The State Office for Nuclear Safety, the Population Protection Institute Lázně Bohdaneč and the OPCW co-organized Assistance and protection course for instructors who are involved in emergency response to a chemical incident. This course was one of activities, proposed by the Czech Republic to other States Parties of the OPCW according the Article X of the Convention. Course, that took place 19. – 25. May 2015 in Lázně Bohdaneč was attended by 15 instructors from 14* States Parties of the OPCW.
The Course, aimed at the preparation of instructors covered both theoretical part and practical exercises of planning, preparation, conducting and evaluation of rescue operations in contaminated areas, appropriate reaction and countermeasures in a case of incidents involving chemical warfare agents or toxic chemicals including protection. Practical training covered using of protective equipment, detection and sampling techniques, decontamination procedures, and evaluation and management of action.
Within cooperation between the State Office for Nuclear Safety and academia OPCW supervisor of the course Dr. Esmel Oscar Meless had a lecture at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. His presentation „On the Contribution of the OPCW to the Global Security“ took place 23.5. in the Historical Library of the UCT. Aim of the presentation was to introduce the Convention and the OPCW to the university representatives. The other motive was to point out importance of implementation of information about the Convention into lectures especially at chemistry based universities.
*Barbados, Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d´Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay
Group photo of participants
Training of decontamination
Dr. Esmell Oscar Meless during his presentation at the UCT Prague