The “Safety Takes Flight” project is a significant initiative in the context of promoting organizational health and well-being in the helicopter industry, developed by the APRESO research group of the University of Verona in collaboration with Helicopters Italia. The main objective is the prevention of burnout through the development of non-technical skills (NOTECHS) and job recovery strategies.
This project consisted of five training modules, each offered in three editions to encourage wider participation. Overall, the project involved 38 participants including SUEM118 health personnel (physicians and nurses), CNSAS (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico) technicians, and students from the University of Verona. The training covered several topics, including conflict management, emotion management in emergency settings, fatigue management and burnout risk, recovery strategies, and non-technical skills development (NOTECHS).
Participation was equally distributed in relation to gender and contractual nature, promoting labor inclusion and best practices in diversity management. The project included rigorous risk assessment of the constructs of emotional job demands, fatigue and burnout, recovery, NOTECHS, and role conflict through questionnaires administered before and after training. The training interventions were supported by interactive and audiovisual learning materials, with continuous assessment of learning.
The results obtained show an improvement in participants' well-being through the development of self-monitoring skills for fatigue level, physician and nurse turnover, and CNSAS members. Techniques for managing emotions experienced in emergency work settings through emotional regulation strategies were developed to reduce the risk of emotional exhaustion, one of the components of burnout. Job recovery strategies were implemented in stressful situations in the emergency/helicopter emergency setting to operate safely (aviation safety). Role conflict escalation was reduced through learning specific techniques, and cooperative communication and teamwork were promoted.
Dissemination of results is through publication of scientific articles, reports, and promotion of seminars. The main goal is to generate stable change in participants over time, monitored through quanti-qualitative tools and statistical techniques.
