World-first facility for radiation accidents

Adelyn Lau

A decontamination building at the airport will be in operation next year for people exposed to radiation, the Fire Services Department said.

The world's first such facility within the restricted area of an airport, can accommodate up to 280 people per hour.

The two-story facility on the north runway covers an area of 600 square meters and is equipped with a negative pressure system to divide the cleaning area into pressure zones.

That is to ensure that air only flows from clean areas to contaminated areas, limiting the spread of pollutants.

During the decontamination process, individuals get a kit that contains a cloak, brush, soap, disposable towels, protective clothing, slippers and shoe covers, it said.

There are 10 decontamination channels, with an extra two more for people with limited mobility, and all channels provide hot and cold water for individuals to use the soap and brush to cleanse themselves and remove contaminants.

Wastewater will be stored in a 150,000-liter basement tank and can be pumped into a chemical waste treatment vehicle to be taken to a chemical company for disposal.

If the wastewater is deemed safe after testing, it will be directly discharged into the sewage collection channel.

After decontamination, individuals will put on protective clothing and undergo checks for contaminants. If necessary, they need to undergo the process again.

Individuals will then enter an observation area, where they will get a document stamped with the date, time and number to monitor their physical condition.

Medical personnel will be there to assist those in need. Firefighters will also monitor through a system, including real-time monitoring of pedestrian flow, indoor and surrounding air conditions and environmental data.

The acting assistant divisional officer of the department's hazardous materials support unit, Lam Kwok-hung, said: "A journalist returned to Hong Kong after a visit to Fukushima, Japan, to report on the nuclear accident in 2011, and claimed to feel unwell. At that time, decontamination equipment was used [at the airport's restricted area] to prevent chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear accidents."

Lam also said locating the decontamination and rescue facility near the North Fire Station of the airport makes it more convenient for manpower support and management.

It is also close to the runway, allowing contaminated individuals to be transported by shuttle buses, he said, adding that it can accommodate accident aircraft near the facility, allowing passengers on board to come for decontamination.

A new Airport East Fire Station will also be completed and deployed in the third quarter of next year, Lam said.