McMaster to hold radiological incident response exercise Sept. 30

McMaster University will test its response to an on-campus radiological incident during a Sept. 30 exercise beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The exercise, in collaboration with the city’s hospitals and emergency services, will involve an accident scenario in a lab in the University’s Nuclear Research Building.

It’s meant to drill McMaster’s Health Physics and Nuclear Reactor Staff, the University’s Crisis Management Team, McMaster Security Services, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton Paramedic Service, the Central Ambulance Communications Centre and the city’s hospitals, health sector emergency response team and Public Health.

Although such an incident is highly unlikely, Dave Tucker, McMaster’s senior health physicist, says it’s important to bring these parties together to ensure there’s a mutual understanding of roles and responsibilities during a crisis.

“There is a long and proud tradition of safe nuclear research at McMaster University,” said Tucker. “The Nuclear Research Building and McMaster Nuclear Reactor are world-class facilities that have served researchers, the medical community, students, industry and others since the 1950s. It’s our responsibility to develop and maintain our emergency response capabilities along with our partners. The experience of working together in real-time is invaluable.”

The exercise will run from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Set up for the exercise will start around 7:00 a.m. During this time, emergency response vehicles and personnel may be seen on campus.

Fencing will be set up around the Nuclear Research Building and Nuclear Reactor and access to this area will be very limited. The shuttle bus to the west campus parking lot will be re-routed.

The McMaster Nuclear Reactor was granted a ten-year license renewal by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission earlier this year.

The facility provides a number of services to industry and researchers in Canada and around the world, and provides a unique educational experience for university and high school students throughout southern Ontario.

It also provides isotopes to treat prostate cancer in approximately 125 patients every day.

The Nuclear Research Building, with its High Level Laboratory Facility, houses researchers from the University and the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization who perform cutting-edge medical isotope research including the production of novel imaging and therapy agents for clinical trials.