On June 8th 2012 a Workshop was held at the Tor Vergata University of Rome to present the International CBRNE Master Course, which will be launched in academic year 2013-2014.  The representatives of all Institutions involved in CBRNE response, high ranking officials of the Italian Armed Forces, outstanding exponents of the Industry, and the highest authorities of the University – including the Rector – participated in the workshops.  Representatives of NATO, the EDA, and other European University also attended the event and expressed their interest in the initiative.  Mr. Dieter Rothbacher – HZS Group co-owner and co-founder – represented the Company and chaired a Round Table with the Italian authorities and experts.  It was an extremely successful Workshop in terms of turnout and media coverage, please follow the link to watch the video (in italian).  http://www.uniroma.tv/video.asp?id=21340 

At the end of the Conference, Hotzone Solutions Group signed an agreement with the University of Tor Vergata (Rome, Italy), the Seibersdorf Laboratories (Austria), VOP CZ (Czech Republic), and the Chornobyl Centre (Ukraine) for the organisation and carrying out of the Master Course.  

The International CBRN Master Course will take place at the University’s premises, as well as in outstanding international training facilities.  Master Course participants shall attend most classes and lectures in Rome, at Tor Vergata, which is the second oldest public university in Rome and among the largest in Italy.  With its 43,000 students, its 1,538 faculty members, its 6 schools (including the schools of Economics, Law, Engineering, Arts and Humanities, Medicine, Science), its 157 post-graduate Master Courses and 78 Ph.D Programmes, Tor Vergata is one of the most prestigious public universities in Italy, and is included in the list of the 150 best universities in Europe.  

It will be an absolutely unique and CBRNE Master Course, as it will combine traditional classes and lectures with highly specialised and realistic training, including Live Agent Training (LAT) and the use of open and closed radioactive sources.  The practical training modules will be conducted at three specialised International Partner Facilities – namely Seibersdorf Laboratories ,VOP CZ, and the Chornobyl Centre – and will be coordinated by Hotzone Solutions experts.

Participants in the Workshop                                                         Signature of the Cooperation Agreement for the International CBRNE Master Programme

Both Nerve (VX & Sarin) and Blister (HD) agents were used during practical detection, monitoring, identification and decontamination exercises, both inside a building and in the open to underline the behaviour of the chemical agents in different conditions.  New generation of CW simulants, which have been developed by Hotzone Solutions, were successfully used, as a prerequisite, to develop individual techniques prior to the introduction of live agents.

The comments of the participants were very positive, and emphasised the need for further live agent training at higher level with the personnel protective equipment currently in use within the Belgian Fire Brigades and Homeland Security.  HZS is ready to meet that requirement and we are looking forward to further participation.  

This training also demonstrated Hotzone Solutions capability to conduct CBRN training, both in French and Dutch.

Hotzone Solutions® announced today the establishment of a partnership with the Academy of Public Safety and Security (APSS), Moscow, Russian Federation.  The Academy is a leading Russian public organisation that provides multidisciplinary training and development for managers of private security companies, security guards, private detectives and security services working with industrial enterprises and organisations.  The APSS also conducts basic and applied research on public safety issues and provides expert consultants to develop educational programs and organise nationwide regional meetings and scientific conferences.  

Recently APSS initiated a new training program for security guards of industrial and research facilities that produce potentially ecologically dangerous substances, including first response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats. 

The partnership with Hotzone Solutions will enable APSS to incorporate unique live agent training within their new and existing training programs while providing Hotzone Solutions the opportunity to use APSS designated training facilities in Russia. This partnership will improve public safety and security training, including CBRNE first response in industrial and public areas, providing an additional opportunity to familiarize potential customers in Russia, Europe and other countries with the differences in methodological approaches in the area of public safety and security. 

This cooperation will provide for the National Olympic Committees of Europe, Asia and other countries the national specifics of the Russian Federation, to help prepare the safety and security of their national teams, prior to Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.  The partnership with HZS complements APSS mission to contribute to Sochi Winter Olympic Games special program on safety and security oriented to Russian national specifics and criminal law.

From 21 – 23 February 2012, the Radiation Safety course was held in Abu Dhabi and aimed at raising the safety awareness of first responders when dealing with incidents involving radioactive materials.

The content of this course ranged from an introduction radiation all the way to case studies and safety calculations.

The attendees came from Abu Dhabi police units and the Chemical Defense of the UAE Armed Forces.