1. Leveraging on Human Factors to
Minimise the Impact of Emergencies
Thomas Uihlein, Director of Aviation Academy
Ljubljana, July 2020
2. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20192
Human Factors
Are we all the same humans?
Gender:
The avarage physial strength of men is greater than
of woman, but the two distributions overlap greatly
and many woman are physically stronger than many
men.
Laterality:
Around 10% of women and 13% of men prefer to
carry out all tasks with their left hand.
Vision:
Around 8% of the population is color blind.
Ageing
Between one in three and one in four employees are
over 50 years old. Ageing means both an increase in
experience and the deterioration of some physical
capacities.
3. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20193
Human Factors
We are all influenced by the same factors?
Life events:
Life events and emotions that these events generate, can
effect a person‘s physical state, his perception, the
decisions he makes
Medical restrictions:
These creates difficulties both for people
involved and their environment.
4. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20194
Human Factors
We be are all the same humans and influenced by the same factors?
No! We are not!
We are different and are changing all the time!
It‘s hard to predict how we act under stress!
5. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20195
Stress
Causes of stress and psychological stress
„It is not things that trouble us,
but our interpretations of them.“
Epictetus, Greek Stoic Philosopher, ca. 55 -135AD
6. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20196
Stress
Definition
Psychological stress is the totality of all tangible
influences that come from outside on the person
and objectively affect him mentally. A mental stress
that triggers stress is called stressor.
Stress is
• the unspecific reaction to loads / requirements
• the impact of stress on humans
• an adaptation of the body to stressors.
7. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20197
Stress
Critical Incident - Definition
A critical incident is any unusual situation
or event faced by a person that causes him
or her to experience unusually strong
emotional reactions. Which can overwhelm
one‘s usual coping mechanism.
8. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20198
Stress
Critical Incident (Distress)
9. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 20199
Stress
Stressors in each phase of intervention
Critical Incident
Alarming and
On the way to
the scene
On the scene
during the
intervention
End of the
intervention
Time
10. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201910
Stress
Stress Development
Cognition
Emotions
Time
Critical Incident
11. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201911
Stress
Acute Stress Reaction of individuals
Stress Mode Relax Mode
12. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201912
Stress
Acute Stress Reaction – Acute Phase
A critical incident is any unusual situation or event faced by a person that
causes him or her to experience unusually strong emotional reactions.
Which can overwhelm one‘s usual coping mechanism.
Affected people
• Seem like numbed
• Have reduced attention
• Have dissociative symptoms such as the feeling of not being yourself or
experiencing anything through a filter
• Subject to strong emotional fluctuations
• Have vegetative reactions such as sweating, palpitations or nausea
13. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201913
Stress
Acute Stress Reaction – Processing Phase
Intrusion of trauma material into everyday life:
Nightmares & Flashbacks, i. recurrent sensory impressions such as
pictures, sounds and smells
Avoidance of stimulation: avoiding thoughts, feelings,
conversations, places and people who somehow remind of the event
Hyperarousal: anxiety & over-excitement, i. motor restlessness,
dreadfulness, sleep disturbances, concentration marks, memory
lapses concerning event, irritability, self-destructive behavior,
physical symptoms
14. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201914
Stress
Circles of Vulnerability
Victims
victims families,
eyewitness
coworkers,
extended family,
friends,
rescue services
local community,
acquaintances, helpers,
similar professions,
people watching
the media
15. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201915
Human Factor
Personal coping strategies
Protective coping strategies help emergency personnel to distance themselves
from the experience (e.g. focusing on the medical mission, mental positive self-
instruction, control of breathing).
Stabilizing coping strategies help emergency personnel to find their way back
into the normalcy of everyday life (e.g. everyday structure, daily rituals, physical
activity, relaxation)
Opening coping strategies help emergency services to integrate what they have
experienced into their lives (e.g. "to talk about the soul", to express impressions,
to write down experiences)
16. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201916
Human Factor
Psycholosocial protection factors
Self-care - What is good for me? Promotion of enjoyable, enjoyable experiences
in everyday life based on a health-promoting attitude.
Social Relations - Who cares? Building and maintaining a social network and
experiencing helpful, "nurturing" social relationships.
Self-efficacy - What am I good at? Trust in one's own strengths and in one's own
ability.
Meaningfulness – Why do I do what I do? The examination of one's own values,
goals and future visions.
17. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201917
Human Factor
Protection factors in the work context
• Organizational culture (esteem, "thank you culture, ...)
• Corporate culture (collegiality, appreciation, error culture ...)
• Leadership (technical, management and social competence, ...)
• Equipment (needs-based, participation of employees ...)
• Education and training (burden topic ?, conscientious ...)
18. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201918
Human Factor
Crisis Management Organization
Organization
Team
Technical
Team
Communication
Team
Care
Team
19. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201919
Human Factor
Crisis Management Organization
Let employees choose in which area the want support.
20. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201920
Human Factor
Crisis Management Organization
the new team membersAssess
Train
Form
the new team members first in theoretical,
conduct lot of table top exercises and role
plays
the new team and conduct pratical
exercises for each szenario as much as
possible
21. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201921
Human Factor
Crisis Management Organization – Our credo
We are a team!
Let‘s act as one!
Take care as one!
22. Leveraging on Human Factors to Minimise the Impact of Emergencies, Singapore 14. March 201922
Human Factor
Crisis Management Organization
Assess
Train
Form
the new team members first in theoretical,
conduct lot of table top exercises and role
plays
the new team and conduct pratical
exercises for each szenario as much as
possible
Thank you for your attention!
