If you’re the one who’s responsible for setting up proficiency training for your team, ask your team members to come up with some ideas that are different from your typical drill. You might be surprised with what they come up with. If you’re a team member, approach your training manager with some suggestions to change things up a bit. Once the idea is planted and your team starts to run a variety of training scenarios, the idea will catch on. In fact, team members may try to “outdo” each other on coming up with the next new scenario.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
1. Dig deeper into your equipment kits. Is there a piece of gear that is gathering dust? Some of the old tried-and-true pieces still have a lot of value. See if incorporating them into your next training session rekindles the thought that it was good back then and it still has a place today.
2. Call some of your neighboring plants (or agencies) to see if they have a situation that is different from what you have. Do a little brainstorming over the phone and then re-create the situation during a train up.
3. Review NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program Investigations to see if there are lessons to be learned. There will be. Try to identify incidents that have similar space configurations and associated hazards as you may be summoned to.
4. Do a thorough review of your existing rescue plans. Are they current? Have there been new spaces installed or reconfigured that would make existing rescue plans ineffective? If so, update the plans and practice any new procedures that the new plans may have generated.
5. Sign up for Roco’s Rescue Challenge. This is a great opportunity to share ideas with other rescuers and learn new ways to approach your rescue response. It also satisfies annual practice requirements for individuals, and rescue teams.