Social Mechanisms of Learning and Technology Adaptation in the Polish State Fire Service

Abstract Contemporary technical systems, which are increasingly complex and automated, require a new perspective on the relationship between humans and technology in the context of human safety. At the core of these considerations is both the role of the human factor in safety and environmental management systems and the organizational aspects that connect technical, organizational, and human issues. Integrating these areas, fundamentally based on knowledge management, allows for the construction of safety systems that meet the requirements of a responsible approach to risk. The purpose of this article is to present the processes of creating new knowledge and the methods of experience transfer within selected organizational units of the State Fire Service (PSP) in specific provinces of Poland. The research, conducted from September 2022 to September 2025, consisted of an analysis of existing documents regarding the training of PSP officers and a qualitative sociological analysis, and focused on participant observation conducted during planned exercises, officer training and actual rescue operations involving the PSP. The primary goal of the observation was to monitor the process of introducing and practically utilizing the Staff Support System (SWS) software, a tool designed to aid staff operations during largescale rescue actions. The observation covered the officers’ interaction with the system, the identification of methods for creating new system functionalities, and the methods of experience transfer regarding its operation among staff participants. The study was carried out in selected PSP organizational units to capture differences in the adaptation and utilization of this technology.