Non-technical skills (NTS) are cognitive, social, and personal resource skills.
Along with technical and functional skills, non-technical skills can be used as bench marks to assess competence in a particular role.
Non-Technical Skills in Safety Critical Roles
Performance in technical skills can increase when non-technical skills are developed. Non-technical skills are now recognised for their importance in safety critical roles as an individual’s ability to avoid, perceive, and deal with errors and threats is enhanced when non-technical skills are developed.
Queensland Rail (Australia), reported that Trainee Drivers who had not completed Non-Technical Skills Training were twice as likely to have a SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger), than those who had completed the training.
Non-Technical Skills & Competency Management
The importance of non-technical skills is widely recognised and they feature within the Competency Frameworks of many organisations, including the National Health Service (NHS); oil, gas, and aviation Industries. Governing organisations, such as the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), advocate the inclusion of Non-technical skills in Competency Management.
You can read our report that came out of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Nottingham Human Factors & Ergonomics Department for further information:
“Integrating Non-Technical Skills into Competency Management Systems for all Safety Critical Rolls”
Examples of Non-Technical Skills
- Situational Awareness
- attention to detail
- overall awareness
- maintaining concentration
- retention of information
- anticipation of risk
- Conscientiousness
- systematic & thorough approach
- checking
- positive attitude towards rules and procedures
- Communication
- listening
- clarity
- assertiveness
- sharing of information
- Decision Making & Action
- effective decision making
- timely decision making
- diagnosing & solving problems
- Co-operation & Working With Others
- considering the needs of others
- supporting others
- treating others with respect
- dealing with conflict & agression
- Workload Management
- multitasking & selective attention
- prioritising
- remaining calm under pressure
- Self Management
- motivation
- confidence & initiative
- maintaining, & developing, skills & knowledge
- prepared & organised
(RSSB, NTS)