Human Factors (general oral questions)
Questions & Answers
Describe an organization that has a positive safety culture. - ANSWERAn organization
that has a set of shared beliefs and attitudes that promote safety through
communication, training, and other actions within all levels of the workforce.
What are four areas that are assessed in an organization when evaluating human
factors relating to safety? - ANSWERThe PEAR model describes these areas as people
(the workforce), the environment where people work, the actions people take and the
resources that are available.
Describe a safety management system (SMS) in an organization. - ANSWERAn SMS is
a systematic approach to providing acceptable levels of safety risk within the
organization. This approach ties together safety policies, risk management, safety
assurance, and safety promotion.
Describe different types of human error. - ANSWERHuman errors can be grouped by
omission, commission, and extraneous errors. Omission errors are tasks which should
have been preformed but were not. Commission errors are tasks which were done
incorrectly. Extraneous errors occur when an individual preforms a task that was not
authorized.
What is the difference between an active error and a latent error? - ANSWERAn active
error is an error that is committed by the person doing the work. A latent error is one
that comes from an administrative decision, flaw in the system, or a culture that exists in
a workplace. Latent errors may take a long time to be seen and usually show up as an
active error that has its roots in the latent error.
What are the different levels of consequences of human error? - ANSWER•Little or no
effect
•Damage to equipment or hardware. The equipment of hardware can be replaced, but
at a loss of time and financial setback
•Personal injury. Injury to a technician, aircraft operator or passenger.
•Catastrophic damage (loss of life or loss of an aircraft)
Describe how the MEDA model can be used for evaluating incidents or accidents
caused by an AMT or inspector. - ANSWERThe MEDA model is used to identify
contributing factors behind the error. MEDA stands for the Maintenance Error/ Event
Decision Aid model. The contributing factors are analyzed to determine the probability
that the error will cause an event.
, What is the SHEL model for event investigation? - ANSWERThe SHEL model stands
for:
•Software/procedures. Software refers to the intangible part of the system such as rules,
regulations, customs, habits, and the procedures involved.
•Hardware. Hardware represents the physical aspects that the AMT works with,
including the aircraft, tools, hardware, and facilities.
•Environment. The physical environment in which the work is being done.
•Liveware/personnel. Liveware is the human element in the system. All four aspects
overlap to some extent, especially the human element.
Each element is examined for interactions with the other elements when investigating
the issue.
Describe how human limitations can affect their performance. - ANSWER"People" is the
P in the PEAR model and describes how people who do the work are the center of all
work. There are many factors that can affect or limit an individual's ability to perform
work. Some of these limitations can include:
•Physical
--Physical size
--Age
--Strength
--Sensory limitations
•Psychological
--Nutritional factors
--Health
--Lifestyle
--Fatigue
--Chemical dependency
•Physiological
--Workload
--Experience
--knowledge
--Training
--Attitude
--Mental or emotional state
•Psychosocial
--Interpersonal conflicts
Describe the effect of the physical environment on an AMT's ability to preform work. -
ANSWERAn AMT's ability to perform work can be affected by:
•Weather (hot, cold, rain, lightning, wind)
•Loaction (protection from the elements)
•Workspace (having enough room to adequately perform the work)
•Shift (late nights, or being too tired, can affect individual's capacity to think clearly and
reduce manual and cognitive skills)
•Lighting ( the environment can be too dark, or too bright, to effectively see and perform
work)
Questions & Answers
Describe an organization that has a positive safety culture. - ANSWERAn organization
that has a set of shared beliefs and attitudes that promote safety through
communication, training, and other actions within all levels of the workforce.
What are four areas that are assessed in an organization when evaluating human
factors relating to safety? - ANSWERThe PEAR model describes these areas as people
(the workforce), the environment where people work, the actions people take and the
resources that are available.
Describe a safety management system (SMS) in an organization. - ANSWERAn SMS is
a systematic approach to providing acceptable levels of safety risk within the
organization. This approach ties together safety policies, risk management, safety
assurance, and safety promotion.
Describe different types of human error. - ANSWERHuman errors can be grouped by
omission, commission, and extraneous errors. Omission errors are tasks which should
have been preformed but were not. Commission errors are tasks which were done
incorrectly. Extraneous errors occur when an individual preforms a task that was not
authorized.
What is the difference between an active error and a latent error? - ANSWERAn active
error is an error that is committed by the person doing the work. A latent error is one
that comes from an administrative decision, flaw in the system, or a culture that exists in
a workplace. Latent errors may take a long time to be seen and usually show up as an
active error that has its roots in the latent error.
What are the different levels of consequences of human error? - ANSWER•Little or no
effect
•Damage to equipment or hardware. The equipment of hardware can be replaced, but
at a loss of time and financial setback
•Personal injury. Injury to a technician, aircraft operator or passenger.
•Catastrophic damage (loss of life or loss of an aircraft)
Describe how the MEDA model can be used for evaluating incidents or accidents
caused by an AMT or inspector. - ANSWERThe MEDA model is used to identify
contributing factors behind the error. MEDA stands for the Maintenance Error/ Event
Decision Aid model. The contributing factors are analyzed to determine the probability
that the error will cause an event.
, What is the SHEL model for event investigation? - ANSWERThe SHEL model stands
for:
•Software/procedures. Software refers to the intangible part of the system such as rules,
regulations, customs, habits, and the procedures involved.
•Hardware. Hardware represents the physical aspects that the AMT works with,
including the aircraft, tools, hardware, and facilities.
•Environment. The physical environment in which the work is being done.
•Liveware/personnel. Liveware is the human element in the system. All four aspects
overlap to some extent, especially the human element.
Each element is examined for interactions with the other elements when investigating
the issue.
Describe how human limitations can affect their performance. - ANSWER"People" is the
P in the PEAR model and describes how people who do the work are the center of all
work. There are many factors that can affect or limit an individual's ability to perform
work. Some of these limitations can include:
•Physical
--Physical size
--Age
--Strength
--Sensory limitations
•Psychological
--Nutritional factors
--Health
--Lifestyle
--Fatigue
--Chemical dependency
•Physiological
--Workload
--Experience
--knowledge
--Training
--Attitude
--Mental or emotional state
•Psychosocial
--Interpersonal conflicts
Describe the effect of the physical environment on an AMT's ability to preform work. -
ANSWERAn AMT's ability to perform work can be affected by:
•Weather (hot, cold, rain, lightning, wind)
•Loaction (protection from the elements)
•Workspace (having enough room to adequately perform the work)
•Shift (late nights, or being too tired, can affect individual's capacity to think clearly and
reduce manual and cognitive skills)
•Lighting ( the environment can be too dark, or too bright, to effectively see and perform
work)
