Evaluating wind technicians' performance on safety-critical rescue steps. Issue 1 (20th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lawani, Kenneth; Hare, Billy; Cameron, Iain
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Volume 172:Issue 1(2019:Feb.)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2018-07-20
• Subjects: health & safety -- knowledge management -- safety & hazards; Engineering -- Management -- Periodicals; Civil engineering contracts -- Periodicals; Civil engineering -- Law and legislation -- Periodicals; Construction industry -- Management -- Periodicals; Construction contracts -- Periodicals; Construction industry -- Law and legislation -- Periodicals; 624.068
• DOI: 10.1680/jmapl.18.00002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-4304

Abstract

Abstract : This paper reports the results of an analysis on the performance levels of wind technicians at 1 month and 3 months on safety-critical steps using situational judgement tests (SJTs) and job knowledge tests (JKTs) to assess their emergency rescue and evacuation proficiency. The research design is a repeat-measures study (longitudinal), using SJTs and JKTs to assess job-specific knowledge and job-related situations. It measured procedural knowledge in addition to aspects of declarative knowledge and fluid abilities, and this was considered as a good predictor of performance for wind technicians. The results indicate that rescue and evacuation skills decay within 1 month and 3 months after wind turbine rescue and evacuation training with 47 and 20% of technicians experiencing such decay in their skills and knowledge. These findings have practical implications for activities involving rescue and evacuation of workers – for example, crane driver rescue. The implementation of SJTs and JKTs indicates that skill decay takes place within the first 4 weeks after acquisition. Likewise, job knowledge is more resistant to decay compared with skill tasks over the 3 months' retention time frame for both refresher and new wind technicians.