June 13, 2022

sasadmin

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com looks at the best mechanisms to control the Human Factors (HF) exposure.

Communication Best Practice – Detailed information must be passed before, during, and after any task, especially across the handover of shifts.

  • When messages are complex, they should be written down.
  • Organisations should encourage full use of logbooks, worksheets, checklists, etc.
  • Verbal messages should be kept short, with the most critical elements emphasized at the beginning and repeated at the end.
  • Assumptions should be avoided, and;
  • opportunities for asking questions both given and taken.

Complacency Best Practice – It is important, when conducting simple, routine, and habitual tasks, and when fatigued, to maintain an adequate, or optimum, level of stress through different stimulation.

  • Always expect to find a fault! Following written instructions, and adhering to procedures that increase vigilance, such as inspection routines, can provide suitable stimulus.
  • It is important to avoid: working from memory; assuming that something is ok when you haven’t checked it; and, signing off work that you are unsure has been completed.
  • Teamwork and mutual cross-checking will provide adequate stimulus when fatigued.

Lack of Knowledge Best Practice – All employees should undertake continuing professional development:

  • Experienced workers are encouraged to share their knowledge with colleagues.
  • Ensure the latest knowledge on human error and performance.
  • Ask for help.
  • Checklists and publications should always be referred to and followed.
  • Never make assumptions or work from memory.
  • Distraction Best Practices – To reduce errors from distraction it is best to complete a task before moving on.
  • If the task cannot be completed without hurrying, then we can prominently mark (or, “lock-off”) the incomplete work as a reminder to ourselves and anyone else who may complete the work.
  • When returning to work, to commence at least three steps back
  • have someone else double-check our work using a checklist if appropriate l.
  • Create “safety zones”, “circles of safety” or “do not disturb areas” around workers engaged in critical tasks.

Team Work Best Practices – A clearly defined and maintained aim, or goal(s):

  • Understand Roles & Responsibilities.
  • Communication Methods, Limitations & Boundaries.
  • Understand Emergency procedures.
  • Debriefing arrangements.
  • Opportunities for questions and clarification.

Note – A team’s effectiveness can also be improved through the selection of team members to reflect a broad range of experience and skill sets, and also through practice and rehearsal.

Fatigue Best Practices – Be Aware of the signs and symptoms of fatigue:

  • Fatigue self-management sleep, diet, and exercise.
  • Avoid critical and complex tasks.
  • When fatigued always get someone else to check your work.

Lack of Resources Best Practices – Resources also include personnel, time, data, tools, skill, experience, and knowledge:

  • Strive for forward planning.
  • Acquire, store and locate resources.
  • Properly Maintain Adequate Resources that are available.

Pressure Best Practices – Learning assertiveness skills will allow a worker to say ‘No’, ‘Stop!’:

  • Communicate concerns with colleagues, customers, and the Company.
  • When deadlines are critical, ensure extra resources and help is available.
  • Avoid Making Assumptions.

Lack of Assertiveness Best Practice – Learn Assertiveness techniques:

  • Focus on keeping calm, being rational,
  • Use specific examples rather than generalizations,
  • Invite feedback.
  • Direct criticisms of actions and consequences, not people.

Stress Best Practices – Learn to recognise signs of stress (acute or chronic):

  • Learn breathing and relaxation techniques.
  • Set up channels of communication to discuss the issue and help to rationalise perceptions.
  • Sleep, diet, and exercise are all important factors
  • Company stress reduction programmes.

Norms Best Practices – Rules and procedures should be designed and tested:

  • Rules to be enforced
  • Workers encouraged to feedback issues
  • Develop Assertiveness
  • Do it right & avoid peer pressure

Lack of Awareness Best Practices – Build Experience:

  • Develop our foresight
  • Ask others to check our work and challenge our decisions
  • Maintain Vigilance
  • Introduce workplace procedures
  • Use checklists

Next Steps

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Sofema Aviation Service (www.sassofia.com) provides Classroom & Webinar Training covering Ramp Safety & Ramp Human Factors Training – Please see the following course: Aircraft Ramp Safety and Ramp Human Factors Initial Training – 2 Days or email Team@sassofia.com if you have any questions or need additional details.

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aviation, aviation safety, Aviation Training, EASA, Human Factors, Safety, human factor, HF, Ramp Safety, Aircraft Ramp, Ramp Human Factors