Argon Electronics’ CBRN simulatino systems offer heightened realism to THW field training.
Argon Electronics has been awarded a contract to supply CBRN simulation systems to Technische Hilfswerk (THW – the Federal Agency for Technical Relief), part of Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior. Supplied through OWR, Argon’s representative, the world-class simulation systems will be used to improve the realism of THW’s field training, which prepares its teams on how to respond to a CBRN incident.
Over the last two years, THW has been working to enhance the CBRN field training that it provides to its 80,000 strong team of volunteers at its training base at Neuhausen, near Stuttgart. A core focus of this training is on dealing with various radiological hazards. Improving the realism of its practical training was a key challenge for THW to overcome. To aid with response training, it was vital that students would be able to see exactly how a measuring device would react in the face of a real radiological threat.
As part of the contract, Argon is providing FH 40 G-SIM simulated survey meters and EPD-Mk2-SIM simulated dosimeters. These will be combined with Argon’s PlumeSIM training system that creates realistic table top and live area radiological training scenarios and allows instructors to monitor their students in real time and provide valuable analysis and feedback after the exercise. Argon Electronics has supplied similar systems to CBRN training facilities and organisations in the USA, UK, Ireland, Sweden and Canada.
THW Radiation Protection Officer, Sebastian Kroll, notes, "Argon’s simulation system will considerably improve the realism of our CBRN field training and will help our students to better understand what to do in the event of a real radiological incident. This is a key element for their safety. Argon’s system also offers us the opportunity to be flexible in usage and to add further CBRN training components if required in the future."
THW work with local authorities in Germany to provide local and national disaster relief and work internationally on behalf of the German Federal Government.