Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) currently offers 3 Day intensive Maintenance Error Management System (MEMS) Training.
Consider that it is seldom the intention of professionals to deliberately make mistakes. Today some 80% of accidents and incidents are caused by simple human error.
We should also understand that If human error was simply the result of careless or reckless individual behaviour, managing human error would be straightforward, in that disciplinary action could be measured against the gravity of the event. The reality ! We are unlikely to eradicate fully our exposure however we can still aspire to deliver 100% reliability without actually achieving it (and for this to be a meaningful objective).
If we accept the previous statement we should also accept that human error is a both normal and even expected component, regardless of the regulations, procedures or control environment which we develop to “protect” the task.
So the rational of the Maintenance Error Management System approach is that we have to strive to design organisational systems which take errors into consideration whilst at the same time affording the maximum protection.
By the same token we also have to accept that it is also incorrect to say that the responsibility for human error may always be found within the maintenance system, and never with the individual perpetrator of the error.
So we have to strive to develop an understanding as to why the error occurred, determining what if any organisational factors impacted the error or event and off course for such factors the Organization must stand accountable.
Whilst we should accept that there are fundamental differences between Equipment Failure and Human Error. In the case of Human Error some blame must in fact fall on the person who committed the “error”. In an attempt to create a positive reporting environment, policies which promote a “punishment free approach” are promoted.
It may even be that in the final analysis the cause was that event occurred within the expectations of “normal” human error. However it may also be that the company policy will describe actions which it believes are appropriate and that the company will consider initiating disciplinary action where, “in the Company’s view, the employee is deemed to have acted recklessly, or omitted to take a required action, (or both) in a way that is not in keeping with his/her responsibilities, training, and/or experience.”
Sofema Aviation Services provides both Maintenance Error Management System MEMS and Safety Management System SMS training for additional details please see www.sassofia.com or email office@sassofia.com
