Exploratory Study on Bio-Risk Perception and Impact of Specific Training

Risk perception scarcely dependents on rational factors, but it is strongly determined by emotions. Neurometric and biometric analysis techniques make it possible to investigate the emotional correlates of workplace risk behaviour, biological risk and psychological risk. We propose a preliminary study investigating the cognitive and emotional effect of specific training on risk perception and the impact on safety in the workplace. We used 36 channel EEG and related neurocognitive indicators of attention, cognitive overload and prefrontal asymmetry; skin conductance and heart rate variation for physiological analysis and EyeTracker technology for studying visual attention during the administration of ad hoc video and photographic stimuli to assess perceived risk on a sample of 12 trained and 12 untrained subjects. A questionnaire of risk perception evaluation was also administered. We expect a difference between trained and untrained personnel especially in terms of risk perception, neurophysiological activation, cognitive overload and attention. The use of the neurocognitive methodology to study safety in the workplace and the effectiveness of specific training to investigate the cognitive and emotional experience in relation to the perception of risk in the workplace.