CBRN

Optimal Performance Limited (OPL) has worked extensively in the field of CBRN and are members of CBRN UK. An individual working in this field typically wears respiratory and personal protective clothing which presents numerous physiological and psychological challenges to the end user.

OPL have investigated the thermal, sweating and metabolic responses to wearing CBRN clothing and novel strategies by which the physiological burden can be reduced. Our expertise in thermal physiology and understanding of physiological responses during exercise in the heat present OPL as a leading voice in this area.

Emergency Services

CBRN projects OPL has undertaken with the Emergency Service have included the physiological assessment of Fire Fighters performing urban search and rescue, sub-surface railway rescue, channel tunnel rescue and mass decontamination; Police Officers responding to an armed house assault (with casualty evacuation), an unarmed house arrest of a violent suspect and a prolonged crowd control incident and Ambulance Service operating within the Inner Cordon of any Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Incident (also termed the Hot Zone).

OPL designed, tested and recommended fluid replacement strategies for the UK Emergency Services wearing different CBRN protective equipment. The work involved members of all Emergency Services completing several reasonable worse case simulation deployments in moderate and hot environmental conditions whilst drinking different volumes of water. The fluid replacement guidelines emanating from this project were applicable to individuals with differing body mass, individuals working at different exercise intensities and in different environmental conditions. They have since been disseminated to all members of the UK Emergency Services for use during any deployment when CBRN protective equipment is worn.

OPL also measured the cardiovascular and thermal responses of Police Officers during user trials to evaluate four new quick donning police CBRN ensembles.

Military

OPL has provided support to field trials for the UK Ministry of Defence in Australia and United States during the development of the new General Service Respirator. OPL consultants monitored soldiers’ core body temperature and heart rate to ensure they were within safe working limits. In a separate project, we also investigated the effectiveness of a non invasive monitor to measure soldiers’ core body temperature to provide live feedback of individual’s risk of  heat illness when wearing CBRN personal protective equipment.

The revision of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 912 in November 2010 now makes human factors a mandatory requirement for all Ministry of Defence acquisition projects and programmes. This includes a range of procurement options including Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS), Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) and Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). Where human factors resources are drawn from Industry, it is preferred that they should be a UK Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors Registered Consultancy (through which OPL is registered).

Example CBRN projects:

Brown P, McLellan T, Linnane D, Wilkinson D, Richmond V, Horner F, Blacker S, Rayson M. (2010) Emergency Service Personnel CBRN PPE Hydration Guidelines . Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 19 February 2010

Carter JC, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP. (2008) A Review of Evidence and International Opinion on the Upper Limits for Core Body Temperature during CBRN Operations. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 9 June 2008

Wilkinson, DM, Richmond VL, Horner FE, Rayson M P, Cowie HA, and Graveling RA. (2008) An Ergonomic Evaluation of Four Quick Donning Police CBRN Ensembles. QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK, QinetiQ/08/02313: September 2008

Rayson MP, Richmond VL. (2006) Development of Physical Selection Standards for Ambulance Personnel Operating within the Inner Cordon of any Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Incident (‘Hot Zone’). Optimal Performance Ltd, Bristol, UK, 11 August 2006

Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S. (2004) Physiological Assessment of Police Officers during CBRN Operations. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 9 July 2004

For more projects please see client technical report page.