Grounding the Dirty Dozen of Human Errors - Part 3

Welcome to the final part of our series on the Dirty Dozen! This time, we’re tackling the remaining six elements - common human factors that, if unaddressed, can lead to incidents in aviation. Understanding these factors and applying practical countermeasures is key to creating safer work environments.

Lack of Resources

When tools, personnel, or time are scarce, pressure mounts. Improvisation under these circumstances often leads to suboptimal outcomes.

What It Looks Like

A lack of resources often forces aviation professionals to use incorrect tools for essential tasks, jeopardizing the quality of work. Delayed operations due to insufficient staffing can strain schedules, creating a domino effect of errors. In many cases, the pressure to meet deadlines with inadequate materials leads to rushed jobs and a higher risk of mistakes.

How to Ensure Resources Are Ready

• Plan Ahead: Confirm materials and tools are available before starting.
• Organize Resources: Keep equipment maintained and accessible.
• Communicate Early: Notify management about shortages before they escalate.

Pressure

Deadlines, tight schedules, and high expectations often create pressure in the aviation sector. While some level of pressure can boost focus, excessive pressure compromises decision-making and quality of work.

What It Looks Like

Excessive pressure often manifests as rushed decisions that overlook critical details, leading to errors. Individuals may hesitate to voice concerns about unrealistic timelines, fearing backlash or disappointment. The strain to meet deadlines can push teams to cut corners or ignore established procedures, increasing risks across operations. Additionally, overcommitting to tasks beyond one’s capacity can result in burnout and diminished performance.

How to Mitigate It

• Learn to Say No: Preserve safety by knowing when to halt or decline additional responsibilities.
• Request Support: Seek extra resources or personnel for heavy workloads.
• Be Assertive: Communicate concerns clearly and confidently.
• Set Realistic Limits: Recognize your boundaries to prevent overextension.

Lack of Assertiveness

When safety concerns aren’t voiced, or individuals feel pressured into unsafe decisions, poor outcomes often follow. Unassertiveness can silence valuable feedback and reinforce risky behaviors.

What It Looks Like

Unassertive team members may avoid speaking up about potential hazards, even when they sense something is wrong. Fear of conflict or rejection can lead to silence during critical discussions, allowing risks to go unaddressed. This reluctance to challenge unsafe decisions often perpetuates an environment where concerns are ignored or minimized, escalating safety vulnerabilities.

How to Mitigate It

• Speak Up: Use calm, confident communication to express concerns.
• Encourage Feedback: Build a culture that values open dialogue.
• Use Examples: Raise issues with specific, action-focused observations.
• Seek Input: Actively invite team members to share their perspectives.

Stress

Deadlines, personal issues, or unexpected challenges can cloud judgment and impair performance. Stress is a silent saboteur in aviation.

What It Looks Like

Stress can cause unusual errors in routine tasks, such as overlooking a simple but critical step in a checklist. It can manifest as irritability or mood swings, leading to friction among team members during operations. Additionally, stress often reduces concentration, making complex problem-solving more challenging in high-pressure situations.

How to Manage Stress

• Identify Triggers: Watch for signs like fatigue or frustration.
• Practice Calm Under Pressure: Deep breathing or short pauses can help.
• Address Chronic Issues: Discuss long-term stressors with peers or supervisors.
• Prioritize Well-Being: Ensure adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise.

Lack of Awareness

Working without a broader understanding of the situation can lead to tunnel vision. Ignoring how your actions affect others and the overall task increases the risk of errors.

What It Looks Like

Lack of awareness often leads to missed cues about changing conditions or incomplete assessments of the environment. For instance, focusing solely on an isolated task may prevent recognizing its impact on team members or adjacent systems. This tunnel vision can cause misaligned priorities, inefficiencies, and preventable mistakes in critical operations.

How to Mitigate It

• Think Big Picture: Reflect on how your role interacts with others.
• Ask “What If” Questions: Stay alert to potential consequences.
• Share Insights: Engage team members in situational updates.
• Utilize Tools: Rely on checklists and two-way communication to maintain focus and vigilance.

Norms

Workplace norms are the unwritten rules of “how things are done around here.” While some norms support safety, others - like shortcuts or unsafe practices - can undermine it.

What It Looks Like

Negative norms often manifest as habitual shortcuts that bypass safety protocols, creating systemic vulnerabilities. For example, teams might disregard pre-flight checks because “nothing ever goes wrong” or rely on outdated practices due to resistance to change. These behaviors can perpetuate a culture of complacency, eroding the commitment to safety over time.

How to Mitigate It

• Identify Unsafe Norms: Proactively address behaviors that deviate from standards.
• Follow Procedures: Adhere to approved protocols and question risky practices.
• Challenge the Status Quo: Encourage team members to critically evaluate norms.
• Celebrate Success: Share stories where adherence to norms prevented incidents.

The Dirty Dozen offers a clear roadmap to identifying and resolving common human factors that lead to errors. Each element, whether it’s pressure, fatigue, or lack of teamwork, comes with specific risks and equally effective solutions.

By implementing these practices and fostering awareness, the aviation sector can continue minimizing human error and enhancing operational safety. Together, we can ensure that safety remains the priority - both on the ground and in the air.

Thank you for following this series. For further resources and guidance on implementing Safety Management Systems, contact WYVERN, THE industry expert, and attend our SMS training workshops or ask about our SMS software. Contact us for a FREE SMS demo! Together, we can elevate aviation safety and create a safer future.

References

FAA Avoid the Dirty Dozen. This flyer is available for download on our public website.