Training for emergency management: tactical decision games

Training of the non-technical skills that are crucial to effective manageme nt of emergency situations is an issue that is currently receiving increasi ng emphasis in the petrochemical sector. A case study is presented of the e xplosion and fires at the Texaco Refinery, Milford Haven, UK, which occurre d in July 1994 (HSE, The explosion and fires at the Texaco Refinery, Milfor d Haven, 24 July 1994. HSE: London, 1997), with particular focus on the hum an factors aspects of the event. A key issue identified by the official rep ort into this incident was the importance of emergency management training. This paper outlines a novel, low-fidelity training intervention, the tacti cal decision game (TDG), which is designed to enhance the non-technical ski lls (decision making, situation awareness, communication and co-ordination, teamwork, and stress management) required for emergency management. It is proposed that enhanced learning of these non-technical skills, through expe rience and directed practice following repeated exposure to TDGs, will lead to more efficient emergency management, particularly when dealing with haz ardous materials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.