When should table-top exercises be conducted?

Table-top exercises are designed to enhance preparedness and promote effective teamwork before any emergency incident occurs. Conducting them as part of pre-incident planning allows organizations to simulate potential scenarios, identify gaps in their response plans, and develop strategies to address those gaps. This proactive approach ensures that all team members are familiar with their roles and responsibilities and improves overall coordination during actual emergencies.

Performing these exercises before an incident enables participants to engage in discussions about their responses to various situations in a low-pressure environment. This helps build confidence and fosters a collaborative atmosphere where team members can learn from each other. By focusing on preparedness and teamwork, organizations can significantly improve their operational effectiveness when facing real-world situations.

While it may be beneficial to conduct table-top exercises after significant emergency events to analyze responses and improve future strategies, the primary goal should always be to prepare and enhance team dynamics ahead of time. Conducting these exercises during incidents would be counterproductive, and assessing individual firefighter skills typically occurs through different training methods rather than scenario-based discussions.