Aviation 9.9.1 Recognising and Avoiding Hazards PDF

Recognising and Avoiding Hazards (9.9.1) Learning Objectives 9.9.1.1 Describe potential hazards in aircraft maintenance and the need for speci c workplace health and safety legislation (Level 2). 9.9.1.2 Explain the responsibilities of organisations and individuals for safety in the m...

Recognising and Avoiding Hazards (9.9.1) Learning Objectives 9.9.1.1 Describe potential hazards in aircraft maintenance and the need for speci c workplace health and safety legislation (Level 2). 9.9.1.2 Explain the responsibilities of organisations and individuals for safety in the maintenance environment and while working on aircraft (Level 2). Summary Hazards in the workplace tend to be health and safety issues relate to the protection of individuals at work. All workplaces have hazards and aircraft maintenance is no exception. Health and safety are somewhat separate from human factors and this chapter therefore gives only a very brief overview of the issues relating to aircraft maintenance workplaces. Most maintenance organisations have mature processes for managing health and safety, including risk assessment methods. 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 316 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Recognising and Avoiding Hazards Potential Hazards in Aircraft Maintenance There are many potential hazards in the aircraft maintenance industry. A health and safety audit in the workplace can be useful to reveal the hazards in any particular location. Physical hazards may include: Flashes and other very bright lights (e.g., from welding) Very loud sounds (sudden or continuous) Con ned or enclosed areas Working at heights Noxious substances (chemicals, liquids, fumes, etc.) Lifting and manual handling of heavy objects Excessive temperature (i.e., too cold or too hot) Moving equipment, moving vehicles and vibration. Image by Ilya Cher on Unsplash A health and safety audit in the workplace can be useful to reveal hazards 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 317 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Workplace Health and Safety Legislation Most countries have adequate laws to protect workers. Individual organisations and workplaces are obliged to implement these laws to keep their employees safe. Most legislation places responsibility on employers to produce a written statement of general policy with respect to the health and safety of their employees. Employers are also obliged to draw their employees’ notice to this policy, together with the organisation and arrangements in force for carrying it out. Image by Hire Me. Link in About Me from Pixabay Organisations are obliged to implement Workplace Health and Safety Legislation laws 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 318 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Maintenance and Repair (MRO) Organisation Responsibilities In brief, a maintenance organisation has a duty under health and safety legislation to: Identify hazards in the workplace Remove them where possible Mitigate the risks to employees. In an aircraft maintenance organisation, the health and safety policy might include statements applicable to the organisation such as the need to: Carry out assessments of work, including inspections to determine health and safety risks Provide safe working practices and procedures for the plant, machinery, equipment, materials and substances Inform employees and other persons including temporary workers of any risk Provide suitable training and/or instruction to meet any health and safety risks Develop and introduce practices and procedures to reduce risks to health and safety, including the provision of special protective devices and personal protective equipment Provide for the welfare of employees Consult employee representatives and discuss health and safety matters. Maintenance organisations should appoint people and provide appropriate training for them to become health and safety representatives. Image by VIKAS MINZ on Unsplash MRO's are required to provide safe working practices and procedures 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 319 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Warning Signs If hazards cannot be removed from the workplace, employees should be made aware that they exist and understand how to avoid them. This can be managed through training and warning signs. To be effective, warnings signs must: Clearly identify the hazard(s) Describe the danger (i.e., electric shock, radiation, etc.) Inform employees about what to do or not to do. Hearing protection warning sign The sign must attract people's attention, it must be visible, and it must be understandable to the people it is aimed at, i.e., it must have, appropriate language and images. Additionally, the sign must be durable enough to remain visible and effective, often for years, in areas where it is exposed to dust and weather. Positive recommendations are more effective than negative ones. For example, the statement ‘Stay behind yellow line‘ is better than ‘Do not come near this equipment’. Warning signs may contain a single word indicating the degree of risk associated with the hazard: DANGER denotes that the hazard is immediate and could cause substantial damage or injury. CAUTION indicates a hazard of lesser magnitude. The sign may also detail how to avoid or manage the risk. CAUTION signs are generally yellow and black. 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 320 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  DANGER signs use red, black and white. Sample warning, danger and caution signs 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 321 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Maintenance Workers' Individual Responsibilities Every individual in a workplace has health and safety responsibilities. Every AME should be aware that they can in uence the safety of others with whom they work. Thus, in an aircraft maintenance organisation, the health and safety policy might include statements applicable to engineers such as the need to: Take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. Co-operate with the maintenance organisation to ensure that statutory requirements concerning health and safety at work are met. Work in accordance with any safety instruction and/or training received. Inform their supervisor or management of work situations that represent an immediate or potential danger to health and safety and any shortcomings in protection arrangements. Not interfere intentionally or recklessly with, nor misuse, anything provided in the interests of health and safety. The attitude of an individual engineer, team or maintenance organisation (i.e., organisational culture) can have a signi cant impact on health and safety. Individuals who display an anti-authority attitude or are impulsive, or reckless are a danger in aircraft maintenance. Image by © Vartan Every AME should be aware that they can in uence the safety of others with whom they work 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 322 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Safety in the Aircraft Maintenance Environment Aircraft maintenance workers should ensure that they keep the working environment safe. Clutter, rubbish, etc. not only are a nuisance to others, but can constitute a danger (e.g., a trip hazard, re hazard, etc.). In addition, engineers should be careful not to leave tools and other objects out of place when a job has been completed. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) is a risk to aircraft. Photo by Natã Romualdo from Pexels Aircraft maintenance workers should ensure that they keep the working environment safe 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 323 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only  Safety When Working on Aircraft Before operating or working on aircraft systems, an engineer should carry out clearance checks around moveable surfaces (e.g., ight controls and landing gear). Deactivation procedures should be followed (e.g., pull circuit breakers, isolate valves, disconnect power, etc.). It is always important to notify others of system deactivation or potential danger by placarding switches or controls. It is always important to notify others of system deactivation or potential danger by placarding switches or controls 2023-01-12 B-09 Human Factors Page 324 of 340 CASA Part 66 - Training Materials Only