Client: RNLI & I.O.W Fire Brigade departments.
Contractor: MMC Diving Services
Date posted: 28-10-2015
MMC aims to ensure all areas of our Business are fully prepared for all types of emergencies.
Integral to that is the practicing and testing of all the elements of emergency plans.
Training staff that are involved in emergency planning and response is fundamental to our organisation’s ability to handle any type of emergency.
MMC were approached to assist three units of the IOW fire brigade to help simulate a high ropes and confined space rescue exercise. We were also asked independently by the RNLI to assist in the training of their methods associated with the recovery of an unconscious diver.
Emergency planning exercises An exercise is a simulation of an emergency situation, these exercises have 3 main purposes:-
- To validate plans (validation)
- To develop staff competencies and give them practice in carrying out their roles in the plans (training)
- To test well-established procedures (testing)
Why it is important to hold exercises
Planning for emergencies cannot be considered reliable until it is exercised and has proved to be workable, especially since false confidence may be placed in the integrity of a written plan.
Generally, participants in exercises should have an awareness of their roles and be reasonably comfortable with them, before they are subject to the stresses of an exercise. Exercising is not to catch people out.
It tests procedures, not people. If staff are under-prepared, they may blame the plan, when they should blame their lack of preparation and training. An important aim of an exercise should be to make people feel more comfortable in their roles and to build morale.
