NON-TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PROFESSIONALS IN RAILWAY OPERATIONS IN BRAZIL

The present work aims to capture the perception of occupational safety professionals about the importance of non-technical skills (NTS) in the railway work environment, both in the context of routine safety activities and in emergency scenarios. An exploratory study was carried out with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 31 occupational safety professionals (safety engineers and safety technicians), with the aim of assessing how they are trained in terms of NTS and how they need to use them in carrying out their activities in the Brazilian railway sector. A semi- quantitative methodology was used to collect data, using a documentary literature review, application of an online questionnaire and interviews with professionals who chose to participate in the study. The results show that professionals valued leadership and teamwork skills more when carrying out routine activities, whereas in an emergency context the NTS of decision- making, leadership and communication were valued more. The skill considered most present in routine safety interventions was decision-making, while teamwork was considered most present in emergency and contingency situations.