EXERCISE GROUND RULES
1. This exercise is being conducted in a “no-fault” learning environment, wherein systems and processes, not individuals, are being evaluated.
2. This exercise should be viewed, above all other considerations, as a training opportunity. Exercise participants who diligently pursue execution of their responsibilities cannot fail. Everyone involved in the exercise is there to learn and heighten his/her state of preparedness. Exercise players who are uncertain of their responsibilities or actions are encouraged to ask for help from their fellow participants or the exercise facilitators.
3. Safety is of paramount importance during the exercise. Any observed or potential safety hazards must be immediately reported to the exercise facilitators and designated Safety Officer (SOFR). Upon correction, exercise play may resume.
4. Real-world emergencies take obvious precedent over exercise play. The exercise will be suspended in the event of an actual incident or other emergency. The 911 dispatch should be immediately contacted in response to a medical emergency, security incident, etc.
5. All internal/external telephone calls must be prefaced with the phrase “This is a Drill”. All other written and electronic correspondence, including emails, text messages, radio transmissions, and faxes, should be similarly marked. This precaution shall be taken to ensure any individuals who overhear conversations or read drill-related correspondence don’t mistake exercise play for a real-world emergency.
6. Similarly, all exercise documentation, including ICS forms, technical reports/plans, maps, etc., should be distinctly marked “This is a Drill”.
7. In addition to engaging in dialogue with those in attendance, players are highly encouraged to communicate with non-participating agencies, contractors, vendors, and other members of the response community, with the exception of elected officials and actual news media, as if this was an actual spill event. This will promote realism and help facilitate a working relationship with those who may become involved in an actual emergency response.
8. However, no materials or supplies should be procured unless so authorized. All actions must be stopped short of expenditures for actual mobilization, purchase, or contract.
9. Exercise controllers will relay certain physical descriptions of what is theoretically occurring at the incident site, either verbally or with written materials/illustrations. Such information may include air monitoring readings, spill plume trajectories, equipment arrival times, wildlife casualties, oil recovery volumes, etc. Exercise controllers may also role-play non-participating agencies, stakeholders, contractors, politicians, news media, and public.
10. “Injects” will be introduced into exercise play at various time intervals during the exercise. These “injects” present players with information and challenges associated with the incident and are specifically designed to stimulate discussions regarding a particular subject matter. For benefit of the exercise, please react to these scenarios as they are presented, in the same manner as if the simulated “injects” were real.
11. Unless otherwise informed, existing (real-time) weather/meteorological and streamflow conditions will apply during the exercise.
12. Parts of the exercise scenario may seem implausible. Players should recognize certain exercise objectives need to be satisfied, which may require the incorporation of unrealistic aspects.
13. Exercise participants are expected to complete incident-related documentation and various ICS forms and technical reports/plans coinciding with their assigned ICS function. Blank ICS forms (in both hard-copy and electronic formats) will be made available during the exercise.
14. Exercise play spaces will be outfitted with poster-size enlargements of various ICS forms, maps, diagrams, and aerial photographs, as part of the Situation Display.
15. Exercise players are expected to reference and follow the procedures outlined in the HEP OPA ’90 Master Oil Spill Response Plan, which is available on the Witt O’Brien’s ePlanPro online platform.
16. Exercise players are requested to keep a record of events, using Individual Activity Log (ICS-214a), along with lessons learned during the exercise, as they would in an actual incident.
17. All paperwork should be turned in to the exercise facilitators upon conclusion of the exercise.
