Culture, CRM and aviation safety

Aircraft and other industrial mishaps are now investigated with a view to comprehensively examining the systemic factors which may have contributed to the occurrence and the context within which they take place. The aviation psychology and human factors community has contributed significantly to the development of systemic investigation methods, in addition to techniques aimed at the prevention of accidents. The development and maintenance of appropriately targeted selection methods, comprehensive and operationally relevant human factors training programs, thorough systemic investigation techniques, and a positive safety culture can have a direct impact on the bottom line of organisational safety. Also important are the various cultures within which the world's aviation professionals carry out their operational duties, and the fit between those cultures and proposed safety solutions (eg., CRM training). This paper will examine the broader notions of culture, CRM, and aviation safety, and will discuss methods available to organisations to enhance their operational safety performance.