Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance: The Dirty Dozen

Introduction

• Aviation Maintenance Challenges: Unlike driving, aviation doesn't allow for pulling over when issues arise.
• Human Factors Study: Understanding human factors is crucial to improve safety and performance in aviation maintenance.

The Dirty Dozen

An overview of the 12 primary contributing factors affecting human performance and causing errors in aviation maintenance:

1. Fatigue

• Timing Issues: Maintenance usually occurs at night when human performance is low.
• Overestimation: Aviation professionals often overestimate their capacity to handle fatigue.

2. Lack of Resources

• Shortcuts: Inadequate tools, parts, financial resources, or knowledge can tempt professionals to bypass procedures.

3. Distraction

• Attention: Daily events can distract maintenance workers.
• Solution: Recognize distraction and double-check work to ensure tasks are completed correctly.

4. Pressure

• Sources: Deadlines, key performance indicators, and financial targets.
• Impact: Pressure can compromise awareness and safety.
• Priority: Quality and safety must come first.

5. Lack of Assertiveness

• Communication: Importance of expressing feelings, opinions, concerns, beliefs, and needs positively.
• Standard Maintenance: Maintain personal and professional standards.

6. Lack of Teamwork

• Reliance: Aviation tasks are team-based; lack of cooperation can lead to unsafe conditions.

7. Norms

• Undocumented Procedures: Norms can deviate from established safety and quality standards, posing risks.

8. Stress

• Natural Response: Stress from past events or anticipated future events.
• Danger: Stress can lead to a sense of no escape, affecting performance.

9. Complacency

• Awareness: Self-satisfaction can reduce awareness of dangers.
• Causes: Overconfidence, boredom, stress.

10. Lack of Resources

• Material Shortage: Inadequate tools, manuals, or parts can tempt shortcuts, posing quality and airworthiness risks.

11. Poor Communication

• Criticality: Only 30% of messages are received and understood correctly.
• Recommendation: Improve clarity in communication with coworkers, customers, and colleagues.

12. Lack of Awareness

• Focus: Loss of focus can create quality or safety risks.
• Responsibility: Educate others about potential risks through signs, logs, etc.

Conclusion

• Historical Context: The Dirty Dozen were developed by Gordon Dupont in the 1990s to improve human awareness in aviation maintenance.
• Importance: Understanding and mitigating these factors is critical to ensuring safety and effectiveness in aviation maintenance.