Human Factors study or training guide?

[Yenn]

We seem to have got to the position where the memory jogger is more important than the message.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Either way, pilots are figuring in the incident/injury/fatality record as a result of HF issues, it might be that the theory and exams need to be matched more closely to reality - particularly the statistics which started this.

 

 

[Bob1957]

I know this sounds a bit silly but I remember getting the crash comics every month (safety digest) and having read them I started to worry about flying with so many accidents going on it sort of put me off flying for awhile, so maybe we are being overloaded with stuff that isnt needed after all if you want to get zero statistics on anything like flying or driving cars or smoking then if we dont do it there will end up zero statistics.

 

 

[turboplanner]

I don't think anyone's talking about zero statistics, just a high proportion of statistics involving Human Factors.

 

Look at the road toll, and you'll see that when genuine statistical evidence is targetted (as against abstracts like speed), there is a sharp drop in incidents, accidents and fatalities.

 

This has occurred at least twice in the care industry, the first time when the statistics showed that a high proprtion of fatalities were due to trauma outside the car (flying through the windscreen etc). Seat Belts were mandated, and the drop on the graph was spectacular, never climbing to that level again.

 

The second case followed evidence which showed that a staggering 50% of drivers involved in fatalities were drunk, and the graph again dropped sharply when an alcohol limit was set.

 

We read in the threads on this site again and again of incidents involving human factors - it's just that most people don't stop reading to note it.

 

 

[Bob1957]

yes I know this and I was just being a bit sarcastic i guess but let me tell you that i predict the road toll going up in the future, Why you ask? well how about with cruize control and people falling asleep, also with tree planting on the side of the road lovely when some one has fallen asleep and has cruise control set on 100kmh at least you might have a chance waking up as you bounce over the rough terain but no you hit a tree that is sitting on the side of the road, instead of in the farmers field inside the fence which would also give the sheep & cattle some shade on the hot days. also with modern cars we seem to have more blind spots to overcome.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Interesting comments Bob. In Speedway we identified the "solid object" as a key feature in fatalities.

 

We didn't have Race Drivers going to sleep, but we did have them taking their heads off as they slid along the top rail of the safety fence and collected the posts - so all posts were sawn off level.

 

And we introduced the "glancing blow" where the safety fence was upgraded to concrete and made higher, to take the main blow, and changed various rules and Chief Steward focus whch then ensured that although the cars were hitting the wall hard, they were absorbing energy by being deflected.

 

The final stage was to remove the various light poles, earthmoving equipment and all people other than emergency crews from the infield, and head on collisions sharply dropped again. I realise infields have been repopulated after my time, with some resulting injuries.

 

However you're right Bob. The very worst thing a community can do is plant a row of solid trunked trees on the outskirts of the town. There's no escape route in a head on collision or if, as you say, the driver goes to sleep.

 

CRUISE CONTROL

 

Cruise control is required to cut out with a certain G Force, such as running off the road, so the driver shouldn't be any worse off.

 

 

[Yenn]

HF makes you wonder wether you instructor was competent!!!

Youv'e got me bluffed.Have a look at the AIP for the definition of HF which happens to be an ICAO term. I doubt that human factors was thought of when I had an instructor.

I can see a need for human factors training for drivers, but it won't happen as there are too many involved and they all vote.

 

I note from the media today that a great proportion of road fatalaties are caused by not wearing seat belts. That is just stupidity.

 

If 50% of accidents are caused by drunks, the other 50% must be sober, so what is wrong with them? The trees alongside the road are a bad problem, especially when fires cause them to drop across the road. My pet theory is that there are a lot of undiscovered mechanical faults, such as power steerinf failures in cars. This all just points up how much better our training and procedures are.

 

 

[turboplanner]

This all just points up how much better our training and procedures are.

Do you mean the training and procedures which resulted in the RA Aus accidents/fatalities with led to RA Aus introducing the HF subject?

 

Ur a bit grumpy today Yenn.....

 

 

[Mazda]

There's a kit put out by CASA called "Safety Behaviours, Human Factors for pilots." It has a DVD, CD, workbook and reference material.

 

Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Human factors for pilots

 

They also do a situational awareness DVD

 

Thomas Logistics - Shopping Cart

 

Both are available for the cost of postage only. I'm not sure if they are aimed as material for the tests but they are well worthwhile for the cost of postage!

 

 

[Yenn]

I'me a bit grumpy every day, especially about this sort of thing. The exam would just about be impossible to pass without knowledge of the "buzz words" such as SHELL.

 

I am one of those who reckon it is ribbish the way it is presented, but I did manage to pass the exam with I think the highest score of about 12 of us.

 

Basicly it is mainly common sense accident prevention, just dolled up with a few buzz words and made to look good to the authorities.

 

Over the years when I was working I did many similar courses and then had to take exams to keep current. I found it was impossible to fail. I did one exam twice at TAFE and failed it both times, so they gave me the certificate anyway. Another exam I refused to do one question as I considered it irrelevant, still passed. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in the accident and incident statistics.

 

 

[Tomo]

I did one exam twice at TAFE and failed it both times, so they gave me the certificate anyway. Another exam I refused to do one question as I considered it irrelevant, still passed. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in the accident and incident statistics.

Why, everybody knows you can't fail at TAFE!!!