The Power of the “Safety Pause”

A “Safety Pause” is a technique that is used in a variety of industries at individual, team, and organizational levels. Adapted for UAS Operations, it is the conscious decision to stop current performance for a physical amount of time that allows for additional cognitive activities. The content is divided into three sections regarding the application of the Safety Pause: Individual Crewmember, Flight Crews, and Organizational Leadership. Aviation topics covered include FAA Safety Management System Guidance, Crew Resource Management, Human Factors. Additional industry references provide examples of similar applications in Medical, Nuclear, Military, and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) industries. Individuals: This section discusses the individual role and provides analysis of human factors research. It utilizes a real-world application of the Safety Pause derived from a military UAV accident with a focus on “Fight or Flight”. It provides both negative and positive examples on how the pause can be applied in an individual emergency scenario. Flight Crews: This section is focused on flight crews and features CRM history. It provides guidance on how the pause can be used to address flight role concerns and safely return to operations. A real-world example involving commercial UAS operations demonstrates a positive example of the Safety Pause. Organizational Leadership: This portion covers analysis, alignment with organizational goals, and Safety Promotion and Assurance practices the audience can apply in daily operations. A real-world UAS Research and Development example demonstrating a negative safety culture caused by organizational leadership emphasizes the responsibility of leadership to uphold their safety standards. Real-world scenarios include unique insights and training opportunities for a diverse audience. Safety Pause examples are shared from military, research and development, and commercial UAS applications acquired over a decade of UAS experience. Interactive slides will provide definitions, graphics, and examples highlighting to enable the audience to adapt and apply to their respective operations.