Response team members should know specified technical procedures to be able to function effectively at an accident site. Exercise and Investigative Follow-up Simulation exercises allow a plan to be tested under conditions similar to an actual incident. It can be exercised in stages. When each stage has been reviewed, a full-scale scenario is helpful in evaluating the total response. Table-top exercises help foresee problems without the time and expense of simulations.
Realism is critical.
As much information as possible should be provided to get the best evaluation of the plan. Federal, provincial and municipal participation in emergency exercises will help clarify the roles to be played each worker at each level. The plan should provide a formal approach to preventive maintenance of response equipment including regularly scheduled sessions for operational testing and inventory control. Integration Integrating your plan, to the extent possible, with existing local plans along your transportation corridors will carry many benefits, including making people more aware and better prepared in the case of an accident. A formal process for updating and informing all plan holders of changes should be implemented.