Sep 11 - Indian Airforce

asic factors of error ranging from mental tophysiological to environmental elements thatindividually or in concert form the core of theerror chain that can lead to tragedy. Whatexactly is so dirty about the Dirty Dozen? Is theimportance of Dirty Dozen truly recognized?Unfortunately for many maintenanceprofessionals, they can be overlooked andconsidered common sense guidelines thatany good technician should recognize. Thatis the challenge. While appearing obviousand familiar, these elements can be elusiveand their danger disguised by the myriad ofroutine distractions even when right underyour nose. Add the unique hazards of anaviation maintenance environment and errorhas every opportunity to rear its ugly head.It’s easy to lose sight of even some of themost basic warning signs of errors. Althoughnot specifically listed in the Dirty Dozen,the element most commonly attributed tomaintenance related aircraft accidents isfailure to follow procedures. This unfortunatecircumstance can be the result of anyone ormore of the 12 factors and it underscores theimportance of staying on top of your ability torecognize all possible warning signs.The pack of dirty dozen is as follows. LACK OF COMMUNICATION Lackof clear direct statements and good activelistening skills. COMPLACENCY Self-Satisfactionaccompanied by a loss of awareness of thedangers. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE Lack ofexperience or training for the task at hand.DISTRACTION Loss of focus, mental/emotional confusion or disturbance. LACK OF TEAMWORK Lack of workingtogether to achieve a common goal. FATIGUE Weariness from labour or exertion,nervous exhaustion, temporary loss of power andability to respond. LACK OF RESOURCES Failure to useor acquire the appropriate tools, equipment,information or procedures for the task. PRESSURE Creating a sense of urgency orhaste. LACK OF ASSERTIVENESS Lack of positivecommunication of one’s ideas, wants or needs. STRESS Mental, emotional, physicaltension, strain or distress. LACK OF AWARENESS Failure to be alertor vigilant in observing. NORMS Informal work practices orunwritten rules that are accepted by the group.Our MissionAre you ready to wage this war? You shouldbe. Like it or not, a technician’s daily routine isripe for the possibility of error every single day.Enemies lurk all around, but luckily there areseveral weapons to keep them at bay. And, youare not alone. It’s easy to fall victim to the ‘DirtyDozen’. In most cases they are manifestations ofpersonal work habits that can lead to an innocentor unintentional error. The important point is torecognize the warning signs of error and carefullythink through our actions. Being prepared andhaving a constant and consistent focus onmaintenance human factors will send the DirtyDozen running for cover every time.- Sgt BK KarINDIAN AIR FORCE 2 0 1 1 S e p t e m b e r Aerospace Safety 25