Dr Oliver Hamlet (Axiom Human Factors): Non-Technical Skill Utilisation in Search and Rescue.

Dr Oliver Hamlet is a human factors consultant with a PhD in organisational psychology / human factors from the University of Aberdeen, where he is also a member of the Applied Psychology and Human Factors research group. Oliver has studied psychology for over 11 years, and has 6 years of experience conducting research into human factors, the majority of which focusing on dynamic high-risk environments such as helicopter search and rescue operations.

In early 2021, Oliver completed a PhD exploring the non-technical skills utilisation of offshore transport and search and rescue helicopter crews, the findings of which were used to develop novel human factors training mechanism for helicopter pilots, known as HeliNOTS systems. The HeliNOTS systems have since been recognised for their substantial impact by academia and industry alike. His research has also been used to develop a taxonomy of factors which influence non-technical skills in the sector.

Oliver is passionate about furthering the relationship between academic research and real-world practice, and alongside his human factors consultancy continues his research to identify and train the skills which facilitate high-level human performance.

In this episode we talk about:

What non-technical skills are and their importance to performance.

The development of HeliNOTS.

Positive and negative markers within non-technical skills.

The development and future research around cognitive readiness.

Resources discussed:

Safety at the sharp end by Rhona Flin

Blackbox thinking by Matthew Syed

You can contact Oliver directly at [email protected] or follow him via social media on Linkedin.

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