radiation screening at the london 2012 olympics...radiation screening at the london 2012 olympics mr...

Radiation Screening at the London 2012 Olympics

Mr Mark Jamesmark.james@awe.co.uk

www.awe.co.uk

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Background§ 2010 UK Government decided to make arrangements to

screen visitors to the London Olympic Games for radiation.§ Early 2011 scientists and radiological detection

specialists at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston were tasked by Home Office to provide technical and scientific assurance to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)

§ And later to provide technical/scientific support to London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) during games time.

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Overview§ Risk based approach. The Olympics were seen as a high

risk target.§ Built upon the UK’s business-as-usual multi-agency

CBRNE response capability. § The aim was to prevent a threat radiation source from

entering the Olympic park. § Capability developed for the Olympic Park and Athletes

Village. § Screened for radioactive material during construction and

prior to lock down - no threat material was identified during this screening.

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Multiple Agencies – CBRNe Response§ AWE§ Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) part of

Home Office§ Metropolitan Police§ London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games

(LOCOG)§ Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)§ G4S (Security)§ Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT)§ NUVIA Ltd (Radiation Protection Advisors)§ Health Protection Agency (HPA) Now Public Health

England§ Ministry of Defence (MoD)

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Detection Requirements§Pre Games screening§100% of Vehicles and Pedestrians

along with their baggage

§All alarms to be investigated and assessed

§Minimum disruption to traffic flows

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Tender Process§ ODA invited equipment suppliers via their tender

process.§ AWE along with ODA and CAST reviewed all

tenders.§ James Fisher Nuclear (JFN) chosen as the

equipment supplier, supported by Mirion Technologies as the manufacturers

§ All detection equipment was Commercial, Off-The-Shelf (COTS).

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Pre Games Screening

§Purple 0-0.05 micro Sv/hr§light blue 0.05-0.10 micro Sv/hr§Green is 0.10-0.15 micro Sv/hr

Airborne Survey carried out by CASTRSI RS700 detectors 4 of (4”x4”x16” NAI)

Data peer reviewed by AWESpectral data analysed by CAST and AWE

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Vehicle Screening

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Vehicle Search Area - Schematic

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Vehicle Screening

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Pedestrian Screening

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Pedestrian Search Lanes - Schematic

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Pedestrian Screening

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Radiation Detection InstrumentationPersonnel Screening Area§ SPIR-Ident isotopic

detection portal.§ Fast Track Fibre (FTF)§ HDS under conveyor

monitor§ PDS 100G§ HDS 101G + Laptop

Vehicle Screening Area§ RTM 910 XL§ PDS 100G§ HDS 101G + Laptop

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Specialist Support

§ Data transferred to Park Operations Centre.§ Spir-Ident spectrum/ID§ Gamma Rate§ FTF Gamma Rate§ HDS spectra/ID

§ Condition monitoring§ Equipment status§ Alarms

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Actions on alarm§ Follow up initial alarm with secondary screening§ Liaise with security and military units§ Identify the radioisotope§ Put into context

§ In Body or Bags§ Dose Rates§ Questionnaire

§ Detain, release or refuse entry

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Subject Matter expertsA team of Scientific Liaison Officer (SLO) from AWE provided 24/7 coverage who were competent with and skilled in:

§ Gamma spectroscopy§ Nuclear Radioisotopes§ Threat materials§ Medical Radioisotopes§ Working in a dynamic environment§ Decision making.

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OutcomesVehiclePedestrian

§ 2.6 million pedestrians excluding staff and athletes

§ Alarm rate of approximately 1:27,000

§ Total of 95 alarms

§ Estimated 100,000 vehicles screened

§ No alarms confirmed above background level

§ Initial set-up issues resulted in 144 alarms

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Distribution of Isotopes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

I-131 Tc-99m Ti-201 Ga-67 In-111 Lu-177

Outcomes (Pedestrians)3 isotopes gave 91% of alarms

I-131 – 49%Tc-99m – 35%Ti -201 – 7%

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Outcomes (Vehicles)§ No alarms were above background levels.§ 59% of alarms were caused by 1 system.§ 63% of alarms in a single day before the opening

ceremony.§ Isotopes identified were:-

K-40, Ra-226, Th-232 and U-238

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In ConclusionThe solution successfully;§ Screened 2,600,000+ pedestrian movements.§ Screened a total of ~10,000 vehicles.§ No threat materials were detected.AWE Provided;§ Scientific advice which met all the ODA/LOCOG

assurance standards.§ Fielded a team of Subject Matter Experts to

resolve/mitigate all alarms the system generated.

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Any Questions