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TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS FOR CIVIL PROTECTION IN GREECE

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SAFEGREECE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
ISSN 2654-1823

25-27.09

proceedings

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SAFEGREECE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

SafeA�ca 2023 – 10th Interna�onal Conference on Civil Protec�on & New Technologies
25 - 27 September, War Museum, Athens, Greece
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 SAFEGREECE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

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Title: SafeA�ca 2023 Proceedings

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SafeGreece Proceedings

ISSN 2654-1823

SafeA�ca 2023 – 10th Interna�onal Conference on Civil Protec�on & New Technologies
25 - 27 September, War Museum, Athens, Greece
www.safea�ca.com - www.safea�ca.gr | safea�ca@safegreece.gr
______________________________________________________________________________________________
SafeAttica 2023 Proceedings | ISSN 2654-1823

TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS FOR CIVIL PROTECTION IN GREECE

Paraskevi Georgiadou1, Dimitra Pinotsi1, Michail Chalaris2, Maria Roussi1, Antonis Targoutzidis1
1
Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (ELINYAE), (Greece).
(E-mail: evi.georgiadou@elinyae.gr, pinotsi@elinyae.gr, targoutzidis@elinyae.gr)
2
International Hellenic University (IHU), (Greece).
(E-mail: mchalaris@chem.ihu.gr, mroussi@chem.ihu.gr)

ABSTRACT
Today’s hazards, such as biological, environmental, geological, hydro meteorological and technological
processes and phenomena, pose a major threat to humans and the environment. Training constitutes an
important factor in preventing and responding to such risks. The SETOFF Project aims to improve the
readiness and occupational safety of both civil protection and private sector safety and security personnel
against future crises and emergencies, by developing an innovative e-training curriculum. An assessment
and analysis of the training needs was carried out for the preparation of the curriculum. In this paper the
main results of the quantitative survey for training needs in Greece are presented. An online questionnaire
was established which was distributed in employees in various services and organizations related to civil
protection. Overall, 347 respondents participated. The training needs analysis highlighted the significant
lack in terms of the existing level of training for civil protection issues in Greece, particularly for some
groups, such as municipal and regional staff, safety engineers, volunteers etc. Issues such as preferences
regarding certain features of an asynchronous training program and the duration of each training course
were investigated. Based on the results of the analysis of training needs, the topics to be included in the
training program of the SETOFF project were chosen. These are introduction to risk, risk management
process, risk perception, risk communication, weather phenomena, floods, fires (urban, wildfires),
earthquakes, volcanoes, industrial accidents, epidemics, security, occupational safety and health (for first
responders) and first aid.

Keywords: training, e-learning, civil protection, distant asynchronous learning, disaster preparedness

1. INTRODUCTION - OBJECTIVE
Natural and man-made disasters can have very serious effects on the lives and health of workers, citizens
and the environment. The importance of training for civil protection personnel and first responders for
disaster risk reduction in relation to natural or man-made disasters is underlined by a number of studies
and reports [1,2,3]. However, the weaknesses that still exist at the level of training and the large
differences between countries are pointed out [2,4,5]. Training that includes participants from different
countries gives the possibility of exchanging knowledge and approaches and contributes to the increase
of preparedness of those involved in civil protection [6]. It is also mentioned that there is a wider audience
in need of targeted training at the European level than the target audience of the European Civil
Protection Mechanism (UCPM) training programme (firefighters, military or paramilitary from command
levels to tactical and operational levels). For example, it is mentioned that training should include
foresters and landscape management practitioners (e.g., behavioral experts, meteorological forecast
engineers), trainers, government actors and other stakeholders [6].

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SafeAttica 2023 – 10th International Conference on Civil Protection & New Technologies
25-27 September, Athens War Museum
www.safeattica.com - www.safeattica.gr | safeattica@safegreece.org
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The importance of emergency preparedness training for natural and technological disasters as well as
epidemics is highlighted by studies that have been carried out in Greece regarding emergency situations
in the place of residence and in the workplace [7,8,9].

One project which focuses on training on civil protection by taking into consideration differences among
countries, is the SETOFF (Smart Education and Training PrOgram For central and local government
servants: Embrace vulnerability as our greatest strength and innovative tools For risk management). The
SETOFF Project aims to improve the readiness and occupational safety of both civil protection and private
sector safety and security personnel against future crises and emergencies by developing an innovative
e-training curriculum. In this context an e-training platform will be developed including several topics
related to natural and technological emergencies, as well as epidemics, based on the cooperation of
universities, research institutes and other organizations from four European countries including Greece.
The results of the project will be useful for all those involved on emergency preparedness and response
in the workplace and in local, regional and national level.

Based on the SETOFF project objectives, an assessment and analysis of the training needs was carried out
for the preparation of the training program [10,11]. The training needs study was carried out based on
research questions such as: What topics should the training program include? How long should each
training module be? What are the particularities that must be taken into account to cover the training
needs (e.g. different beneficiaries, differences in each country)? What are the best methods, tools, best
practices for distance learning?

The methodology of the training needs study in the context of the SETOFF project included a literature
review, online anonymous surveys via electronic questionnaires in four countries (Greece, Belgium, the
Republic of North Macedonia and Spain) and qualitative research through the formation of focus groups
and the analysis of interviews with individuals from each of the 4 reference countries. In this paper the
results of the quantitative survey in Greece are presented.

2. METHOD
An online questionnaire was established according to the objectives of the SETOFF project, the results of
the qualitative field research carried out through interviews with stakeholders and research tools
mentioned in the literature [e.g. 12,13,14,15,16,17,18].

The Greek version of the questionnaire was distributed through an online platform in Greece, for the
period from June - August 2022. Recipients of the questionnaire were employees in various services and
organizations such as civil protection organizations (municipality, regional unity, central government), Fire
service, Police, Emergency medical service, Coast guard, Security service, as well as individuals with Safety
Engineer duties, trainers in training programs, civil protection experts, volunteers etc. To use the research
tool, all the terms related to the protection of personal data complied with the legislation. In total 347
participants filled in the questionnaire in Greece. Statistical tests were performed on the "sample". The
confidence level was a=0.05.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

According to the objectives of the SETOFF project and the qualitative field research through interviews
with various beneficiaries, it emerged that the training program should be better implemented as an
asynchronous distance training program. Attendees are people with an unstable time schedule since
some of them work in shifts or either adapt their work or are kept in readiness, according to emergencies.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
SafeAttica 2023 – 10th International Conference on Civil Protection & New Technologies
25-27 September, Athens War Museum
www.safeattica.com - www.safeattica.gr | safeattica@safegreece.org
- page 276-
______________________________________________________________________________________________
SafeAttica 2023 Proceedings | ISSN 2654-1823

Among the main advantages of asynchronous training, mentioned in literature, is the flexibility to carry
out each course at the time and place that serves the student [19].

The online survey investigated the level of existing training of the participants and their needs regarding
an asynchronous training program. Τhe participants' level of training was investigated by asking them
whether they had attended training seminars on specific topics and whether the seminars included
simulation. The most frequently reported training program attended in the past was the one with subject
“First aid” (52%) which in fact was attended by the majority with simulation. More than 30% of the
participants (but less than 45%) reported that they have been trained for “Risk assessment and
management”, “Occupational safety and health”, “Earthquakes” and “Fires”. Less than 30% of the
participants reported that they have been trained for other topics such as “Floods”, “Windstorms”,
“Disaster recovery”, “Epidemics”, “Risk communication”, “Major industrial accidents” etc. Of less
attendance were the training programs of “Organised crime – Terrorism” and “Energy/power/utility
failure – Fuel resource shortage”. The results show that there is a significant lack of training on issues
related to civil protection. These results are consistent with the results of the qualitative interview
research carried out in the context of the SETOFF project, as well as with the relevant literature [10,11].

Participants were also asked about their preferences regarding certain features of an asynchronous
training program. Most participants consider very important to be able to re-attend courses that they
have already attended, to be able to attend each course independently and to be informed for additional
resources of information for each topic. They also reported that it is important for them to have access to
guidelines for attending the training program.

The participants answered, based on their preferences, for the duration of each course depending on the
topic. Topics for which participants reported requiring more training time than others, were for example
“Risk assessment and management”, “Occupational safety and health”, “Fires (Urban, forest)”, “First aid”
and “Major Technological accidents (explosion, fire, hazardous material releases etc.)”.

Based on the results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of training needs for Greece and the other
countries, as well as the literature review, the training program that will be implemented on the SETOFF
project on-line platform was designed. The topics chosen are: Introduction to risk, Risk management
process, Risk perception, Risk communication, Weather phenomena, Floods, Fire (Urban, Wildfires),
Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Industrial accidents, Epidemics, Security, Health and safety of first responders
and First aid.

4. CONCLUSIONS
The training needs analysis in Greece highlighted the significant lack in terms of the existing level of
training for civil protection issues, particularly for some groups, such as municipal and regional staff, safety
engineers, volunteers etc. The completion of the set-off will contribute to the strengthening of training
on these subjects through a user-friendly asynchronous training platform that will be designed based on
the analysis of training needs.

REFERENCES
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2. M.d.G. Bonelli, F. Damacena, A. Silveira Viana, A.D. Gambardella, V. Marchezini (2022). Challenges for
professionalism in civil defense and protection. Disaster Prevention and Management, 31 (5), 565-580.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
SafeAttica 2023 – 10th International Conference on Civil Protection & New Technologies
25-27 September, Athens War Museum
www.safeattica.com - www.safeattica.gr | safeattica@safegreece.org
- page 277-
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SafeAttica 2023 Proceedings | ISSN 2654-1823

3. European Commission (2021). Evaluation of the European Commission's civil protection prevention and
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______________________________________________________________________________________________
SafeAttica 2023 – 10th International Conference on Civil Protection & New Technologies
25-27 September, Athens War Museum
www.safeattica.com - www.safeattica.gr | safeattica@safegreece.org
- page 278-
 SAFEGREECE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
ISSN 2654-1823

25-27.09

proceedings
SafeAttica 2023 – 10th International Conference on Civil Protection & New Technologies
25 - 27 September, War Museum, Athens, Greece
www.safeattica.com - www.safeattica.gr | safeattica@safegreece.gr

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