Enhancing shipboard crew safety-related behaviour: IsCrew Resource Management training the answer?

摘要

One of the threats to safety on ships includes crew work behaviour and performance asinfluenced by their shipboard and environmental conditions and by the organisationalcontext and culture in which they work. It is well known that accidents and incidentsinvolve some form of human failure that incorporates errors, violations or flaweddecisions. In most cases, these human errors occur despite operator technical competence.One way to potentially reduce and manage these human errors and threats effectively is tointroduce error management intervention in the form of training. Within this context, CrewResource Management (CRM) training is being increasingly seen as a fundamental part ofthe human error management philosophy. Although, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) crewsare provided with highly effective technical and procedural training, there has beencomparatively little focus on the non-technical skills that enable ship's crews to effectivelymanage shipboard hazards and errors in such a dynamic and demanding operationalenvironment. CRM training which is a specialised form of applied human factors trainingis designed to provide crew with the awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes to managethemselves and available resources more safely and effectively. It is increasingly seen as acapability enhancer in the improvement of performance and safety. This paper will outline a project which is currently looking at evaluating the effectivenessof the implementation of CRM training programs for RAN crews (submarine and surfaceships). The evaluation will also examine whether the effectiveness of CRM practices iscontingent upon organisational safety climate.