Text-only reference. Published from the recorded official FAA General Chapter 14 PDF. Diagrams, photographs, and figure artwork are not reproduced here; use the official FAA PDF for those materials.
14-21 THE DIRTY DOZEN Twelve human factors for aircraft maintenance proficiency Lack of Teamwork Fatigue Lack of Resources
Pressure
Lack of Assertiveness
Stress
Lack of Awareness Norms Complacency Lack of Knowledge Distraction Lack of Communication MITIGATING THE RISK Be aware of the symptoms and look for them in yourself and coworkers. Eating healthy, exercising and maintaining regular sleep patterns can prevent fatigue. Forfeit complex tasks if you know you are exhausted. Occupations that require an individual to work long hours or stay up overnight can lead to fatigue. Fatigue can cause a decreased attentiveness and a decreased level of consciousness, which can be very dangerous when conducting maintenance. calibration, or missing, they need to be repaired, calibrated, or found as soon as possible.
Technical documentation is another critical resource that can lead to problems in aviation maintenance. When trying to find out more about the task at hand or how to troubleshoot and repair a system, the needed information often cannot be found because the manuals or diagrams are not available. If the information is unavailable, personnel should ask a supervisor or speak with a technical representative or technical publications department at the appropriate aircraft manufacturer. Most manuals are in a constant state of revision and, if organizations do not identify missing information in the manuals, then nothing is done to correct the documentation. Resources such as publications departments and manufacturers’ technical support are available and should be used rather than ignoring the problem.
Another valuable resource that the maintenance department should rely on is the flight crew. Organizations should 14-22 9 12 15 18 21 24 3 6 9 20 15 10 5 0 Alertness Level Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) Peak alertness Dangerously drowsy Time of Day 1-3 AM Reduced alertness Slightly impaired encourage open communication between flight crews and maintenance crews. The flight crew can provide valuable information when dealing with a defective part or problem. be asked to help resolve and understand maintenance issues. When the proper resources are available for the task at hand, there is a much higher probability that maintenance will do a better, more efficient job and higher likelihood that the job will be done correctly the first time. Organizations must learn to use all of the resources that are available and, if the correct resources are not available, make the necessary arrangements to get them in a timely manner. The end result saves time and money, and enables organizations to complete the task knowing the aircraft is airworthy.
Pressure
Aviation maintenance tasks require individuals to perform in an environment with constant pressure to do things better and faster without making mistakes and letting things fall through the cracks. Unfortunately, these types of job pressures can affect the capabilities of maintenance workers to get the job done right. [Figure 14-27] Airlines have strict financial guidelines, as well as tight flight schedules, that pressure mechanics to identify and repair mechanical problems quickly so that the airline industry can keep moving. Most important, aircraft mechanics are responsible for the overall safety of everyone who uses flying as a mode of transportation.
Organizations must be aware of the time pressures that are put on aircraft mechanics and help them manage all of the tasks that need to be completed so that all repairs, while done in a timely manner, are completed correctly with safety being the ultimate goal. Sacrificing quality and safety for the sake of time should not be tolerated or accepted. Likewise, AMTs need to recognize on their own when time pressures are clouding their judgments and causing them to make unnecessary mistakes. Self-induced pressures are those occasions where one takes ownership of a situation that was not of their doing.
In an effort to combat self-induced pressure, technicians should ask for help if they feel overwhelmed and under a time constraint to complete a repair. Another method is to have someone check the repair thoroughly to ensure that all maintenance tasks were completed correctly. Lastly, if given a repair with a specific time limitation that you feel is unrealistic or compromises safety, bring it to the attention of the organization’s management and openly discuss a different course of action. Lack of Assertiveness Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs, and needs in a positive, productive manner and should not be confused with being aggressive. [Figure 14-28] It is important for AMTs to be assertive in issues relating to aviation repair rather than choosing not to or not being allowed to voice their concerns and opinions. Not being assertive could ultimately cost people their lives. The following are examples of how a lack of assertiveness can be offset: 1. Address managers and supervisors directly by stating the problem.
Example: “John, I have a concern with how this repair