An introduction to Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Human Factors for JAR 66
Colour Blindness.
Although not directly affecting visual acuity, inability to see particular colours can be a problem for the aircraft maintenance engineer. Amongst other things, good color vision for maintenance engineers is important for :
1: Recognising components ;
2: Distinguishing between wires;
3: Using various diagnostic tools;
4: Recognising various lights on the airfield ( e.g. Warning lights )
Colour Defective vision is usually heredity, although may also occur as a temporary condition after a serious illness.
There are degrees of colour defective vision, some people suffering more than others. Individuals may be able to distinguish between red and green in a well-lit situation but not in low light conditions. Colour defective people typically see the colours they have problems with as shades of neutral grey. More rarely. it is possible to confuse blues and yellows.
Ageing also causes changes in colour vision. This is a result of progressive yellowing of the lens, resulting in a reduction in colour discrimination in the blue-yellow range. Colour defective vision and its implications can be a complex area and care should be taken not to stop an engineer from performing certain tasks merely because he suffers from some degree of colour deficient vision. It may be that the type and degree of colour deficiency is not relevant in their particular job. However, if absolutely accurate colour discrimination is critical for a job, it is important that appropriate testing and screening be put in place.
Attention
Having detected information, our mental resources are concentrated on specific elements - this is attention.
Attention can be thought of as the concentration of mental effort on sensory or mental events.
Although the attention can move very quickly from one item to another, it can only deal with one item at a time. Attention can take the form of :
1: Selective attention,
2:Divided attention,
3:Focused attention,
4:Sustained attention.
Selective attention occurs when a person is monitoring several sources of input, with greater attention being given to one or more sources which appear more important. A person can be consciously attending to one source whilst still sampling other sources in the background. Psychologists refer to this as the 'cocktail party effect' whereby you can be engrosses in a conversation with one person but your attention is temporarily diverted if you overhear your name being mentioned at the other side of the room, even though you were not aware of listening in to other people's conversations. Distraction is the negative side of selective attention.
Divided attention is common in most work situation, where people are required to do more than one thing at the same time. Usually, one task suffers at the expense of the other, more so if they are similar in nature. This type of situation is also sometimes referred to as time sharing.
Focused attention is merely the skill of focussing one's attention upon a single source and avoiding distraction.
Sustained attention as its name implies, refers to the ability to maintain attention and remain alert over long periods of time, often on one task. Most of the research has been carried out in connection with monitoring radar displays, but there is also associated research which has concentrate upon inspection tasks. Attention is influenced by arousal level and stress.
De-motivation
Highly motivated people tend to show the following characteristics:
-high performance and results being consistently achieved;
-energy, enthusiasm and determination to succeed;
-unstinting co-operation in overcoming problems;
-willingness to accept responsibility;
-willingness to accommodate change.
People who are de-motivated lack motivation, either intrinsically or through a failure of their management to motivate the staff who work for them. De-motivated people tend to demonstrate the following characteristics:
-apathy and indifference to the job, including reduced regard for safety whilst working;
-a poor record of time keeping and high absenteeism;
-an exaggeration of the effects/ difficulties encountered in problems, disputes and grievances;
-a lack of co-operation in dealing with problems or difficulties;
-unjustified resistance to change.
However, care should be taken when associating these characteristics with lack of motivation, since some could also be signs of stress.
Stress Management
Once we become aware of stress, we generally respond to it by using one of two strategies : defence or coping.
Defence strategies involve alleviation of the symptoms ( taking medication, alcohol, etc.) or reducing the anxiety ( e.g. denying to yourself that there is a problem ( denial ), or blaming someone else ).
Coping strategies involve dealing with the source of the stress rather than just the symptoms ( e.g. delegation workload, prioritising tasks, sorting out the problem, etc.) .
Coping is the process whereby the individual either adjusts to the preceived demands of the situation or changes the situation itself.
I continue tomorrow since i am too tired..
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