Enabler for safety improvements in air traffic control – Development of a tool to identify and monitor work and situational factors

Air traffic control activities demand a high level of safety performance. Methods for identifying and monitoring work and situational factors to enable safety performance improvements are rare. This paper reports on the development of such a questionnaire-based tool for the Swedish air navigation services provider. Results from interviews specified eight aspects to be assessed by the questionnaire: safety culture, commitment to safety, organizational climate, psychosocial work environment, leadership, communication, employee participation, and areas of conflict. The questionnaire functioned well in a pilot study. It proved the relevance of items and yielded responses identifying organizational system weaknesses and potential latent conditions regarding risk and safety. Key enablers for success of the tool are management commitment and involvement of all organizational levels.