COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO

TESTING OF EMERGENCY PLANS

&
TABLE-TOP EXERCISE

National Workshop on
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Bengaluru, (10-12 March, 2010)
Manufacture, Storage & Import of Hazardous
Chemicals Rules, 1989 (MSIHC Rules)
Rule 13 (4) & 13(5)
Obligation of the occupier to ensure that a mock
drill of on-site emergency plan conducted every 6
months and detailed report sent to the concerned
authority.
Rule 14(4)
Obligation on the Authority to ensure that a
rehearsal of the off-site emergency plan conducted
once a year.


Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning,
Preparedness & Response) Rules, 1996.
Rule 9 (2)(g)
One of functions of DCG to conduct ONE full-
scale of a chemical accident and send a report of
strength & weakness of the plan to the SCG
Rule 10 (2)(e)
One of the functions of LCG to conduct ONE full-
scale of a chemical accident and send a report to
DCG.
Why to conduct Exercises?
Exercises necessary to ensure
plan elements are still applicable &
response personnel are aware of their roles
in relation to the other responding agencies.
A comprehensive programme of testing
through drills is one of the best means
for
assessing emergency plans & procedures;
promoting awareness of potential hazards.
Why to conduct Exercises?
Assess the Plan Effectiveness
Train Staff & Assess Training
Effectiveness
Gain Recognition for the Emergency
Management Program
Legal and Contractual Obligation

Prepare for a real Emergency!
Other Reasons for Exercises
Reveal Planning Weaknesses
Reveal Resource Gaps
Improve Coordination
Clarify Roles and Responsibilities
Improve Individual Performance
Assess Response Capabilities
Where Exercises Fit in the
Emergency Management Process
Mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
The Preparedness Cycle
1. Planning
2. Training
3. Testing
Three Functions Planning, Training & Exercising
Each one dependent on other two
TYPES OF EXERCISES

Table-Top Exercise
Functional Exercise
Full-Scale Drill


PROTOCOL
ACTIVITIES
Preparatory Activities
Conducting the Drill
Post-Exercise Activities
1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.1 Establish a Design Team
Multidisciplinary
Responsible for Play Activities
Also work as Evaluators
Ensure design of the exercise to
prevent injury to players or public &
key Officials support the exercise.

1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.2 Decide Scale of Exercise
Select the right type of Exercise
Select Participants
PLAYERS
CONTROLLERS/FACILITATORS
EVALUATORS
OBSERVERS

1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.3 Select Exercise Objective
conduct a needs assessment
to identify areas not previously tested or
need improvement based upon
previous exercises.
1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.4 Exercise Scenario Development
sequential, narrative account of a
hypothetical accident
provides catalyst for exercise & is
intended to introduce situations to inspire
responses, and thus allow testing of the
exercise objectives.
A realistic exercise scenario provides best
opportunity to evaluate emergency plan,
training, and overall preparedness to
operate under emergency conditions.

1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.5 Exercise Evaluation
Decide criteria or standards of
performance based upon observable
response measures which must be
performed to meet each objective
prior to conducting an exercise.
It is more useful to get an objective-
based rather than a subjective
judgment based solely upon an
evaluators opinion of how well an
overall function was accomplished.
1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.5 Training & Exercising
Shortly before the exercise, enhances a
response organizations performance.
Pre-exercise training might include
communications training for all players
involved in response activities so they can
become familiar with equipment and proper
protocol for exercises.
1. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1.5 Final Preparation
Fine tune the scenario, stage and set-up the
site and equipment, and finalize logistical
and coordination aspects of the exercise..
2. CONDUCTING THE DRILL
2.1 Orientation Seminar
Shortly before the exercise
Inform players of last-minute changes,
Review roles, responsibilities, and objectives.
Instruct players on the extent of exercise play
expected from them during the exercise what
can and cannot be simulated.
Distribute badges to all exercise personnel.

2. CONDUCTING THE DRILL
2.2 Actual Conduct of an Exercise
Keep exercise on track & objectives tested.
Present exercise-initiating narrative;
Announce first event of scenario
Stimulate players responses without
intervening in a way that assumes control of
the play
Manage flow and pace of the exercise by
introducing the remaining events in sequence
through the use of control messages.
Keep exercise on schedule and terminate play
at the specified end-time.
It is best to let the exercise play develop
naturally,

POST-EXERCISE ACTIVITIES
Evaluation Process
De-Briefing
Follow-up
3. POST-EXERCISE ACTIVITIES
3.1 Evaluation Process
What is it ?
systematic examination of effectiveness
Provides justification for improving plan or
additional training
On-going activities

Address each Exercise Objective :
Was it met ?
If yes, what were the results ? If No, what
changes are necessary ?
3. POST-EXERCISE ACTIVITIES
Exercise Evaluation should answer
Are additional resources reqd. ?
Are parts of the plan in need of
revision ?
Is additional training required ?
Are staffing levels adequate ?
Is communication system
vulnerable to overload ?
Can first response units
communicate with one another ?

3. POST-EXERCISE ACTIVITIES
3.2 De-Briefing
Facts & Findings presented,
compared and discussed.
Questionnaire may be useful
Recommend Corrective actions
Schedule follow up


3. POST-EXERCISE ACTIVITIES
3.3 Follow up
Documentation of Recommendations,
Implementers and probable dates of
completion
Record of follow up

LET US PLAY
A TABLE-TOP EXERCISE



There are 2 actions areas in front of the room. One is on-
scene and the other is the Emergency Response Center
(ERC). Participants will enter the scenario by approaching
and taking their place in the appropriate action area.

The participants will fully describe the actions they would
take in a response. Discussion of options is encouraged.
The actor should clearly and audibly so that all participants
can hear the information being presented.

When an actor is nor required on scene or at the ERC, he
must return to the observation section. No direct
communication should take place between the
observation section and the action areas.
2/-
GROUND RULES

A recorder makes notes on the corresponding event sheet of all
discussion and action for later review.

The facilitator may call a time-out in the exercise if technical
advice or new information is needed to ensure that the
simulation is realistic.

When anticipated responses are crucial to the purpose of the
exercise, the facilitator may intervene to ensure that those
responses are presented.

All questions should be directed to the speaker. No comments
beyond the direct action taking place should be made during
the exercise. General comments by observers should be made
during the evaluation period at the conclusion of the exercise.





3/-
TABLE TOP EXERCISE GROUND RULES (Contd.)

GROUND RULES (Contd)
CHEMICAL INCIDENT SCENARIO
A tanker unloading anhydrous ammonia at a bulk storage
tank farm at Ice Cream International has backed over the
transfer line valve, shearing the transfer pipe and initiating a
massive release of ammonia. A large vapour cloud develops
as the pressurised liquid rapidly expands and escapes into
the atmosphere.

The driver of the truck attempts to reach his emergency shut-
off valve but is overcome by the vapour cloud and collapses
before reaching the valve. The attendant at the transfer
station sees the accident and activates an on-site alarm. The
attendant, struggling to remain conscious, contacts the on-
site operations center, briefly describes the accident, and
then collapses.

The cloud is moving!
INCIDENT INFORMATION
Wind speed : 8 to 10 kilometers per hour
Wind direction : From the Southeast
Stability Class : B
Amount of Source : 300 gallons (1135.5 liters) per minute
Temperature : 31
o
C
Distance to adjacent Plastics Facility : 700 meters
Distance to nearest residential area : 300 meters from
fence.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TABLE-TOP EXERCISE
1. To Test On-site Emergency Notification System of Ice
Cream International

2. To Test the Preparedness level and knowledge of
sequence of operations to be adopted in emergency
situation

LIST OF ACTORS

A. At the Ice Cream International
1. Truck Driver
2. Transfer Station Assistant
3. Emergency Control Centre Person
4. Ice Cream International Plant Manager
(Works Incident Controller)
5. Chief Manager (Works Main Controller)
6. Technical Group Leader (With Technical Personnel)
7. Factory Medical Officer
8. Rescue Group Leader (With Rescue Team)

LIST OF ACTORS
(Contd)

B. External Personnel
1. Civic Fire Chief (with Firemen)
2. In-Charge Local Police Station
3. In-Charge Local Factory Inspectorate
4. District Collector
5. On-site Emergency Response Centre Person
6. Civic Hospital Chief
7. Civil Defence Officer
8. Off-site Emergency Control Centre Person

PARTICIPANT INSTRUCTIONS
Each actor responds to messages initiated from the scene or the
ERC. As each response organisation is contacted, its
representative will enter either On-Scene or ERC and state
the organisations communication or question.
ERC represents all office locations away from the accident, so it
may become the fire station, hospital, police station, or other
centre, as required by the scenario.
Communications must be performed realistically & directly to the
individual involved, as if over a phone or radio. All conditions
must be described as in a real incident. The off-site actors cannot
see the events in the classroom.
The chain of communication should be maintained as much as
possible as it would be in an actual response incident. If one
person must contact several people, all those contacts should be
made before the next series of contacts is made.