IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response Module L-051 General Concepts of Exercises to Test Preparedness Lecture.

IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response

Module L-051Module L-051

General Concepts of Exercises to Test Preparedness

LectureLecture

L-051: General Concepts of Exercises to Test Preparedness

2

Objectives

• Understand the concept of an integrated emergency preparedness program

• Understand the role of exercises within that program

• Know the different types of exercises

• Know the purpose of exercises


3

Background

• EPR-METHOD 2003 – Method for Developing Arrangements for Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency provides:• Elements of good response plans and

arrangements

• Performance objectives


4

Background (cont’d)

• The evaluation of plans and resources is not sufficient

• Training is important

• The ability to perform is what matters


5

Emergency Preparedness Program

Trainingdrill andexercises

Coordination

AuthorityOrganization

QAProgramme

Plans andProcedures

Logisticalsupport and

facilities

Meet Response Objectives


6

Plans and

procedures

Training Exercises

Three Components of an Effective Emergency Preparedness Program


7

Emergency Preparedness Effectiveness

• How do we know if all the emergency preparedness is effective?

• Do we know if it will really work?


8

Evaluating Performance

• Real Emergency

• Drill

• Table Top

• Test

• Exercise


9

Real Emergency

• The real test!

• A learning experience, although too late

• Even small incidents provide a good learning opportunity• If properly evaluated (post mortem)

• If feed back process

• If a positive learning attitude is maintained


10

Drill

• Drill = small directed exercise• Purpose is learning or testing a small portion of the

plan or procedures• Examples

• Activation drill• Survey drill• Medical drill• Decision-making drill

• A drill is often preceded and/or followed by a training session


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Examples of Drills

• Communications

• Notification

• Station personnel accounting

• Radiological monitoring

• Off-site exposure assessment

• Personnel dose assessment and control

• Contamination control

• Off-site protective actions

• Medical first aid

• Emergency analysis

• Public information


12

Table Top

• Table top = exercise without deployment of resources

• Used mainly for decision-makers

• Evolution can be slow-time and discussion is encouraged


13

Test

• Test = evaluated or graded exercise for an individual or a team

• A great way to verify performance

• Examples: operator testing

• Not suitable for a large organization or for several interacting organizations


14

Exercises

• Exercise = coordinated response to a simulated and complex scenario

• Exercises challenge• Plan

• Procedures

• Resources

• Performance

• The only real way (except for real emergencies) to test the integrated performance


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Exercises (cont’d)

• Exercises are also an excellent training opportunity to:• Test new concepts

• Learn to respond under stress


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Exercises

Facility emergency

• On-Site

• Off-Site

• Full Scale

Transport emergency, etc.

• On-scene

• Pre-hospital

• Hospital emergency

• Longer-term medical management


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Why Exercises?

• Emergency response exercises are:• Powerful tool for verification and improvement

• Used for training, validation, evaluation and regulatory purposes

• Increasingly considered an important part of safety

• Their value depends on clear objectives:• Preparation

• Conduct

• Evaluation


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Purpose of an Exercise

• To test the overall performance of emergency response plans, procedures, arrangements, resources and people• The main purpose is not to test individuals, but to

test the system

• The purpose of an exercise is not to demonstrate how good the response organizations are, or how bad they could be

• To train

• To test or explore new concepts and ideas


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Purpose of an Exercise (cont’d)

A good exercise is not necessarily one where everything goes well, but rather one where

many good lessons are learned


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Purpose of an Exercise (cont’d)

• Validate a new plan or a new concept

• Periodic verification

• Communications

• Regulatory compliance

• Continued improvement


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Secrets to a Good Exercise

• Objectives must be clearly identified and communicated

• Scenario must be realistic and challenging

• Exercise instructions must be clear, well communicated and professional

• Exercise control must be strict, non-intrusive and professional

• Evaluation must be critical and well substantiated

• Evaluation report must be timely


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Some Important Definitions:Exercise Team

• Controllers• Manage the exercise

• Provide the necessary injects and data

• Evaluators• Take notes during the exercise

• Evaluate the exercise


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Some Important Definitions: Players

• Emergency responders

• Take part in the exercise by taking actions required as if it were a real emergency

• Part of the organizations being evaluated

• Do not know the exercise scenario


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Some Important Definitions: Observers

• Observers observe!

• They do not interfere

• They do not manage

• They do not evaluate

• They stay out of the way!


25

Summary

• Emergency response exercises• Are part of a safety program

• Are the only way to test performance in real time (other than real events)

• Challenge the entire organization and its interfaces

• Challenge communications

• Can be an excellent continuous improvement tool

IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and Response Module L-051 General Concepts of Exercises to Test Preparedness Lecture.

Documents

test test

general concepts of

exercises contd exercises

exercises exercise

test exercise slide

purpose of exercises

test new concepts

emergency response exercises