The Amygdala and What Stress Has to Do With It?
Good day! My name is Roman Portnyagin, and today I want to share a topic that has long concerned me: why people make wrong decisions in emergency situations, and how this is directly related to stress. Let's break it down step by step...
We Already Know This
According to a study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 80% of industrial accidents are caused by the human factor.
A study by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) showed that in 88% of industrial accidents, the primary cause was incorrect actions by workers.
Oh, That Human Factor
Stress activates the amygdala in the brain, which reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex responsible for logical thinking and informed decision-making. It triggers an adrenaline rush, leading to "tunnel vision."
A study published in the journal "Psychological Science" found that stress reduces the capacity for critical thinking and risk analysis, leading to incorrect actions in emergencies. To back this up, here are figures from several other studies:
University of California (2018): 30% higher error probability
Harvard University (2020): 35% higher error probability
University of Pennsylvania (2021): 50% higher error probability
Journal of Applied Psychology: 40% higher error probability
Institute of Aviation and Astronautics: 35% higher error probability
"Stress and Health" study: 30% higher error probability
Damage from Accidents is Inevitable
Data from DuPont's "Sustainable Solutions" report indicates that worker errors can increase accident damage by an average of 30-50%. In some cases, this figure reaches 70%.
A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) titled "Effectiveness of Emergency Action Training" shows that personnel errors can increase accident damage by 30-50%
Back to Russia
Our legislation, in my opinion, exhaustively tells us that we need to train — train so that in an emergency, a person knows what to do and is not subjected to severe stress; the simplest example is fire evacuation.
I have participated in fifty drill evacuations (and a couple of real ones), and I have always liked the process. What scares me is that this process is often so formal that people are warned about the evacuation long in advance, even if it is a drill. Will such training help our bodies cope with stress?
According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, between 2015 and 2020, about 10-15% of all fire victims were injured specifically due to panic and disorganized evacuation.
So, Training…
A study conducted at Harvard University showed that regular training helps reduce stress levels by 50%, which directly affects the quality of decision-making.
During training at a nuclear power plant in Japan, it was noted that regular sessions reduce worker stress levels by 45%, allowing them to make more thoughtful decisions at critical moments.
Education and training not only improve technical skills but also increase workers' psychological resilience. A study at the University of Michigan showed that workers who undergo regular training demonstrate 35% higher stress resilience in emergency situations.
Examples of International Practice
Description: A program designed to prepare personnel for work in stressful conditions, including a series of drills and simulations.
Results: A study at British Petroleum showed that employees who completed such a program were 40% less likely to make errors in emergency situations.
Description: A program aimed at changing behavioral responses and improving stress management skills.
Results: An Oxford University study showed that employees who underwent CBT handled stress 30% better and made more deliberate decisions in emergencies.
These studies and practical experience formed the basis of a training program for workers internally named "Practicum DOR."
Keeping Up
Today, the Norilsk Nickel Safety Culture Coaching Institute has developed an emergency response training program.
The training includes a surprise check of worker readiness. This includes both legally mandated skills, such as using self-rescuers and providing first aid, and profession-specific skills, such as evacuating a LHD machine cabin during a rockfall or using an emergency shower after sulfuric acid exposure.
By reinforcing these skills directly at the workplace, we aim to reduce the impact of stress on workers in an emergency. To hone skills, save lives, and reduce the likelihood and damage of accidents.
I will talk more about how we do this at the end of September during the HSE DAYS webinar.