Prospective memory in safety-critical work contexts

Reliable prospective memory (PM) functioning of individuals is essential for safe and efficient outcomes of sociotechnical work systems such as air traffic control (ATC), commercial piloting, emergency healthcare, intensive care, submarine control rooms, and emergency response units. Failure to perform deferred task actions in such safety-critical work settings can have dangerous consequences. Much of the work of pilots, air traffic controllers, and healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses, involves executing the sequential steps of highly practiced procedures. The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database includes a substantial number of reports from airline pilots who aborted a take-off after their warning system alerted them that their faps were not properly set. Context is a powerful cue for experts. Controllers are trained on specific sectors and thus learn to recognize specific types of air traffic configurations.