Project Officer: Protect
12.30 – The New Normal - Convergence of Irregular Warfare & WM D
The world comes to Vancouver
Security vs Event
Personnel and equipment
Phases. Venue sweeps, Olympic games, Para games
Sgt.Troy Glassel, EOD & Technology Section Special Support Unit, RCMP
Description of Irregular Warfare and WM D-Terrorism
Linkages and Strategic Recommendations; Concepts for Deterring Non-State Actors
Counter WM D in Irregular Environments; Security Force Assistance
Joe Miller, Director Strategy, Plans and Policy, SOCOM. USA
13.15 – 14.15 Lunch and exhibition
ST REAM C
Training
14.15 – New Developments in CBRN Training
Training the CBRN Warrior alongside coalition partners
Courses availability to international partners
US Army CBRN Vision
Colonel Phil Visser, Commandant US Army CBRN School
15.00 – PlumeSIM – A cost effective, portable table top and field
exercise CBRN training system
M aking classroom CBRN training more exciting to enhance the learning experience
Using table top exercises to maximise the impact and benefit of field exercises
After action review – gauging effectiveness of instruments and decision making
Using simulators to reduce operating costs and availability of real detectors to train
ST REAM D
Procurement
14.15 – Enzymatic Decontamination:A Force M ultiplier
Enzymatic decon as a safe, versatile decon solution for all platforms
Enzymes offers a total decon solution for all chemical and biological warfare agents
M ilitary hardening of enzyme to create a total decon solution
Christopher Barnett, Director-Applications R&D and Technical Service.
Genencor International. USA
15.00 – The Joint Program Executive Office for Chem Bio Defence
Introduction and Current M ission Transformational M edical Technologies Initiative
Trail Boss System, Functions, and Activities International Cooperation and Sales
Fielded and Available CBRN Equipment
BG Jess Scarbrough, JPEO CBD. USA
Steven Pike, MD, Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd
15.45 – 16.15 Coffee – sponsored by RSDecon and exhibition
ST REAM E
Critical Infrastructure Protection
16.15 – Developing the French Fire Brigade’s CBRN Capability
Paris as a soft target: civilian, military, political, economic and financial headquarters
Providing a swift mass-decon with new tools and tactics
Developing inter-services collaboration on the spot and in the operational command posts
Enhancing inter-services learning and training
Paris’‘declension’ of the national doctrine :“Yellow Plan”
Major Christophe Libeau, Director Hazmat and CBRN Training Center,
Paris Fire Brigade, France
17.00 – Future Expeditionary ColPro Solutions
Developing true expeditionary products and solutions
Full complexing and integration of products
Using CONOPS to drive design features
Carl Pates,VP, CBRN Systems. HDT Engineered Technologies
ST REAM F
Risk M anagement
16.15 – Availability of medical counter-measures present challenges and
ways ahead
Ease of manufacturing and delivery of weaponized anthrax and its consequences
Anthrax as a bioterrorism weapon
Availability of medical counter-measures: a responsible defence policy
A.Thomas Waytes, MD, PhD,VP Biodefense Operations. Lansing Inc. USA
Allen M. Shofe, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Emergent BioSolutions;
Chairman, International Security & Biopolicy Institute (ISBI)
17.00 – The Israeli approach
The Israeli approach for preparing to a real threat: war vs. terrorist
The need for an comprehensive system - doctrine, courses, training, command &
control…
Risk management
The need to involve the population – risk & crisis communication
Col. (ret.) Gili Shenhar, Former Head of Doctrine, Israeli Homefront Command
17.45 – Drinks Reception kindly sponsored by the Gold Sponsor
DAY T W O N ovember 4
10.00 – M PS CBRNE Capabilities
08.40 – The Prague M etro’s CBRN defence capability
SUJCHBO’s tasks and responsibilities
Behavioral studies of the Prague M etro in case of CBRN event
Steps to improve resistance of the Prague M etro against CBRN event
Conclusions and consequences
Plenary: Dr Josef Brinek, Head of CB Protection Dept. National Inst. for
NBC Protection, Czech Republic
09.05 – ISAF’s M ultinational CBRNe Defense Experience
Command and control, unit structure of CZE Light Reconnaissance Unit (LRU)
M ain tasks, operation history of CZE LRU in Afghanistan
Principal elements of LRU Team findings from Afghanistan Conclusions
Plenary: Lt. Col. Jaroslav Bartos, Czech, Commander CBRN LRU
M PS CBRNE Capabilities - to include the
wider London and National perspectives
Origins, white powder incidents London,
to include M AIAT, DCU & M PS EOD
Foundations - LESLP, Guardian,
London Resilience
Home Office – Building on M odel
Response and PORP
2010 - 2015 - The future of M PS CBRNE
and its relationship with M ajor Incident
M anagement
Plenary: Superintendent Alan King,
CBRN Coordinator, Met Police. UK
09.30 – Overview about Brazilian Army NBC defense capability
10.30 – Coffee – sponsored by
RSDecon
Responsibilities of CTEx in CBRNE
Future Trends in NBC Defense in Brazil
Plenary: Lt. Col. Paulo Malizia, Brazilian Army
ST REAM H
Decontamination
11.00 – The truth behind anthrax dissemination and decontamination
ST REAM G
Detection
11.00 – Protection of Airports Against CBR Agents
Overview of equipment and CONOPS developed primarily for a bioaerosol threat
Results from tracer studies showing the spread of tracer aerosol will be shown
System performance is assessed against ability to detect the release
Ability to detect the release in time to mitigate the impact of the release
Ability to determine the exact nature of the agent
Chuck Call,VP of ThreatSense , ICx Technologies. USA
11.45 – France’s bio-detection program
Why France launched an integrated CBRN system in 2009
Pre 2009 France launched a bio detection system: Detect Bio
What are French CBRN defence perspectives and needs for middle term future
Future European perspectives: France is strongly committed to the European Bio Edep
Dr Bruno Bellier, DetectBio Programme Manager, DGA, and
Lt. Col. Marc Caudrillier, Programme Officer Joint Staff. France
Incorrect sizing and density results in incorrect dispersal and sample collection
Anthrax might be rough but is not impervious to several current decon practices
Survival studies can predict anthrax’s variable infectivity time
An artificially engineered simulant for anthrax can facilitate detection methods
A new, disposable, self-contained bio-detection device
Dr Jose-Luis Sagripanti, Senior Scientific Advisor, ECBC. USA
11.45 – RSDL:Toxic Industrial Chemicals Study Program in cooperation
with the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND)
Bracco Diagnostics Inc’s funded research on contamination technologies
Research data on the reactions between RSDL and various CW and TICs
Addressing multiple decontamination scenarios and threats
RSDL’s indication for use through a program of in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy studies
Study design, preliminary data, partners and expected completion of the main
milestones.
Laura Cochrane, Program Director,Technology Development. RSDecon. USA
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch and exhibition
ST REAM J
Counter Terrorist
13.30 – Decontaminating fingerprints?!
ST REAM I
Counter IED
13.30 – Effects and Countermeasures
Growing CBRN threat drives demand for advanced personal-protection technologies
Limited shielding of current personal-protection technologies
Research on finding effective solutions to protect against the growing threats
New Demron, the only fabric to provide universal protection with the highest shielding
Increasing nuclear threats find governments and first responders turning to Demron
Ronald F. DeMeo, M.D., MBA. President and Chief Executive Officer, Radiation
Shield Technologies. USA
14.15 – The Irish experience of IEDs
Overview of Irish Defence Forces
Improvised explosive device disposal – flexible response / emphasis on future threat
CBRNE – Latest developments in tactics, techniques and procedures
C-IED - Ex. Saoirse Nua in Afghanistan 2007 - lessons learned apply today
Brief on First C-IED/IEDD international course – Exercise Green Zone – May 2010
Comdt Ray Lane. Irish Defence Forces. IRL
CBRN contamination and actionable forensic information
CBRN and EOD/IED Forensic traces
Fingerprints
Collaboration with TNO
Decontamination efficiency
Tiest van Woerkom, Forensic Scientist:
CBRN Project, Netherlands Forensic Institute
14.15 – The FilmArray System for CBRNE and Pandemic Surveillance
The FilmArray a user-friendly multiplex PCR instrument
Integrated sample prep with an automated protocol requires minimal “hands on” time
The BioThreat pouch test for Category A and Category B pathogens
Clinical application for testing viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens
Todd Ritter, Corporate Development Officer, Idaho Technology Inc. USA
15.00 – 16.00 Poster Session and Coffee, sponsored by RSDecon
ST REAM K
Hazmat vs CBRNE
16.00 – FDNY Center for terrorism and disaster preparedness
3 branches: WMD, Intel, Exercises
WMD, Intel, and exercise planning and response
Review of FDNY action at Times Square
Fireguard and chemical suicides
Chief Bob Ingram, Fire Department New York. USA
16.45 – Remote Physiological Status M onitoring in CBRN Operations
Applications of PSM focused on the CBRN responder
Command & Control
Rehabilitation
Training
ST REAM L
Future CBRN Responder
16.00 – Industries responsibility regarding PPE products
Logistics efficiency during SSA’s, SSE’s and confined space ops
How to use hybrid BA’s and SSE’s and SSA’s
How to use air management systems down range
COLPRO products to increase flexibility and logistics efficiency
The benefit of pre-filters
Greg Farmerie, Regional Director. Draeger Safety. USA
16.45 – On the front line of bio-defence
Dr Dana Perkins, Senior Science Advisor, ASPR. USA
Dr Brian Campbell, Chief Medical Officer, Zephyr Technology. USA
17.30 – 18.00 Plenary: Vil Mirzayanov, ‘Godfather of Next Generation Chemical Agents: ‘Novichoks.’
18.00 – 18.15 Introduction to Cristanini, Stefano Miorotti, CBRN Expert Cristanini. Italy
18.15 Conference End
T H IRD DAY EX ERCISE – N ovember 5
08.30 – 12.00
ting.
The blast was unexpected and devasta at
ly
The crowd of families waiting patient
the
of
nothing
Wally World had thought
ed,
idling Ice Cream van, until it detonat
children,
spewing it’s cargo of death into the
day
mothers and fathers looking for a great it, as
of
out. The explosion was not the worst
that
t
apparen
the smoke cleared it became
g
some of the wounded were not sufferin
some
from the force of the blast, but from
.
lethal gas that had been part of the payload
gas
Police have not confirmed which poison
Office
Home
the
in
was used, but sources
form
have stated that it was likely to be some
that
of organo-phosphate – the same gases exact
The
ah.
Saddam Hussein used in Hallabj
to be in
death toll is not known, it is reckoned it
the hundreds, but Police have said that
ary
would have been far higher if a second
device had exploded. Police bomb squads
car
a
in
was
made safe the device which
parked near the entrance to Wally World, the
by
sources suggest that the speed bumps
dislodged
entrance of the car park might have
aimed
was
which
device
the
of
nent
compo
a
s. ‘If the
at the responding emergency service
Ambulance and Fire crews had been
ed,”
prevented from attending to the wound
Inspector
said the Metropolitan Police’s Chief
at a
David Levitt, “then we might be looking
far higher death toll.”
No group has yet come forward to claimg,
the device, there was no telephone warnin ’
but the sophistication of the ‘chemical-IEDthe
target
and the use of secondary devices to
first responders does suggest an Al Qaeda
Cell. It is thought that the attack against the
force
Wally World was a direct attempt to
Arabia,
corporation to re-think Wally World
World
due to open later this year: other Wally ola
sites in Orlando, San Diego and Pensac
November the 5th will see the culmination of this
fictional scenario. Combining the key elements for
defending against a CBRN attack – Hazmat, EOD,
Tactical Squads, specialist CBRN assets –
delegates will get a chance to see some of the
most competent forces in the world. Bringing
together members of the US WMD community and
demonstrating the cohesive efforts of local, state
and federal resources to combat and defeat the
WMD threat. This dynamic exercise will display
the capabilities of local, state and federal agencies
including: FBI, the 44th Civil Support Team,
Orange County Fire and Police and City of Orlando
Fire. Building on successful exercises in the
Netherlands and Romania, CBRNe Convergence
will bring you what we believe to be the biggest
dynamic exercise that we have ever presented.
PRE-CON FEREN CE W ORKSH OP – N ovember 2
Afternoon
Medical Countermeasures and CBRN –
from early research through to licensure.
Biographical Details
Medical Countermeasures are, quite literally, looking for the CBRN
panacea. Spanning everything from improved efficacy in existing vaccines
through to ‘one drug – many bug’ and boosted immune response, the
work that the US is doing is leading the world. CBRNe Convergence
has got together a panel of some of the US’ leading experts together
to talk about the work that they are doing on helping fund early basic
research all the way through to licensure and production. The President
has made medical countermeasures one of the most important
objectives of a variety of government departments – from the
Department of Health and Human Services through to the Department
of Defense – and their work is truly world beating: without parallel in
Europe or Asia.
W orkshop programme
12.30 – Registration
13.00 – TM T and M edical Countermeasures
Dr Randall Kincaid, Ms Heather Wargo
14.30 – Coffee
15.00 – CBM S and M edical Countermeasures
Col. Dr Millard, Lt. Col. Edward Clayson
16.00 – BARDA and M edical Countermeasures
Gary Disbrow
17.00 – Workshop End
18.30 – Conference Icebreaker
The Workshop will start with the DoD's programs, the Transformational
Medical Technologies Program (TMT), followed by the Chemical and
Biological Medical Systems (CBMS) and then by the Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS).The TMT Program Office is physically
located at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in Fort Belvoir
with personnel matrixed from the Joint Science and Technology Office DTRA and Joint Program Executive Office - Chemical and Biological
Defense, with oversight from the Office of the Secretary of Defense
(more information on TMT: www.tmti-cbdefense.org).
This will be followed by a presentation from the Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS) on the work that they have been doing on
medical countermeasures. Established by the pandemic and All Hazards
Preparedness Act of 2006, the U.S. DHHS’ Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is charged with leading
the nation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the adverse
health effects of public health emergencies and disasters. ASPR
collaborates within HHS and with other federal, state, local, tribal and
international officials and the private healthcare sector to ensure a unified,
integrated approach in preparedness and response. ASPR serves as the
Secretary’s principal advisory staff on matters related to bioterrorism and
other public health emergencies.
T he W orkshop will be held on the afternoon of the 2nd of
N ovember, within the Rosen Plaza – venue for the entire
CBRN e Convergence conference – and is on a strictly first
come, first served basis.
TMT
ASPR
CBMS
Dr. Randall Kincaid received both his undergraduate (B.S. in biology)
andgraduate degrees (Ph.D. in pharmacology) from Stanford University. In
1982, Dr.Kincaid was granted a tenured faculty position at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), and in 1987 he became the Chief of the
Immunology Section in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism. In 1995, Dr. Kincaid founded and directed Veritas, Inc., a
biotechnology consulting company. Under his direction,Veritas, Inc.
developed numerous collaborative relationships in support of biodefense
and infectious disease research, including experimental programs on
botulinum toxin, C. difficile, and malarial vaccine development. Dr.Kincaid
left Veritas, Inc. in early 2009 to join TMT as its Scientific Director.
Ms. H eather W argo, a microbiologist with DTRA, serves as the
MedicalCountermeasures Portfolio Manager for TMT. She is responsible
for a team of scientists and project managers dedicated to strategic
planning, management, and execution of medical product developments
for emerging and genetically engineered biothreats spanning basic
research through Food and Drug Administration licensure. Prior to
joining TMT, Ms.Wargo held two positions within DTRA; Senior Science
and Technology Manager within the Joint S&T Office for Chemical and
Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD) Medical Division and Program Manger
for JSTO-CBD Acquisition Support.
Colonel Charles B. Millard is the Joint Project Manager for the
ChemicalBiological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office
(CBMS-JPMO)located in Frederick, Maryland. In this role, he directs the
Department ofDefense’s (DoD) organization for centralized research,
development, acquisition management, and joint service integration for all
medical Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense
Systems. Colonel Millard is responsible for leading joint service,
interagency, international teams of scientists, and acquisition professionals
in developing, acquiring, and fielding U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA)-approved CBRN medical countermeasures and diagnostics. He is
also the DoD’s Head of Delegation for the CBRN Medical
Countermeasure Coordinating Team whose nation members are the U.S.,
UnitedKingdom, Australia, and Canada. His past acquisition experience
includes serving as a Program Analyst with the Office of the Deputy
Assistant to the Secretary ofDefense (Chemical and Biological Defense) in
the Pentagon, as well as DeputyDirector for the Plans, Programs,Analysis &
Evaluation Directorate of theHeadquarters, U.S.Army Medical Research &
Materiel Command (MRMC), Fort Detrick, MD. Colonel Millard assumed
his current role as Joint Project Manager on 6 August 2010.
Lt. Col. (Ret) Edward T. Clayson, is the Deputy Joint Project Manager
for the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management
Office, he assists the Joint Project Manager in the daily management of
the Department of Defense’s(DoD) organization responsible for the
centralized research, development, acquisition management, and joint
service integration for all medical CBRNDefense Systems. He has
authored or co-authored 40 articles published in scientific journals or
textbooks and has been an invited speaker at several national and
international meetings. Dr. Clayson’s acquisition assignments included
serving as a Product Manager or Acting Product Manager in four Product
Management Offices (PMO), as well as serving as the Deputy Project
Manager in two PMOs.Dr. Clayson retired from active duty in January
2009, and was selected as the Deputy Joint Project Manager for the
Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office in
September, 2009.
Dr. Gary Disbrow joined BARDA in January of 2007 and began working
on the smallpox vaccine program. Dr. Disbrow was named as the Chief
of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures and played a key role in awarding a
contract for the modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine. MVA is a
smallpox vaccine developed for immunocompromised individuals who are
contraindicated for the currently available live vaccine, Acam2000. The
MVA contract was the first PBS contract to use advance payment and
milestone payments and serves as a template for all future PBS contracts.
Dr. Disbrow accepted the position of Deputy Director CBRN Division of
Countermeasures in October of 2008 and has been overseeing the
budget and strategic planning for both advanced research and
development and PBS efforts. BARDA’s advanced research and
development efforts have grown significantly with nearly 50 contracts and
a yearly budget projected to be $476 M in FY 2011. Prior to joining
BARDA Dr. Disbrow was an Assistant Professor of Oncology and
Pathology at Georgetown Medical Center where he worked on the
development of the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) which is
currently licensed and available in the US.
Gold Sponsor
Genencor International
Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, is a leading industrial
biotechnology company that develops innovative enzymes and
bioproducts to improve the performance and reduce the
environmental impact of the cleaning, textiles, fuels and chemicals
industries. Using the power of biotechnology, Genencor has also
developed enzymes to break down man-made and naturally
occurring hazardous agents.
The company’s enzymes are used in applications as diverse as laundry detergents, producing ethanol, and ‘stone washing’ textiles.
Genencor's market opportunities extend to developing and delivering products that address safety and protection issues facing the
world today in the biodefense, decontamination and bioremediation areas. For more information visit
www.biosafetyenzymes.com
Silver Sponsors
Argon Electronics is the market leader in the design and manufacture of simulation systems
for training in the use of chemical and radiological detectors.
– Hand-Held Chemical Agent Monitor and Personal Alarm Simulators – Chemical Detector and
Identifier Simulators – Radiological Detection Simulation – PlumeSIM™ Wide Area Simulation for
Instrumented CBR Training – NASCAP™Networked Remote Reporting and Alarm Activation
Management for CBRN Detectors.
Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology.The safety
division offers customers consultancy, products and services for an integrated hazard
management, especially for personal and facility protection.The current portfolio comprises
stationary and mobile gas detection systems, respiratory protection equipment, fire training
systems, professional diving equipment as well as alcohol and drug detection units.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a profitable, multinational biopharmaceutical company dedicated to one
simple mission - to protect life.The company focuses on the development, manufacture and
commercialization of biologic products, consisting of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s
immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine
Adsorbed), is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of
anthrax. BioThrax is not authorized for use outside of the United States and India. In addition to BioThrax,
the company has multiple clinical and preclinical product candidates that are designed as medical
countermeasures for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism and
biowarfare.To view the company’s product portfolio please visit www.emergentbiosolutions.com.The
company currently employs approximately 600 people with offices in the United States, the United
Kingdom, Germany and Singapore.
H DT Engineered Technologies is a leading provider of mobile-military and
emergency response solutions including rapidly-deployable tactical shelters, highly
engineered environmental control and power equipment, and nuclear, biological, and
chemical collective protection systems. Our products are currently serving the U.S.
and allied military units deployed worldwide.
ICx Technologies is a leader in the development and integration of advanced sensor
technologies for homeland security, force protection and commercial applications. By incorporating
detection instruments that sense and identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and
explosive (CBRNE) threats, security personnel are provided with superior awareness and
actionable intelligence.The detection instruments from ICx are compact, portable and simple to
use.Their sensitivity and accuracy are among the best available while being designed for use in the
field. In addition, many of these devices can be used to detect, locate and identify CBRNE threats.
For more information about ICx, visit www.icxt.com
RS Decon is a brand of products manufactured by the Healthcare Protective Products
Division (HPPD) of Bracco Diagnostics Inc., the exclusive global manufacturer and marketer
of RSDL. RSDL is a patented, broad spectrum skin decontamination product intended to
neutralize or remove chemical warfare agents or T-2 toxin from the skin. It is packaged in
an easy to open tear-open pouch and provides emergency service personnel and military
organizations with real defense from the dangers of exposure to chemical and biological
weapons. www.rsdecon.com
Bronze Sponsors
Idaho Technology manufactures the most reliable and sensitive BioThreat Detection instruments. Known for its
history of releasing innovative instruments, Idaho Technology produced the first ruggedized PCR-based instrument in
1999, the R.A.P.I.D.®, making possible lab quality results in the field. Idaho Technology’s new system, RAZOR EX, again
revolutionized biological detection by creating the first hand-held, ruggedized PCR-based detection system.This easy to
use system requires minimal sample prep—ideal for use by first responders, militaries, and security personnel.
Radiation Shield Technologies is a global leader in research, design, production of personal-protection technologies.
Its patented Demron, which surpasses current NBC suits, is the world’s first and only material providing total nuclear,
radiation, chemical, biological protection. Manufactured into suits, blankets and other armor, Demron has NFPA Class 2
Certification for Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents. Demron is used worldwide
by governments, NATO, the National Guard and US Navy, among others. www.radshield.com
Zephyr Technology is a leader in real time physiological status monitoring solutions for the Defense and First
Responder Markets. Zephyr’s BioHarness™ systems offer visibility into the physical status of personnel deployed in
the most challenging environments, in field operations or in training. Zephyr provides real time data on individuals
and teams that can increase situational awareness and improve safety and mission effectiveness.
www.zephyr-technology.com.
Agilent Technologies Inc. is a premier supplier of chemical analysis instruments and services.A leader in environmental
analysis, energy and food safety markets,Agilent’s 18,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries.Agilent
had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
E-N -G Mobile Systems is the leading U.S. manufacturer of Mobile Laboratory solutions for CBRNE testing/analysis.
E-N-G's MobiLab line of truck- and trailer-based systems are fully self-contained including laboratory support systems
& equipment, and are available in BSL-2 and BSL-3-ready configurations. Over 375 E-N-G MobiLab Systems delivered
since 1988.
Exhibitors – to exhibit please contact david.levitt@cbrneworld.com
ABB sets the standards in
developing and manufacturing
innovative FT-IR Spectroradiometry solutions in the field of
atmospheric sounding, military
targets IR signature characterization and gas detection.ABB
offers advanced field-deployable
sensors serving in the standoff
detection of Chemical Warfare
Agents and other chemical threats.
ABB also develops solutions with
airborne and spaceborne optical
instruments, infrared calibration
systems, and hyperspectral imaging
spectroradiometers.
Ahura Scientific develops
rugged, ultra-compact systems for
rapid chemical identification
directly in the field. Products
include FirstDefender (Raman)
and TruDefender FT (FTIR) for
solids and liquids and TruDefender
FTG for headspace gas
identification.
All offer exceptional portability
and performance and
are easy to operate in bulky
protective gear.
www.ahurascientific.com
AirBoss-Defense is world
renowned for the manufacture
and supply of CBRN Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE).
AirBoss-Defense also
manufactures
Fire Fighting and Extreme Cold
Weather (ECW) footwear, multipurpose safety boots and a wide
range of industrial extruded and
moulded
rubber
engineered
products
for the
defense
market.
Alexeter introduced the
Guardian Reader System™, the
first comprehensive solution for
field detection & identification of
biological warfare agents. Offering
15-minute field results for the
detection of anthrax, ricin,
botulinum toxin, (SEB), plague,
tularemia, brucella & orthopox,
Alexeter has also introduced the
first hand-held detection device,
the Defender TSR.
www.alexeter.com
Alluviam: HazMasterG3: the
most comprehensive mobile
CBRNE/IED/HME decision aid
available - and the only system of
its kind to have earned US DHS
certification and designation as an
approved anti-terrorism
technology. Everything starts with
identifying the threat - and
HazMasterG3 provides
unsurpassed threat identification
and fully integrated accredited
response guidance.
AN P Technolgies: Spun out
from the U.S. Army Research Lab
in 2002, ANP Technologies®, Inc.
offers NIDS® multiplexed Rapid
Assays with wireless handheld
and automatic readers for
biodefense and medical
diagnostics, NIDS® HyperBind®
ELISA plates for research and
drug discovery, and nanoencapsulation-based Protein Drug
Delivery-related products.
Air Techniques International
is a recognised global leader in
the development, manufacture
and service of equipment for
testing high purity air filters and
protective masks.
Avir Sensors is offering the
ChemSight®, a fixed security
chemical detector.The
ChemSight® is an open-path
monitor of long lines of sights. It
can detect and identify nearly
instantaneously multiple
chemicals and interferants. It is
robust, easy to install, operate
and update. It requires no
consumables and low
maintenance.
Avon Protection Systems, part
of Avon Rubber p.l.c., is the world
leader in advanced CBRN
respiratory protection solutions. It
supplies the world’s military, law
enforcement, first responder,
emergency services and industrial
markets.Avon Protection has a
unique capability in CBRN
protection based on a range of
advanced CBRN technologies in
respirator design, filtration and
compressed air breathing apparatus
Bertin Technologies is a French
company specialised in Chemical
and Biological Warfare agents
detection equipment. Bertin
products offer an appropriate
answer to the complex threats of
warfare allowing CBRN teams to
undertake their mission safety.
Blauer Manufacturing
Company: Blauer’s Homeland
Defender® line of CBRN
protective ensembles is made with
GORE® CHEMPAK® fabrics and
certified to NFPA 1994. Homeland
Defender® suits are form-fitting,
light weight, and tough enough for
the most physically demanding hotzone and warm-zone missions.
Serious Protection.
Bruker Detection
Corporation is a worldwide
leader in supplying detection
instruments, products and systems
for substance detection and
pathogen identification in security,
defense, and law enforcement
applications.
www.bruker-detection.com.
Calgon Carbon Corporation:
Calgon Carbon Corporation, the
Worldwide leader in the
production and development of
activated carbon, offers a wide
range of products in both
granular and cloth form for
military protection. Applications
include CBRN clothing,
respirators and decontamination
wipes for both military and
industrial use. Use the power of
activated carbon from Calgon
Carbon for your advanced
military
protection
needs.
CBI PO LYMERS: DeconGel™
is a proven, tough, professional,
military-grade, safe, water
soluble, and environmentally
friendly product for extreme,
hard-to-clean contamination
remediation challenges for any
industry. It is exceptionally
effective against radioactive
isotopes and chemicals but has
the strength to pull off any job.
Go to www.decongel.com for
more information.
CBRN e W orld magazine,
organiser of CBRN e
Convergence serves the
information needs of professionals
around the world charged with
planning for or responding to a
CBRNE threat or incident.
Editorial content is a combination
of qualitative and researched
news, interviews, articles, surveys
and regular columns. Meet our
editorial and advertising staff and
learn of our plans for 2011.
www.blauerhomelanddefender.com
ATI’s comprehensive services
include a DOE- certified filter
test lab for both filter and mask
testing.We also provide full life
cycle repair and maintenance of
all our test equipment in our
ISO-9001 facility.
Exhibitors – to exhibit please contact david.levitt@cbrneworld.com
Clordisys Solutions, Inc is a
worldwide leader in biological
decontamination. Utilizing chlorine
dioxide gas, Clordisys offers the
safest and most effective method
for decontamination available
today. Portable CD gas
generators, as well as sterilizers
and pass-through chambers are
available. Decontamination
services are also offered on a
one-time or routine basis.
Coastal Environmental
Systems has manufactured the
only portable weather stations
designed specifically for CBRNe,
HazMat & First Response:
WEATHERPAK®. Both
WEATHERPAK® and C-5 SAM™
weather stations automatically
update plume modeling software,
and are designed to withstand
the rigors of public safety,
military, wildland fire and
industrial applications.
www.coastalenvironmental.com
CoBRA is inexpensive, easy to
use Decision Support Software for
full spectrum CBRNE incident
management. CoBRA provides
access to databases, blast standoff
distance, interactive tools, check
lists, forms, Command Board and
calculations in the responders
hand, accessible either on laptop
or blackberry. CoBRA software,
the First Responders First Choice.
www.cobrafirstresponder.com
Dugway Proving Ground
(DPG) is the world’s premier
destination for chemical and
biological defense testing.As the
US Army’s designated Major Range
and Test Facility Base for chemical
and biological defense-related
programs, DPG is the lead tester
for US and allied chemical and
biological defense equipment and
NBC contamination survivability of
defense materiel.
Environics makes gas & vapor
detection products & turn-key
CBRN protection networks for
civilian & military defense.We offer
handheld to permanent fixed
detection solutions to protect
individuals, buildings, metros, cities
& nations from CBRN threats.We
also provide decontamination
solutions, vehicle protection,
mobile CBRN labs, bomb &
chemical-proof shelters.
www.environicsusa.com .
First Line Technology, LLC is
a small business supplier of Out
of the Box Solutions for first
responders and the military that
has established itself as a leader in
product development and
deployment with innovative, simple
solutions like heat-activated
PhaseCore Cooling Vests and the
AmbuBus, Bus-Stretcher
Conversion Kit.
Force 1 Decon (F1D) equipment
provides operators with a highly
portable, modular and scalable
tactical decontamination capability.
Designed as a 'tool kit of parts',
F1D equipment is easily configured
and scaled to quickly provide a
'best-fit' solution for operations
requiring rapid personnel
decontamination.
Geomet offers a full range of
specialized products and services
necessary for the development of
CBRN personal protective systems.
Geomet and Remploy Frontline
have recently joined forces to
supply the best CBRN equipment
needed by US military and public
safety personnel.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products
(GDATP) is a proven systems integrator of defense products for all
branches of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministries of
Defense of over 30 allied nations. GDATP offers an advanced line
of point and standoff chemical and biological agent detectors and
ground based counter-measures systems. Our chemical detection
products include the Standoff Chemical Agent Detector and the
hand-held JUNO™ system. Biological detection systems include
the Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) and the
Biological Agent Warning Sensor (BAWS). Our CBRNE solutions
have been field-tested and are main street-capable.
Germfree Laboratories has
been engineering and building
biological and chemical
containment equipment for the
military, research, and healthcare
fields since 1962. Germfree mobile
laboratories and high containment
systems have been purchased by
more than 6,000 institutions and
companies in over 60 countries
worldwide!
H oneywell Safety Products
(H SP), a global manufacturer of
leading personal protective
equipment (PPE) brands such as
North by Honeywell, Fibre-Metal
by Honeywell, and Servus by
Honeywell offers a full range of
quality personal protection
equipment (PPE), including
respiratory, hand, footwear and
clothing, welding, head, first-aid,
hearing,
eye/face, fall
protection,
lockout/tag out,
and traffic
safety products.
IB Consultancy and H otzone
Solutions are expert CBRNe
service providers, providing
consultancy, training, sales support
and project management for
CBRNe first responders, military,
policy makers and industry. Our
clients include the EDA,The
Netherlands government, OPCW
and many others.While the focus
of Hotzone Solutions is on
training, IB Consultancy has its
focus on consultancy.We invite
you to visit our stand or website.
Swiss company, H ygie-Tech has
developed a new powerful CFD
simulator for CBRNe applications:
“HG_Flow Protect”.
IN FICON has a portfolio of
products aimed at detecting and
identifying trace levels of chemical
warfare agents, volatile organic
compounds, toxic industrial
chemicals, and non-toxic chemicals
in air, water and soil. Fully portable,
INFICON HAPSITE ER Chemical
Identification Systems provide fast,
accurate lab-quality results on-site
to help you make critical decisions
affecting life, health and safety.
Intelagard is a leading designer
and manufacturer of powerful and
effective tools for CBRN
decontamination, fire suppression,
and hazmat remediation. Intelagard
equipment is designed for
maximum usability and versatility.
Use the same piece of equipment
to decontaminate an office on
Monday, suppress a fire on Tuesday,
and clean up a hydrocarbon spill
on Wednesday. From the Macaw
backpack to the large-scale High
Mobility Decontamination
System, Intelagard has a system to
fit your needs.
Lion Apparel is a leading supplier
of personal protective equipment
for first responders around the
world. Offering a full line of CBRN
protective ensembles, Lion is able
to meet the mission-specific needs
of fire, law enforcement and
military organizations who require
peace-of-mind protection against
some of the world’s most
dangerous threats.
Developed by Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, the
PROWLR lidar system provides remote detection, ranging, tracking and
high discrimination of biological and non-biological aerosol clouds with
low false alarm rate.The system provides 24/7 surveillance and gives
early warning of biohazards from a stand-off distance exceeding 5 km.
This capability allows significant response time for improved Warfighter
protection offered in a cost effective and easily maintainable system.
Using proprietary original
algorithms, the software is
adapted to standard computers,
with very short calculating time,
allowing routine multiple
simulations by engineers and
officers. Prevention, action and
decontamination plans are
recommended in sensitive buildings.
Joint Program Executive Office for
Chemical and Biological Defense:
Mission: Provide Research,
Development,Acquisition Fielding
and Life-Cycle Support of Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Defense Equipment, Medical
Countermeasures and Installation
and Force Protection Integrated
Capabilities Supporting the National
Strategies. Vision:An Agile, ResultsOriented, and Transformational
Acquisition Enterprise Delivering
Net-Centric, Modular,
Tailorable and MultiPurpose Capabilities to
the Nation.
ww.jpeocbd.osd.mil
Cristanini is a worldwide leader in the research, development and
production of CBRN decontamination/detoxification systems,
machines and products. Cristanini has acquired a reputation of
manufacturing small, medium and large scale CBRN systems and
mobile field stations for a simultaneous decontamination/
detoxification of personnel, equipment, sensitive material, personal
equipment, vehicles and terrain. Cristanini experience and knowhow is the result of years of dedicated research, applied
engineering and the production of equipment and accessories with
innovative solutions for CBRN detoxification/decontamination.The
R&D program is conducted in cooperation with University
Institutes, including the Department of Chemical Engineering
Processes of the University of
Padova, Italy and Military Labs
around the world.The state-ofthe-art R&D is validated by 25
patents. www.cristanini.com
Kärcher Futuretech is the leading manufacturer of
decontamination devices, agents, modules and systems.The company
supplies decontamination systems for defence forces, relief
organisations and rescue forces around the world.Thanks to its
revolutionary technologies, Kärcher Futuretech develops and
produces products for the most varying needs in the area of NBC
defence in order to provide a prompt and effective decontamination
of persons, vehicles, air and watercraft, weapons, clothing and
equipment as well as sensitive material.The truck mounted TEP 90 in
Germany as well as the delivery of the “Joint Services Transportation
Decontamination System Small Scale” (JSTDS-SS) to the US Armed
Forces via its partner DRS Technologies – are all references that
speak for themselves.
Coupled with advanced signature extraction and noise reduction
algorithms, PROWLR enables accurate analyses of bio-aerosol hazards.
PROWLR tested successfully at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah and
Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
For additional information visit
www.lockheedmartin.com/products/prowlr/
MDA’s information solutions
provides mission critical
capabilities that support
domestic and international
defence and security challenges
worldwide. From Earth orbit to
the frontlines, MDA sensors,
systems, and intelligence
solutions for ISR deliver, from
wide area surveillance to submetre target detection,
recognition and tracking.
Exhibitors – to exhibit please contact david.levitt@cbrneworld.com
Mirion Technologies Health
Physics Division provides a full
range of instrumentation and
engineering services for health
physics applications and radiation
monitoring systems for all nuclear
facilities and civil defense
markets.We are #1 in North
America in electronic dosimetry.
We are more than just a leader in
technology.WE are also
recognized for our outstanding
customer support.
MKS Instruments. AIRGARD®
FTIR-based air monitor by MKS
can simultaneously detect, analyze
and alarm on 50+ chemical
warfare agents and toxic industrial
chemicals in various environments.
MKS Instruments, Inc. is a leading,
global provider of technologies to
power, control and measure
advanced processes. Our served
markets include homeland security,
environmental monitoring, and
others. www.mksinst.com
Morphix Technologies is an
innovator in color change
technology. Morphix developed the
Chameleon® with a grant from
the US Navy managed by
MarCorSysCom. Morphix
revolutionized colorimetric
technology to be rugged, resilient
and water resistant.Additionally,
Morphix has developed Residual
Life Indicators and Time /
Temperature indicators for military
and commercial applications.
Morpho Detection, Inc.,
part of Morpho, a business of
the Safran group (PAR: SAF), is
a leading supplier of explosives
and narcotics and chemical,
biological, radiological, and
nuclear (CBRN) detection
systems for government,
military, air and ground
transportation, first responder,
critical infrastructure and other
high-risk organizations.
N ovare Technology serves as an
independent sales agent for SEER
Technology, the developer and
manufacturer of the AccuSense
Chemical Recognition System and
the NAViSEER Precision Personnel
Tracking System.As a SEER
Solutions Specialist the company
represents SEER products
exclusively in order to focus on
bringing maximum value to end
users of instrumentation for
chemical
detection and
personnel
tracking.
www.seertechnology.com
OptiMetrics, Inc. provides
specialized research and
engineering services to
government and industry. Our
primary focus is applying science
and technology to protect and
enhance the survival of soldiers on
the battlefield.We analyze realworld military system and sensor
performance, develop computer
models and simulations of military
systems, plan and create software
applications for command and
control system integration.
OW R is the worldwide leading
manufacturer of CBRN
decontamination systems and sole
source provider of CBRN systems.
OWR creates unique CBRN
system packages, which includes
not only Decontamination
equipment, but also a
complementary range of state of
the art Detection and Protection
equipment to fulfil the need of our
customers.
Paul Boyé Technologies is a
worldwide leader in research,
development and mass production
of CBRN/F protective suits for
Armed Forces and Civil Defence.
In use within 38 countries, Paul
Boyé CBRN protective suits have
gained international recognition
thanks to their high technological
level.They have proven their
superiority and comfort in the
hardest climate.
s.ziegler@paulboye.fr
www.paulboye.com
Chemical Warfare agents and
biological Warfare agents detection
systems of Proengin are based
on flame spectrometry. Proengin is
the only company using this
technology to manufacture field
usable chemical and biological
detectors.This unique technology
allows detecting the widest range
of toxic products with the
following features: Simultaneity,
Rapidity, Reliability and MTBF
4500 hours.
Save precious lives and valuable
time by sending a robot
downrange first. QinetiQ North
America’s TALON® Hazmat robot
can “plug and play” up to seven
detection instruments for WMD,
radiation, gas, explosives and
temperature mounted on a quickrelease tray.
Safety Solutions and ATEC have
been providing quality Hazardous
Materials and Search and
Extraction Training since 1996.
With 200 instructors and
operations worldwide this team of
professionals is ready to provide
you with the most advanced,
Proboard accredited training
programs available. Please contact
us at info@safetysolutions.us
or toll free 866.248.1050.
Saint Gobain: CBRN protective
equipment. Single-skin NFPA 1991
and EN 943-1/2 ONESuit®
product line – comfort,
affordability and flash fire
protection. NFPA certified
ONEGlove® Hazmat one-piece
gloves offer unsurpassed dexterity
and protection. New Coretech™
barrier technology - the most
advanced chemical protective
fabric - providing affordable
solutions for CBRN shelters,
containment, and PPE.
Scott are leaders in the design
and manufacture of Respiratory
Protection Equipment (RPE).
Their range includes military and
civil defence masks and filters,
powered breathing systems, selfcontained breathing apparatus
(SCBA) and escape sets.They are
currently working on the General
Service Respirator (GSR)
contract for the British MoD, the
M 2005 for the Finnish MoD and
the End of Service Life Indicator
Technical
Demonstrator
Programme for
the UK MoD.
Smiths Detection leads the
global military and emergency
response marketplace with
specialized chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear and explosive
(CBRNE) detection and
protection solutions. Our
advanced, accurate and trusted
solutions enable armed forces and
responders to mitigate incidents
with confidence as they seek to
reduce risks and minimize
potential losses associated with
growing CBRNE threats.
STERIS Corporation’s Defense
& Aerospace group provides
complete technology solutions for
the decontamination of chemical
and biological weapon agents and
infectious organisms. In
collaboration with the U.S.
Department of Defense, STERIS has
developed, tested and demonstrated
a broad spectrum of dry, liquid and
gaseous chem bio decontaminants
and delivery systems designed for
military applications.
The leader in first responder field
identification of samples for
biothreat agents used worldwide by
HazMat teams, law enforcement,
federal, state, and local
governments, and corporations.
Developed BioThreat Alert®
(BTAs) Kits which analyze
suspicious samples for the rapid
detection of Anthrax, Ricin, Plague,
Botulinum toxin A and B,
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB),
Orthopox (the family of smallpox),
Abrin, Brucella and Tularemia
Tex-Shield is the U.S. licensee of
the unique SARATOGA® chemical
protective technology,“The most
trusted name in chemical
protective garments in the world”.
Only SARATOGA® fabrics are
qualified for use in the JSLIST
chemical protective overgarment
and the JPACE aircrew coverall.
Tex-Shield’s other products include
the HAMMER Suit®, chemical
protective undergarments, gloves,
footwear, and filtration media.
Transformational Medical
Technologies (T MT ): TMT was
stood up by the Department of
Defense to protect the warfighter
from emerging, genetically altered
and unknown biological threats.
TMT partners with academic
institutions and private industry
to facilitate the discovery and
development of a wide range of
medical countermeasures through
enhanced
medical
research, test
and evaluation
programs.
Trelleborg Protective
Products is a leading Global
designer & manufacturer of
Chemical Protective Ensembles
(including five certified to NFPA
1991-2005), Shelters, Hoods and
Dry Suits. Trelleborg’s products
are sold under the brand names
of “Trellchem”, “Viking” &
“TrellTent” and have been redefining PPE & Hazmat Diving
for over 100 years."
Since 1961, TSI has provided
instrumentation to industry,
government, and researchers.TSI
has 20+ years of experience in
mask testing and biodetection,
with systems used by government
and military organizations in over
a dozen countries.TSI products
have been deployed in every major
military operation since Operation
Desert Shield..
The Naval Research Laboratory
(NRL) operates as the United
States Navy's full-spectrum
corporate laboratory, conducting a
multidisciplinary program of
scientific research and advanced
technological development directed
toward maritime applications of
new and improved materials,
techniques, equipment, systems and
ocean, atmospheric, space sciences
and related technologies. NRL is
located in southwest Washington,
DC, with other major
sites at the Stennis
Space Center, MS; and
Monterey, CA.
UTILIS S.A.S. has over 13 years of
experience as a manufacturer and
leading supplier of rapid deploy
tactical shelters and integrated
containers for military and civil
applications. UTILIS shelter systems
have been the choice of defence
forces, civil protection
organizations, rescue forces and the
UN for their field operations.
W el-Fab, Inc have developed a
new Lightweight Inflatable
Decontamination System (LIDS)
Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
Nuclear, and High Yield Explosive
(CBRNE) for use as field
deployable Contamination
Control Area (CCA) supporting
USAF aircrew personnel
decontamination processing
procedures.
ES
EA
RCH LA
BO
R
R
AL
AT
Y
N AV
OR
•• • • •
W
A
SH
INGTON
, D
C
Visit www.talonrobots.com for
further information.
FOR EXHIBITION AND
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION,
PLEASE CONTACT DAVID LEVITT.
david.levitt@cbrneworld.com
PROTECTED
- MISSION COMPLETED ++ FULL RATE PRODUCTION OF JSTDS-SS:
MORE THAN 1,200 ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS
FOR US ARMY ++++ A SUCCESS STORY
CONTINUES: FIRST TEP 90 TO ISTANBUL
CIVIL DEFENCE ++++++ INNOVATIVE
LIGHT WEIGHT DECON SYSTEMS FOR
GERMAN SPECIAL FORCES +++++++++++
NBC Protection
Protection against nuclear,
biological and chemical
hazards or NBC weapons
Decontamination
Removal of radioactive particles,
disinfection, detoxification to
restore fitness for action
Safe. For many years, Kärcher Futuretech has been developing, testing and
supplying tailor-made solutions for the
effective defence of NBC attacks in urban
and natural environments. The truckmounted TEP 90 in Germany, the DECOCONTAIN 3000 GDS full decontamination
system in Sweden, the variable MOSDM
system in Belgium, the rapidly deployable
JSTDS Small Scale module in the USA,
or the biologically degradable GDS, RDS
and BDS decontamination agents –
these are all references that speak for
themselves, and in which the protection
of people and the environment is the
focal point.
www.kaercher-futuretech.com/nbc-protection
Maintenance Systems
Field Camp Systems
Worldwide active and
one step ahead in:
NBC Protection
NBC Protective Clothing
Water Purification
Kärcher Futuretech GmbH
Mobile Catering
Max-Eyth-Straße 35
71364 Winnenden, Germany
Tel. +49 - 71 95 - 14 0
Fax +49 - 71 95 - 14 27 80
www.kaercher-futuretech.com
futuretech@de.kaercher.com
CBRNe
CONVERGENCE
NEWS
There will be a wealth of new products
launched at CBRNe Convergence, sadly
some of them are still under embargo, so
here are some of those that we can mention!
Firstline Technology, Stand 501, will be
showing their Fibertect, activated carbon
dry decon mits. This is a three layer, inert,
flexible, drapable, nonwoven composite for
adsorbing both CWA and TICs, though the
outside layers can be varied to change the
absorption and adsorption factors. With
Fuller’s Earth in decline, and previous dry
decon being a generation behind Fibertect
offers a cost effective way of
decontaminating individuals and sensitive
items. Lawrence Livermore tested
Fibertect against 30 comparable products
and found that it proved superior –
including against the in-service M291
sorbent. Fibertect comes in three
configurations – mitt, wipe and roll.
Blauer, Stand 513, will be showcasing
their XRT and Multi Threat ensembles.
These NFPA 1994 Class 2 and 3 garments
are becoming of more interest and value to
the military customer and are approaching
the regard that they are held in by their
civilian users. The Multi Threat Ensemble
is Class 2 and designed for hot zone
operations, utilising WL Gore’s Chempak
and Nomex liners, and can be wetted down
with water to create an evaporative cooling
effect. Their XRT is Class 3 and for use in
the Warm zone and in decon operations,
also utilising Chempak it has a longer shelf
life than competing technology – which
offers lower storage and replacement costs.
XRT was also the first suit in the world to
achieve NFPA 1994 Class 3 Certification.
Idaho Technology, Stand 210, will be
showing off their Film Array instrument.
This biological identifier caused so much
interest in a previous Convergence that
the speaker was asked to give his
presentation again! Idaho are the
manufacturer of the best selling Razor
PCR device and Film Array will be
commercially available from January
2011 and will allow users to identify up
to 25 biothreat pathogens with high
confidence but can also be used in a
diagnostic mode that allows respiratory
diseases to also be identified. The Film
Array comes with integrated sample prep
and is also easy to use – a must in
biodetection and identification.
probe, for connection to UGVs, and both
can manage mixture analysis.
Zephyr Technology, Stand 312, will be
showcasing their Performance Status
Monitor, which allows first responders to
better manage their physiological stress.
With heat stress injuries being a common
problem in Level A/Class 1 suits this allows
users to monitor their physiological
burden as well as other conditions. Zephyr
have also been involved in Spiral 1
improvements of the system, for US
Discover new products at CBRNe Convergence ©Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific, also known
as Ahura, found on Stand 211, will be
launching their TruDefender FT upgrade.
TruDefender, their best selling FTIR
detector, now comes with an improved
language database, including Arabic,
Chinese and Japanese. Their FirstDefender
RM and FirstDefender RMX are their
raman detectors which provide results up
to five times faster that the other industry
leader. Their RMX also comes with a fixed
Special Forces, which allows the medics to
ascertain whether they have been
wounded, and what their blood pressure
and Sp02 levels are.
Emergent Biosolutions, a Silver
Sponsor (of the bag) and found on Stand
311, will be on hand to talk about a new
product, which although it is not yet
licensed it does have ‘Orphan Drug Status,’
and will provide post-exposure treatment
for anthrax.
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
www.cbrneworld.com
Autumn 2010 CBRNe WORLD
51
CBRNeWORLD
Alain Louvet, Laura Sinault and François Mosset from DGA, France, on the
evaluation of chemical and biological residual hazards in mass decon units
fter a CBRN event in a civil or in a
military environment, the first
responders and the rescue team
must arrive quickly, and the means used
to treat the contaminated victims must
be set up in a short time to reduce the
casualties. Various mass decontamination
units (MDUs) are available on the market
as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
products. Most of these MDUs have not
been fully evaluated: the evaluation
programmes take into account
operational aspects but not technical
characteristics. For example, if the
number of victims who can to be treated
per hour is usually measured, some
technical performances like the
concentration of CBRN agents released
into the MDU from the contaminated
skin or clothes of the victims, or the risk
of cross-contamination, are not
measured to our knowledge.
Over the last several years, DGA
CBRN Defence has designed and
validated a protocol of tests intended to
measure various parameters of MDU. In
particular, the protocol is used: to
measure the concentration of CWA in the
atmosphere of the MDU; to estimate the
concentration of biological particles
which are generated from contaminated
clothes of the victims while they are
A
Putting the
Gold Standard
into showers
undressing; to assess the extent and the
localisation of the cross-contaminations
if any. Using this protocol, various MDU
have been evaluated.
When testing the chemical pollution
of the air, the principle is to contaminate
“victims” with a simulant and to
decontaminate them in MDU in realistic
conditions. Victims are undressed,
decontaminated by a shower, checked
and then dressed before leaving. A
chemical and a biological simulant have
been chosen for the tests. The chemical
simulant is methyl salycilate (MeS), the
well-known simulant for mustard gas
because its physical properties are very
close to it. MeS is a non-toxic compound
which can be deposited on the skin. Even
What degree of contamination passes from one end of the decon process
to the other? ©CBRNe World
though MeS is not toxic, victims are
equipped with a gas mask during the
field evaluation to prevent its inhalation,
and to protect the eyes.
A UV tracer is added to the
contamination solution, the presence of
which can only be detected by ultraviolet
light. With this compound in the
solution, the transfer of contamination
can easily be revealed. A great point of
interest in using the UV tracer is that the
emergency staff in contact with
contaminated victims cannot detect any
traces of transfer on themselves: this is
exactly what occurs with live agents. The
chemical simulant is not toxic and can be
applied to the skin at the concentration
used in that experiment.
The UV tracer can be used to show
cross-contamination between rescue
personal and contaminated victims, or
between the victims and the walls of the
shelter. The contamination solution
contained MeS/isopropanol (90/10 by
weight). An amount of 0.5 per cent of UV
tracer is then added, and the solution is
ready to be used.
Each volunteer is contaminated with
the simulant at the contamination level
of 4-to-5g per person. The
contamination is located on victims’
clothes and on hands. Four
contamination spots are deposited onto
the clothing (contamination level:
1g/spot) whereas two spots are directly
applied to hands (contamination level:
0.5g/spot). The threshold contamination
level is 1g for all skin spots in our
experiment. This contamination level
seems representative of a real
contamination following a CBRN event.
Choosing to contaminate the skin
shows several advantages. It allows the
scenario to fit with the reality of a toxic
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
52
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
for the harshest conditions
PROVEN SOLUTIONS
HDT sets the standard for CBRN protection systems.
HDT Engineered Technologies is the industry leader in innovative CBRN protection systems.
We provide state-of-the-art solutions for expeditionary shelter systems, hard-wall shelters
and buildings, vehicles and ships. HDT system components are designed, tested,
manufactured and supported by our dedicated team, and HDT backs all of our products
with years of experience and outstanding service and support. When quality counts,
rely on the proven performance of HDT.
hdtglobal.com
Engineered to move with you
CBRNeWORLD
Putting the Gold Standard into showers
agent attack, and it keeps a vapour
emission source on the body (as emission
from clothes is limited because victims
are rapidly undressed and contaminated
clothes are dropped into plastic bags
before being sent outside the tents). This
type of contamination is representative of
what could happen in realistic conditions
after a CBRN event; whether an
improvised explosive device or diffusion
device is used, the skin of the victims will
be contaminated in all situations.
The aim of the protocol is to sample
the air in the MDU while operated, to
quantify the level of chemical
contamination. Three kinds of air
analysis systems are employed to
measure the vapour concentration in
various areas of the mass
decontamination unit. The first two are:
a liquid trap system (wash-bottles
containing 10ml of butan-2-ol), and
collecting tubes which are more sensitive
to low concentrations. For these devices,
pumps are sucking at a flow rate of 0.5
litres per minute. The collecting tubes
are removed and replaced by another
every 15 minutes. That time should be
adapted to the concentration of MeS
estimated. The third air analysis system
is a portable chemical detector.
At the end of the experiment,
compounds trapped in the collecting
tubes or the liquid trap are quantified by
GC/FID after thermal desorption. An LCD
3.2E was set on top of the victims’ heads
in order to measure the contamination
they faced. Results are obtained in a few
minutes after the measurement with a
laptop equipped with specific software.
Most MDUs have two lines: one for able
and one for disabled victims. Chemical
samplers are located in both lines, and in
all compartments (undressing,
showering, control and dressing zone). In
the same way, sampling systems are
positioned in the disabled line at 1.10m
height, which is the height of disabled
victim’s stretchers. In the able line,
sampling systems are at 1m and 1.50m
height (1m position to evaluate the
breathing concentration inhaled by
children and 1.50m height for adults).
The whole evaluation in the field must
last between one and 1.5 hours.
The biological simulant used for
contamination is an aqueous suspension
of Bacillus atropheus (Bg) which is
deposited directly onto the victim’s
clothes. The liquid suspension of Bg is
deposited on the victims in the same way
as for the chemical contamination. The
contamination level applied is 2.5x106
spores per spot. Slit samplers are set
around the victim when he removes his
clothes. Biological particles can then be
re-suspended in the air and collected
onto Petri dishes. The biological
contamination sprayed all around a
victim when undressing is related to the
protocol more than to the MDU.
To be as realistic as possible, the
protocol has been evaluated during a
mass decontamination exercise with
experienced decon teams. Personnel
must wear their IPE according to
guidance: gas mask, air-permeable or
impermeable CBRN suits, gloves, and
boots. To compare results from different
MDUs, the number of victims inside the
MDU must be known at every moment.
Our experience has shown that the
interval between two victims must be
the same all along the exercise. A
dedicated staff with a chronometer must
therefore authorise the entrance of a
contaminated victim.
Various MDUs were evaluated and
many results have been obtained since
2006. In all cases, we have observed that
the concentration of MeS (and CWA by
transposition) increases with time, but
with a varying slope, so the victims can be
exposed to chemical compounds which
are dangerous to their health. Figure 1
shows the quantitative result obtained of
MeS collected into collecting tubes and
the transposition of the doses to HD. After
30 minutes, the hazard for the victims
would be non-negligible and the effect on
eyes would be observed. After 105
minutes, irreversible effects can occur.
We have evaluated an MDU divided
into three parts: undressing, showering
and dressing zones. Each of them is
separated from the other by one metre of
air. Even for that configuration, the
chemical contamination increases to
such a way that the air in the dressing
zone becomes contaminated.
Concentrations have been measured with
the portable chemical detector.
These are the results of the chemical
concentration of MeS quantification in
the air of an MDU in the entrance, where
victims are contaminated, and in the exit
parts after the showering of the victims.
The results shows that the air is still
contaminated, even if the concentration
in the exit part is lower that the
concentration of the entrance.
Until now, it appeared that none of
the MDUs evaluated gave very good
results for the whole system.
Nevertheless, some MDUs have given
acceptable results in the dressing part.
Even if we evaluated some MDUs, we
have not evaluated all the MDU available
on the market, so others could be
potentially better – or worse. Our
objective is not to recommend or to
reject some MDUs, but to propose a
protocol usable to evaluate and to
compare different MDU.
We have observed that the efficiency
of the air removal can be improved easily
for most of the MDUs. It appears that the
ventilation system is not efficient enough
Figure 1: dose of HD in a MDU in function of time.
Thresholds values are based on AEGL
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
54
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com
• Test the fit and integrity of NBC Protective
masks quickly and reliably
• Over 12,000 fielded world-wide
• Rugged, portable and easy to operate
To get a free brochure or further
details please contact us:
TSI Incorporated
US-Toll Free: 1 800 874 2811
TSI Instruments Ltd.
UK-Tel: +44 (0) 149 4 459 200
Web: www.tsi.com E-mail: answersEU@tsi.com
TSI PORTACOUNT® Mask Fit Tester
CBRNeWORLD
Putting the Gold Standard into showers
Figure 2: concentration of MeS in the entrance and in the exit of MDU in operation
and the air flow is too weak to replace
the polluted air with clean air from the
outside. It is important to check whether
the clean air can be ventilated into all the
parts of the MDU. A simulation of the air
flow could be interesting to check if all
the part of the system can be rinsed with
clean air. That simulation must be done
with virtual victims and safety personal
to be sure the simulation is
representative of the conditions of use of
the MDU. That study could be specified
for the design of a new MDU. The MDUs
evaluated have all shown a poor air flow
level. Some years ago, MDUs did not have
any ventilation systems. Now, ventilation
exists, but the air flow is too weak to
clean the air efficiently. In the field of
collective protection, some specifications
exist to rinse the air of airlock. It could
be advantageous for designers to take
inspiration from these requirements in
order to design an MDU with a more
efficient air flow.
A solution to reduce the chemical
concentration into the MDU could be in
removing the roof of the entrance to
evaporate the chemical components
outside. But, if the threats are biological
or radiological agents, the contamination
must remain in the MDU to avoid crosscontamination around the place where
the shelter is erected. A removable roof,
which can be set for B and R agents and
removed for chemical agents could be a
solution. It is important to draw the
distinction between an MDU and a
shower usable in-theatre. The major
difference lies in the protocol applicable
to the victims to be undressed. In an
MDU, the victims, able or disabled, are
taken care of by fire brigade personnel
and are undressed by these teams in safe
conditions. That mean the risk of self
cross-contamination when the clothes
are undone are reduced as they do not
undress themselves. If field showers are
used, the victims undress themselves, so
the hazards of self cross-contamination
are important because a civilian
population is not able to remove
contaminated clothes safely. Confusion
can exist between these two concepts. An
MDU is dedicated to safely
decontaminating contaminated victims
to remove the CBR contamination and
give them the possibility of being cared
for by medical staff, or of getting home
without the hazard of crosscontamination. MDU are more efficient
than showers because they are associated
to an undressing protocol supported by
rescue personal, a shower with a decon
solution and a protocol to check the level
of residual contamination of the victims.
We have therefore developed a
protocol to quantify the chemical
pollution of the air into MDUs in
operation. Our protocol has been
validated and improved while we have
conducted various evaluations in the
field with mock victims and rescue
team. The MDU evaluation has shown
over many years that MDU victims and
operators can be contaminated because
they are located in an area where the
contaminant is vaporised from clothes
and skin and by cross-contamination.
The specifications for the acquisition or
the design of MDUs are poor. They can
be “hardened” by including at least
some requirements about the level of
chemical contamination of the air in the
MDU, and by using a computer design of
the air flow inside the MDU when
operated with virtual victims and rescue
personal. A lot of progress has been
made in MDUs recently; companies have
designed more efficient MDUs and have
in mind the operational requirements,
but technical requirements like the
efficacy of the air flow remain. Very
soon, new and more efficient MDUs will
become available.
Figure 3: Concentration of MeS close to the head of a victim all along his treatment
CBRNe Convergence 2010, 2-5 November, Rosen Plaza, Orlando, Florida. More information on www.icbrnevents.com
56
CBRNe WORLD Autumn 2010
www.cbrneworld.com