Exercises for IM/RU incident response units (e.g. staff of the OCC  , situation room, infrastructure maintenance and other logistical support staff) are a crucial element in improving incident management, as they transfer the knowledge and experience acquired by the organization in a methodical, focused manner to all relevant entities. It also supports a clear understanding of the needs of the police, whose representatives may participate in the training to mutual benefit. Information leaflets/ packages/ kits can be used to support formal exercises.

Exercises are a way of testing incident response plans and are regularly organised by IMs   and RUs   to ensure, for example, over a period of time, that:

• Plans are effective with the necessary resources (people and equipment) available;
• The planned IM and RU relationship is effective;
• IM and RU organisations and individuals understand their allocated roles and apply these properly;
• There are effective relationships between responders, e.g. between the IM’s Lead Person, external incident responders on site, the OCC   and external incident responders control centres;
• Incident response arrangements are effective in locations with difficult access e.g. sub- surface stations and cuttings.

IMs   and RUs   may seek to involve external incident responders in these exercises to test the robustness of planned interfaces and a co-ordinated response. In addition to testing their own plans IMs   and RUs   PTOs/IMs   need to liaise with and support relevant exercises organised by external incident responders. Information may be obtained and lessons learned by attending other organisations exercises and IMs   and RUs   may do this as observers even when not directly involved in the plan being exercised.

As an input to ensuring staff training and competence IMs   and RUs   record those staff attending exercises.

Deficiencies in plans identified during exercises will need to be corrected as soon as possible, ideally before subsequent use of the plans.