The University of Aberdeen's highly respected Industrial Psychology Research Group is offering emergency handlers from throughout the UK the chance to participate in a new training technique. 'Tactical Decision Games' enables delegates the opportunity to practice making critical decisions and develop skills for more effective and timely responses in emergency situations. The one-day training workshop will take place today (Tuesday March 18) at the University of Aberdeen King's College Conference Centre.
The concept of Tactical Decision Games is relatively new in the UK. First developed in the US, largely for the military, they have since been introduced in other industries, particularly here in the nuclear industry. Other sectors looking at this method of training include aviation, offshore energy and electricity production. Delegates attending include representatives from BP Exploration and the London Fire Brigade.
Margaret Crichton of the University of Aberdeen Industrial Psychology Research Group and organiser of the workshop said: "The concept for this training workshop arose from the highly successful Critical Incident Management Conference which we staged last May. Nearly 200 delegates attended that Conference and their feedback confirmed that there was a strong demand for an interactive learning workshop for emergency handlers to develop their response and decision making skills. We hope that these new workshop sessions will be a highly innovative learning experience to enhance key skills for emergency response handlers."
The workshop will be highly interactive with an experienced Tactical Decision Game facilitator providing feedback to delegates on how they managed a simulated emergency situation. The aim being to equip delegates with a better understanding of how the non-technical skills of communication, situation awareness, stress management and teamwork, are best used in an emergency situation.
Today's workshop follows on from a successful event held last month. Both workshops will be delivered by Margaret Crichton and Bill Rattray of the University of Aberdeen Industrial Psychology Research Group.