Enhancing Emergency Preparedness Response Capacity Highlighted at IAEA School for Latin America and the Caribbean

“Since its inception, the School of Radiation Emergency Management has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone of the IAEA’s efforts to enhance preparedness for emergencies,” said Rodrigo Salinas, Senior Specialist on Emergency Preparedness and Response at the United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and a lecturer at the school.

Additionally, a response exercise at the Argentine Federal Police showcased coordinated efforts in emergency scenarios. A highlight of the course was the introduction of the importance of EPR for advanced technologies and methodologies . Participants engaged in a regional discussion on radiological monitoring networks, such as the IAEA’s International Radiation Monitoring System (IRMIS), which supports countries in enhancing emergency response. 

Nuclear and radiological emergencies do not recognize national borders — as a result, international coordination and information-sharing are vital to both national preparedness and response arrangements. Underscoring the role of regional collaboration, the school’s curriculum included a role-play exercise facilitated by the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States of America simulating the recovery of a missing radiological source and demonstrating cross-agency coordination. Similarly, Chilean and Argentine experts organized a virtual simulation of radiological monitoring, and an IAEA expert demonstrated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to perform real-time monitoring and spectra analysis.

“Radiological emergency response requires specialists and appropriate technology. For this reason, we included the use of drones for radiological monitoring and conducted radiological monitoring and spectra analysis in real-time, applying specific software,” said ARN expert Walter Truppa. “This exercise between Argentina and Chile serves as a clear example of regional cooperation in emergency response.”

By equipping a new generation of EPR managers with knowledge and tools based on IAEA safety standards, the programme contributes to building resilient systems that protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

“The knowledge we gained came from IAEA experts’ presentations, which reflected their vast experience in applying General Safety Requirements Part 7, along with site visits to nuclear and radioactive facilities, tabletop exercises and demonstrations of ionizing radiation detection equipment conducted during the School,” said Otilia Alcántara Bernal, a technical consultant at Mexico’s National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Commission.