(Reference: Section 7.12.3

1.0 Applicability

This strategy applies to the personal monitoring of members of the public during the response to a nuclear or radiological emergency where contamination has occurred.

2.0 General

2.1 Personal monitoring refers to the use of radiation monitoring devices to assess whether or not persons and their belongings, including vehicles, are contaminated with radioactive material, and if contaminated, the type and level of contamination.

2.2 This contamination could be caused by radioactive material released from a reactor facility accident, or as a result of some radiological incidents.

2.3 Certain reactor facilities have a filtered air discharge system (FADS) through which post-accident releases are routed. If the FADS function as designed, the amount of contamination off-site would be very limited, possibly even negligible.

2.4 Personal monitoring of members of the public, when required, can be conducted at a Monitoring and Decontamination Unit (MDU).

3.0 Responsibilities

3.1 Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC)

  1. The PEOC Commander shall issue directions regarding the need for personal monitoring as appropriate per Section 4.0 below.
  2. Evacuees should be directed to either undertake personal decontamination or, to report to an MDU for this purpose.

3.2 Designated Host Municipality

  1. Designated Host Municipalities shall be responsible for arranging the necessary space and facilities for the accommodation of a Monitoring and Decontamination Unit (MDU).
  2. Where MDUs are located within Reception Centres, municipal nuclear emergency plans shall include provisions to ensure:
    1. That the Reception Centre procedures and the MDU procedures are co-ordinated to ensure effective and expeditious processing of evacuees; and
    2. Municipal appointment of a Manager of the Reception Centre who shall, during an emergency, have overall responsibility for the efficient functioning of the Reception Centre.

3.3 MOHLTC and Reactor Facilities

  1. The MOHLTC Radiation Health Response Plan describes the scenarios in which the setting up of personal monitoring and decontamination systems should be considered in the event of a radiological emergency.
  2. The reactor facility is responsible for setting up a personal monitoring and decontamination system in the event of a nuclear emergency.

    Note: OFMEM shall co-ordinate with appropriate stakeholders, to establish arrangements for monitoring and decontamination for the Town of Amherstburg, for a nuclear emergency at the Fermi 2 nuclear station.

  3. Emergency plans of the above organizations shall:
    1. Be co-ordinated to ensure compatibility and mutual support.
    2. Ensure that a personal monitoring and decontamination system meets the requirements specified in this annex.
    3. Ensure that adequate resources are in place to monitor and decontaminate the affected population, as far as practical; and
    4. Ensure that adequate resources are in place to undertake monitoring and decontamination of the facility housing the MDU.

4.0 Selection of Evacuees for Monitoring

4.1 The guidance below may be used to select which evacuees should be monitored for contamination.

4.2 Evacuees should not be directed to report to an MDU for monitoring and decontamination if it is estimated that the evacuees can exit the affected area before a release occurs.

4.3 Evacuees may be directed to report to a MDU for monitoring and decontamination if they are unable to exit the affected area before a release occurs:

  1. In the case of a filtered release, evacuees from affected sectors in the Automatic Action Zone and DPZ inner ring should be directed to report to an MDU. Evacuees from affected sectors in the DPZ outer ring should be instructed how to conduct basic self-decontamination of their bodies, equipment and vehicles after evacuating.
  2. In the case of an unfiltered release, evacuees from all affected sectors should be directed to report to an MDU, if available. Otherwise evacuees should be instructed how to conduct basic self-decontamination as per a) above. Follow-up monitoring should be provided in accordance with the RHRP.

5.0 Special Cases

5.1 Motorists travelling through the affected area and exposed to a release may be directed (through appropriate broadcasts and social media) to report for monitoring.

5.2 Any train passing through the affected area and exposed to a release may be directed to stop at an appropriate station to enable monitoring of passengers.

5.3 Marine craft in the affected area shall be treated on the same basis as evacuees under Section 4.3 above. When required, marine craft may be directed to report to an appropriate harbour or landing for monitoring.

5.4 When MDUs are not available or, where the population density is such that all evacuees could not be processed in a reasonable amount of time, evacuees should be directed to proceed to a destination of their choosing and self-decontaminate.

5.5 The PEOC Commander shall advise the federal Government Operations Centre (GOC) of any known or potential impacts to marine, air and rail travel.