9. Human factors - Q&A

The aim of a human factors programme within an organisation is

• to protect the health and safety of all maintenance personnel by systematically reducing the frequency of workplace accidents.
• to optimize the relationship between maintenance personnel and systems with a view to improving safety, efficiency and well-being.
• to reduce operational costs by systematically increasing efficiency, safety and quality while decreasing waste from human error.

Consumption of alcohol

• increases mental and physical reaction times.
• does not change mental or physical reactions.
• decreases mental and physical reaction times.

The 'working memory' is

• semantic memories.
• short term memory.
• procedural memory.

An engineer is working on a wing and kicks a spanner off into an engine cowl and breaks a sensor. This is

• rule based errors.
• skill based error.
• a cognitive error.

Circadian Rhythms have a cycle of

• 25 Hours.
• 24 Hours.
• 23 Hours.

The blood/alcohol limit is

• 40 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood as the single universal limit applying equally to commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and all maintenance engineers.
• 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood as the single uniform limit for commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and licensed aircraft maintenance engineers alike.
• 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for maintenance engineers.

An individual suffering from stress when confronted with a task within his capability is likely to think the task is

• well within his normal ability.
• beyond his level of competence.
• someone else's responsibility.

Consumption of alcohol

• increases mental and physical reaction times.
• does not change mental or physical reactions.
• decreases mental and physical reaction times.

The blood/alcohol limit is

• 40 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood as the single universal limit applying equally to commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and all maintenance engineers.
• 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood as the single uniform limit for commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and licensed aircraft maintenance engineers alike.
• 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for commercial aircrew, air traffic controllers and 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for maintenance engineers.

When working on aircraft, the consumption of alcohol

• is permissible as long as the blood alcohol level stays under the standard driving limit.
• you cannot work on aircraft even 8 hours after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
• is acceptable in small amounts before a shift as long as you feel fit to carry out tasks.

A perforated ear drum could occur if

• you were exposed to intermittent noise above 25 kHz.
• you frequently blew your nose with excessive force.
• you were subjected to continuous noise below 8 kHz.

Which of the following is least associated with the study of human factors?

• Clinical research.
• Health and Safety.
• Error assessments.

Intense or loud noise may lead to

• vertigo.
• fatigue.
• fitness.

The most effective form of communication is

• implicit communication.
• written communication.
• explicit communication.

Information on drugs and alcohol can be found in

• CAP 19.
• AWN 47.
• JAR 25.

Conductive deafness can be caused by damage to the

• cochlea.
• otolith.
• ossicle.

Which of the following is true?

• Noise always affects the standard of work for every person.
• Noise has absolutely no measurable impact on a person's work.
• Noise does affect the standard of work with certain people.

Intense or loud noise may lead to

• vertigo.
• fatigue.
• fitness.

The 'cocktail party effect' is descriptive of

• selective attention.
• sustained attention.
• automatic attention.

Cold stress can be influenced by

• a high calorie intake.
• the UV radiation index.
• the wind chill factor.

The maximum allowable noise dose is

• a sustained noise level of exactly 85 dB for eight hours.
• any combination of noise level and exposure time equivalent to 90 dB(A) averaged over eight hours.
• a continuous noise exposure level of 70 dB for eight hours.

Whilst working on an aircraft a spanner placed on the wing surface is kicked off and subsequently falls into an open engine cowl, breaking off a sensor connector. This is an example of

• a team error.
• Murphy's law.
• a rule lapse.

What happens when you break the "chain of error"?

• The accident still occurs.
• The report gets submitted.
• Accident does not happen.

Consumption of alcohol

• increases mental and physical reaction times.
• does not change mental or physical reactions.
• decreases mental and physical reaction times.

Which of the following is true?

• Noise always affects the standard of work for every person.
• Noise has absolutely no measurable impact on a person's work.
• Noise does affect the standard of work with certain people.