Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Resilience
Decontamination
In some circumstances a release of Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) materials may mean those affected and the environment may need to be decontaminated.
Decontamination would not always be necessary but would be used as a precaution depending on circumstances and the judgment of those in charge on the ground.
What happens during an incident?
During an incident trained medical staff and members of the emergency services would asses and advise the public and recording their details before allowing them home.
Assessment on what may be required for the environment or buildings would take place over a longer period of time. The priority is public safety.
Who is responsible for decontamination policy?
The policy responsibilities for decontamination issues is divided between the following government departments:
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Department of Health
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Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
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Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG, formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
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Home Office
Basic guidance
Under the CBRN Resilience programme a suite of decontamination guidance has been developed, broken down into the following areas:
People
The lead responsibility for decontamination of people following an incident rests with the Department of Health.
To assist those on the frontlines, the Home Office has produced strategic national guidance for decontaminating people exposed to CBRN materials.
The environment
The lead responsibility for decontaminating the environment rests with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It has released guidance for decontaminating an open environment.
Buildings and infrastructure
The lead responsibility for decontaminating buildings rests with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), which has developed strategic national guidance for decontaminating buildings and infrastructure.
