Tabletop Exercises for
Incident Management
Effective incident management is critical to maintaining workplace safety and ensuring legal compliance. Whether responding to workplace injuries, hazardous material spills, fires or acts of aggression, your team must be prepared to act swiftly and decisively.
This interactive tabletop training equips organisations with the skills to manage incidents effectively by testing response plans, clarifying roles, and refining decision-making processes in a controlled environment. Through realistic, scenario-based exercises, participants will enhance their ability to assess risks, coordinate responses, and communicate effectively during critical incidents.
Key Benefits
1. Strengthening WHS Leadership Decision-Making
Tabletop exercises challenge executives and managers to make critical decisions under pressure, focusing on workplace health and safety (WHS) priorities. By working through realistic scenarios, leaders can refine their ability to safeguard employees, allocate resources effectively, and respond decisively in emergencies.
2. Enhancing WHS Communication and Coordination
Clear communication is essential during an incident. These exercises help identify potential breakdowns, streamline information flow, and ensure that all stakeholders—including safety representatives—understand their roles and responsibilities in an emergency.
3. Identifying Weaknesses in WHS Emergency Plans
Emergency response plans may appear effective on paper, but tabletop exercises expose practical challenges in real-world application. Organisations can uncover gaps in evacuation procedures, hazard management, and first aid responses, ensuring alignment with WHS regulations and industry best practices.
4. Boosting Confidence and WHS Readiness
By participating in tabletop exercises, employees and leadership teams gain confidence in their ability to manage WHS emergencies. Familiarity with procedures and decision-making frameworks results in a faster, more coordinated response when an actual incident occurs.
5. Cost-Effective WHS Risk Management
Unlike full-scale drills, tabletop exercises require minimal resources and can be conducted in a controlled environment without disrupting business operations. This makes them an efficient and cost-effective way to train staff and assess WHS emergency response plans.
6. Supporting WHS Compliance and Due Diligence
Australian WHS laws require workplaces to demonstrate due diligence in emergency preparedness. Regular tabletop exercises help organisations meet compliance obligations, provide documented evidence of training, and reinforce a proactive safety culture.
Find Your Answers Here!
General Training Information
1. Who should participate in these tabletop exercises?
This training is designed for employees at all levels, including frontline staff, supervisors, managers, and executives. The exercises can be customised to suit different roles within the organisation.
2. How are the tabletop exercises conducted?
The exercises are facilitated onsite in a structured format, where participants work through realistic workplace emergency scenarios, discuss response strategies, and refine their incident management processes in a controlled environment.
4. Can the scenarios be customised to our specific workplace risks?
Yes, we tailor the exercises to align with your organisation’s industry, operations, and specific workplace hazards. This ensures the scenarios are practical, relevant, and directly applicable to your emergency response plans.
5. What is the difference between a tabletop exercise and a full-scale emergency drill?
Tabletop exercises focus on discussion-based training in a controlled setting, allowing participants to test their decision-making and coordination skills without physical disruptions. Full-scale drills involve live, hands-on simulations that require more resources and logistics.
6. How often should we conduct tabletop exercises?
We recommend conducting these exercises at least annually, or more frequently if there are changes in your emergency response plans, key personnel, or regulatory requirements. Regular sessions help maintain readiness and compliance.
7. Do you provide training outside of Melbourne?
At this stage, our tabletop exercises are conducted onsite in Metropolitan Melbourne only. If your organisation is located in rural Victoria, we can arrange onsite sessions upon request—please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Currently, we do not offer remote or online delivery for tabletop exercises, as they are designed to be interactive, scenario-based sessions that require in-person engagement for maximum effectiveness.
Additional Information:
✔ Standard pricing applies for all Metropolitan Melbourne bookings.
✔ Travel expenses may apply for rural Victoria sessions, including transportation and accommodation (if required).
If you’re interested in bringing tabletop exercises to your workplace, contact us to discuss options and ensure the training aligns with your organisation’s needs.
8. Does the training align with current health and safety legislation?
Yes. Our tabletop exercises are fully aligned with Australian workplace health and safety laws, ensuring compliance with the latest standards and regulations. While delivery is currently limited to onsite sessions in Metropolitan Melbourne, we recognise that many organisations operate across multiple jurisdictions.
Our tabletop exercises align with:
✔ Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and regulations
✔ The Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, applicable in other states and territories
✔ AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
When booking, you can nominate the jurisdiction you want us to focus on, and we will tailor the content to reflect the specific legislative and compliance requirements of your location. This ensures your team is fully prepared to manage workplace health and safety obligations with confidence.
9. How does this training help us meet our legal obligations under Australian workplace health and safety laws?
Our training is designed to ensure your organisation meets its workplace health and safety (WHS) obligations by aligning with Australian safety legislation, including:
✔ Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and regulations
✔ The Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, applicable in other states and territories
✔ AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Through practical tabletop exercises, participants will:
🔹 Identify and assess workplace risks to prevent incidents before they occur.
🔹 Clarify roles and responsibilities under WHS laws, ensuring due diligence and compliance.
🔹 Test emergency response plans to ensure they align with legal requirements and industry best practices.
🔹 Document actions and decision-making processes, providing evidence of compliance in the event of an audit or workplace incident.
By participating in this training, your organisation demonstrates a proactive approach to WHS compliance, fulfilling your duty of care while fostering a safer, more prepared workplace.
Book Your Free Safety Chat Today!
Unsure about the right training for your team? Let us help transform your workplace with tailored health and safety solutions. With flexible onsite and remote learning options, we address your unique safety challenges. Explore our standard packages or collaborate with us to create customised workshops. Book a discovery call today to get started!