Human Factor

                          Human factors training may be provided by either a trainer employed by the organisation or by trainer(s) outside the organisation, although training is likely to be  most effective if it is tailored to the specific needs and problems of one’s own  organisation and the instructor is someone familiar with the needs and problems of  that organisation.  In cases where organisations cannot provide their own in-house training, it is  acceptable to contract out as long as the main trainer has a good background in  aviation maintenance, and meet the criteria mentioned earlier. It is not enough simply  to present a set of slides on the syllabus topics without having adequate knowledge  to illustrate points using practical examples, or to answer questions.                           The quality o...

        TNA should be carried out before any major decisions are made concerning human  factors training.          TNA is a crucial stage in putting together a human factors training  programme, and should not be omitted unless all staff are to receive full training on  all syllabus topics. Even then, a TNA would be a valuable tool in helping to design the  training and tailor it for the needs of the company and its staff.            Who Should Conduct the TNA        The person doing the TNA should have a reasonable level of competence in human   factors, and be aware of the needs of the company and the different roles of its staff. The TNA may either be carried out by one person within the Part-145 organisation, or  jointly between one person from the organisation and a specialist who is familiar with  TNA principles and the practical application o...

                        Good instructors are crucial to effective human factors training, especially where the  emphasis is upon attitude change. Whilst the skills required to impart knowledge are  fairly common across most subjects, whether technical or more esoteric, the skills to  influence people's attitudes and behaviours are different, and are key to successful  human factors training.                       It is essential that the human factors trainer (or facilitator) believes in what they are  teaching, and has enough credibility, enthusiasm and knowledge to pass on this belief  to his students. A good human factors trainer should be able to positively influence  his trainees’ safety behaviour, which, ultimately, should reflect positively upon the  organisation’s safety culture, and even its commercial profitability. ...

            Evidence from incidents and accidents shows that human error and human factors  problems are not limited to 'hands-on' maintenance staff (whether certifying or non certifying),  but may extend to planners, technical records staff, etc.  In addition, it is  often organisational decisions and policies made by managers that are at the root of  some incidents (e.g. to ensure adequate resources).                    Senior management  commitment to, and support of, the company human factors programme is essential  to the success of such programmes.                                        Staff need to be convinced of this commitment  by management.           Managers attending the human factors training themselves is one  way of s...

Objectives of  Human Factors training ,   improve safety; decrease  exposure to risk;  reduce errors; capture errors.  These objectives may vary in detail from company to company, but should cover the key points.The aim of HFT should be to help achieve these objectives by means of:  imparting knowledge on human factors and safety, and details of how the  company human factors programme works; developing skills (where appropriate);  influencing people’s attitudes and;  influencing behaviour. Maintenance human factors training is part of a total system in managing human  error, and discouraging procedural violations, in a maintenance organisation.  It is an essential part of this system aimed at individuals engaged in 'hands-on' maintenance, support or management.            Without proper training, other initiatives related to error management and safety imp...