Learning effects in professional training for emergencies management in industrial plants with serious games

The complexity of situations and potential error connected to maxi-emergencies and disasters management are increasing in the last years. The analysis of natural disasters and related possible dysfunctions of the "emergency chain" leads to well-encoded rescue plans. The simulation has allowed in recent years to improve and optimize the management of these events. This study presents results of a new serious game that simulates activities, procedures and processes that have been implemented to train figures entitled in the management and aid activities during the maxi-emergencies that may occur in industrial plants. In particular, the serious game presented is based on a discrete event simulator and it is able to reproduce emergency situations in which the players can assess their own abilities. The results presented show how the use of such training simulator significantly improves the initial score, increasing the awareness of coordination and decision-making abilities in emergency situations.