A New Dawn of Protection in the Global Fight Against Chemical / Biological Terrorism
18 January 2007 14:18
In October 2006, it was verified, thanks to seismic evidence from the US Geological Survey that measured an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 on the Richter scale, that North Korea had tested an atomic weapon in a mountain range in its north-eastern province. The potential for destructive nuclear warfare between nations immediately and dramatically rose, and the country was labelled the ninth member of the world's nuclear club, a club comprising the USA, Russia, Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan and, unofficially, Israel.
To date, Iran insists that its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful, citing the international treaty which gives it the right to use atomic energy to produce power. Yet diplomatic suspicion continues, most intensely from Israel, which states that since Iran has threatened to publicly destroy Israel, it is increasingly concerned about Iran's nuclear project. Likewise, although it has never openly stated it, Israel reportedly has its own deterrent in the form of as many as 200 atomic warheads.
Any of these programmes – from North Korea, Iran, Israel and beyond – could pose serious global concerns if they are interrupted by terrorist organisations.
In November 2005, the Director General of the British security service MI5, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, described the threat to the UK from Al-Qaeda related terrorism. She observed that "… tomorrow's threat may include the use of chemicals, bacteriological agents, radioactive materials and even nuclear technology … It is not just the UK, of course. Other countries also face a new terrorist threat, from Spain to France to Canada and Germany …"
In every corner of the globe, the NBC – now more commonly known as CBRN (a global abbreviation for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) – terrorism debate is escalating, and in the event of an incident every country has a critical interest in protecting its military responders and first responders, the CBRN-trained individuals such as the police, fire service, border officials, coast guard and medical operatives who will be first to arrive on the scene.
These first responders could be deployed for extended periods to assess and manage the incident, and implement a successful rescue and control strategy, and it stands to reason that these personnel must be equipped with the most effective CBRN personal protection possible. In addition, dependant on the incident, they could also require a whole raft of associated specialised CBRN kit, such as decontamination shelters, decontamination showers, casualty bags, fatality bags, etc. As the CBRN terrorism debate grows, so does the armoury to fight it.
Remploy Frontline is a benchmark British CBRN garment protection system designer and manufacturer and a global authority on CBRN protection. The company's core business for more than the last 30 years has been dedicated to researching and creating garment system solutions which are tailored to match individual climactic and operational needs, whether military or civil.
Echoing the escalating global attention now given to CBRN terrorism, the company's PPE portfolio has expanded to include a whole series of specialist CBRN protection products, including casualty bags, fatality bags, hoods, accessories, rapid deploy shelters and mass decontamination showers, allowing customers to have fast-track access to the very latest solutions should they require a comprehensive support package.
In the challenge to "find those who would cause us harm," the M15 Director General posed the questions "who are merely talking big, and who have real ambitions?" and "who are the skilled and trained ones, [and] who the amateurs?"
The same questions might be posed to those companies around the globe who are providing CBRN protection. For informed opinion and advice, please see Remploy Frontline's website.
For more information on this company:
Remploy Textile Unit - CBRN Protection Suits
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