HPC 327-ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

LESSON PROPER

WHAT IS ERGONOMICS IN AVIATION?

The important role that ergonomics has to play in aviation safety is that of minimizing
human error induced by poorly designed equipment or by stressful working
environments. Of course, ergonomics can also enhance aviation safety by maximizing
human performance under normal and abnormal conditions.

A 2005 survey shows that, in comparison to other sectors, air transportation

workers
§ work on the weekends more often;
§ have more variation in the number of days they work in a week;
§ have more variation in starting and finishing time at work;
§ work more in alternating/rotating shifts.

As a result, workers in the air transport sector experience more problems fitting their
working hours with their family and social commitments. According to the European
Working Conditions Survey, in 2009 about 40% of air transport workers said that they
thought their health or safety was at risk because of their work. This is a lot more than in
other sectors (27%). The main health problems mentioned are: stress, overall fatigue,
backaches, and hearing problems. General safety and health hazards in air transport
mentioned by the European Agency for Safety and Health (EU OSHA) are: ergonomic
risks, work organizational stressors, noise, dangerous substances, vibration, unusual
working times, working away from home and from a work base, lack of facilities, and a
complex work situation.

WORK ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS

Ground staff
The aircraft turn around process is critical for airlines, because they are only able to
make profit when passengers and cargo are transported. For that reason, all turn
around activities have to be performed in the shortest time possible. This causes time
pressure for the workers, leading to negative effects such as: lack of concentration,
inadequate decisions, errors, incomplete tasks, and stress. Ground staff experience
stress for several reasons.

In addition to time pressure, work-related stress factors are: shift work, high work load,
gate changes, early or late arrivals, changes in procedure, and equipment malfunction.
Stress affects the performance of the workers and may cause fatigue.
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Violence from aggressive passengers is a serious issue for check-in workers. The
overbooking policy of some airlines leads to increasing verbal and physical attacks by
passengers. A study performed by Rosskam et al. at three Canadian airports showed
that one in twenty check-in workers had been physically assaulted on the job, over 80%
had been subjected to verbal abuse from passengers, and over 20% had been
threatened by passengers.

Air traffic controllers perform a highly demanding job with a complex series of tasks that
require high levels of knowledge and expertise, and high levels of responsibility. The
main risk factors are traffic load peaks, time pressure, shift schedules, night work,
unfavorable working conditions, emergency situations, and the lack of control over
work.

Flight crew
Flight crew members, including pilots and flight attendants, are exposed to several risks
and hazards due to work organizational factors. They work in shifts that involve irregular
hours, working weekends and public holidays, and spending time away from home,
which adversely affect family responsibilities and leisure activities, and may result in
stress and fatigue.

Flight crews flying on long haul flights are exposed to changes in external time, followed
by changes in circadian rhythm, which leads to several symptoms known as jet lag. Jet
lag and night flight may cause extreme fatigue and thus decreased performance and
alertness.

The flight attendants may also experience violence from distressed or dissatisfied
passengers. Passengers who behave in a violent or distressed manner can be a
serious threat and a hazard to health and safety for cabin and flight crew and other
passengers.
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Pilot, co-pilot and flight engineers suffer from high stress levels in their workplace. They
perform a highly demanding job that requires high levels of knowledge and expertise,
and high levels of responsibility for the safety of many passengers. Operating an aircraft
overnight, flying in bad weather or in a high density traffic area, and keeping their flights
on-time are the most common causes of high pressure for the cockpit crew.

PHYSICAL WORK FACTORS

Ground staff
The main physical hazards affecting ground staff are exposure to noise and vibrations.
The main sources of noise and vibrations from airport operations are aircrafts during
landing and take-off, followed by ground operations equipment and vehicles.
According to the German statutory accident insurance for transport (BGF), the noise
from aircraft engines, auxiliary power units (APU), ground vehicles, and equipment on
the ramp can exceed 85 decibels (dB). Exposure to noise can cause permanent
hearing loss at chronic exposures equal to an average sound pressure level or higher
for an eight-hour period.

Exposure to high-frequency whole-body vibrations over years may cause balance

disorders, visual disturbances, stomach problems, reduced fine motor skills, or affect
the spine. Hand-arm vibrations may cause circulation disorders in fingers (e.g. white
fingers disease (or hand-arm vibration syndrome), degenerative changes of the hand
bones, finger joints and wrists, as well as of the elbow and shoulder regions (Vibration).

Ground workers operating outside are exposed to adverse weather conditions and
lightning hazards. Workers especially at risk of lightning events include those
maintaining airport premises (e.g., mowing grass or repairing runway lighting), servicing
aircraft on ramps (handling baggage, food service, refueling, tugging and guiding
aircraft from/to gates), and ramp agents. Since lightning strikes can cause serious
injuries or death, it is important to provide timely alerts to airport personnel so that they
can get to safety when lightning is imminent.

Workers refueling the aircraft with jet fuel are at risk of fire and explosion. Maintaining
personnel handling explosive substances are also at risk.
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Aviation security screeners may be exposed to x-ray while screening carry-on

baggage, checked baggage or passengers. A survey performed by NIOSH showed that
the radiation doses for baggage screeners were low, suggesting that the shielding on
the machines can be effective in limiting worker exposures. But improper safety
equipment as well as improper working practices may lead to an elevated radiation
dose. Laser scanners may injure the eyes (Safety of machinery and work equipment).

Flight crew
The flight crew is also exposed to noise and vibrations resulting from the moving
aircraft. Whole-body vibrations occur during the flight, especially when landing and
taking off, or during turbulence. Poor seating with improper shock absorption increases
the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Cosmic radiation comes from outside the solar system and consists of extremely
energetic particles. Most cosmic radiation is adsorbed by the atmosphere. However,
doses of cosmic radiation increase with altitude. Flying at higher altitudes common to
long-distance flights can expose the flight crew to high levels of cosmic radiation. Flight
crews are one of the most exposed professional groups, with annual average exposure
at 2.4 millisievert in 2009.

Dangerous substances

Cleaners and toilet servicing may come in contact with hazardous cleaning agents
and biological agents while draining of the aircraft waste system. Maintenance workers
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are exposed to dangerous substances such as oils, lubricants, jet fuel, de-icing fluids,
and hydraulic fluids. These substances may be carcinogenic, neurotoxic or sensitizing.
Service workers performing toilet servicing (e.g. draining the aircraft waste system) are
exposed to biological hazards. They may inhale aerosols from feces or may be exposed
to skin contact with feces.

ERGONOMIC FACTORS
Ground staff
Baggage handlers are at risk of musculoskeletal diseases. They spend long hours on
their feet working in awkward body postures, lifting heavy baggage from conveyors to
carts and baggage containers for transport to the plane. Lifting heavy baggage can lead
to various ergonomic hazards, resulting in injuries. Check-in staff also faces ergonomic
hazards. They often stand at a computer for long periods of time, which may result in
fatigue and back pain. They lift heavy baggage onto the conveyor and perform repetitive
work.

Flight crew
Flight attendants are at risk of musculoskeletal injuries relating to the shoulder, neck
and lower back. The risk is related to the amount of overhead reaching, lifting, pushing,
pulling, bending and twisting, and working in awkward body postures.

Areas of risk for musculoskeletal injuries include:

§ Handling heavy carry-on baggage
§ Overhead reaching required to get to items within the galley and to access the
overhead bins
§ Poor seating for flight attendants
§ Long periods standing
§ Bending and squatting required to reach items within the trolleys and galley
§ Pulling, pushing and maneuvering trolleys
§ Turbulence
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§ Aircraft take-off and landing

§ Accidents on airport ramps (aprons)

TYPICALLY, ACCIDENTS HAPPEN WHEN WORKERS ARE STRUCK BY MOVING

OBJECTS OR CRUSHED.
§ Slips, trips and falls are caused by obstacles on the ramp such as chocks, ground
power units (GPU), cables, tow-bars, bonding cables, fuelling hoses, or spilt liquids.
§ The most frequent types of injuries are sprains and strains, bruises and contusions,
fractures, cuts, laceration, and punctures.
§ Fatal accidents also occur. Aircraft propellers have the potential to cause serious
accidents.

Accidents in aircrafts
§ Aircrafts are hazardous working environments, especially when moving.
§ Flight attendants are exposed to a high-risk of injury through handling heavy
baggage, unsafely stored baggage, overhead bins, service trolleys, air stair doors, and
through slips, trips and falls.
§ Conditions such as turbulences make the on-board environment more dangerous and
are the underlying cause for the majority of the injuries.

Prevention and control measures

After the hazards have been identified, the next step is to analyze the work processes
and to determine who will be exposed to these hazards and to what extent. This will
then lead to the identification of the necessary prevention and control measures,
including reassessing the effectiveness of measures already in place. The selection of
measures has to follow a certain hierarchy to ensure that the most effective measures
like avoidance and substitution are considered.
Personal protective equipment is seen as the last resort. It is advisable to involve the
workers into this risk assessment process as they have sound knowledge about the
conditions and risks at their workplaces.
[OSH training| Training]
Instructions should be provided for all workers and accompany all types of measures,
so workers know and have practiced new methods and processes.
Effective risk control may involve a single control measure or a combination of two or
more different controls.

PREVENTION MEASURES FOR DIFFERENT AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS WITH

SELECTED HAZARDS AND RISK
Occupations in air transport Examples of prevention measures
HPC 327-ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

FLIGHT CREW

Cockpit crew: Pilot, Co-pilot Basic prevention measures such as

shielding are only limited during flights.
Cabin crew: Flight assistant However, employers have to

• Assess the exposure of the crew,

• Take into account the assessed
exposure when organizing
working schedules with a view to
reducing the doses of highly
exposed aircrew (e.g. minimizing
monthly flight time or selecting
flights with lower altitude) and
with special regard to pregnant
workers,
• Inform the workers about the risk

GROUND STAFF LANDSIDE

Stress (aggression and violence)

Check in staff There are three general approaches to

preventing workplace violence and
Air safety control staff stress:

• Environmental: providing
appropriate lighting, entrances
and exits, security hardware.
• Organizational/administrative:
developing programs, policies
and work practices for a safe
working environment, avoiding
lone working, providing sufficient
staff;
HPC 327-ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

 Behavioral/interpersonal:
Providing training for workers
to recognize report and
respond to conflict and
potential stress and violence in
the workplace.
X-ray, laser scanner:

• Ensuring that scanners comply

with EU standards
• Providing preventive measures
such as shields
• Providing training for workers to
Aviation security ensure safe working practices
screeners • Informing workers about risks
and hazards related to x-ray or
laser
• Providing appropriate protective
equipment e.g. glasses or
goggles to protect against laser
GROUND STAFF AIRSIDE

Baggage and Cargo handler Musculoskeletal diseases

• Using mechanical handling

equipment to move bags into and
out of the aircraft hold e.g. belt
loaders
• Provide training for all workers
with suitable training in safe
handling techniques
• Implementation of task rotation
between workers, e.g. working in
the hold, working on the ramp,
driving the tug, etc.
• Providing suitable breaks and
rest periods
• Providing appropriate PPE (e.g.
HPC 327-ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

kneepads, footwear and gloves,

ear protection, high-visibility
clothing)
• Monitoring the workers to ensure
that they follow work procedures
in a safe manner and identifying
areas of concern
(e.g. awkward and forced
postures)
Push back crew, Aircraft marshaller Accidents on the ramp:

• Clear traffic regulations and

procedures
• Providing training for workers
how to work safely on the ramp
• Providing information about ramp
safety rules
• Well planned traffic flow and
separated vehicles from
pedestrians
• Providing appropriate PPE,
especially high-visibility clothing
and hearing
protection
 Proper maintenance of vehicles
and equipment

Noise

Ramp agents • Providing engineering/technical

controls to reduce the noise
produced by a machine or
process (e.g. enclosures,
absorbent material)
• Improving working techniques to
reduce noise levels
• Limiting the time people spend in
noisy areas
• Providing personal hearing
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protection equipment that is

approved for the specific
operational task
• Training how to use the hearing
protection in the right way and
performing regular checks of the
hearing protection equipment.

Cleaners and Caterers Chemical hazards:

Maintenance and Repair personnel • Substitution of hazardous

substances is the first priority. If
Refueller, De-icer
possible, dangerous substances
should be substituted.
• Provide training
• Inform workers about the
hazards
• Provide Safety Data Sheets and
handling guidance
• Provide appropriate equipment
• Health surveillance and
biological monitoring
• Tasks must only be carried out
by trained and qualified
personnel.
Stress: An effective strategy to reduce
stress should address the causes and
Air traffic controller the consequences of stress

Stress prevention through:

• Reduction of working times,

arranging work teams and rest
pauses in accordance with work
load,
• Reducing shift and night work to
a minimum
• Improving work environment
(providing canteens, sleep
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facilities, nice office design, good

lighting, noise insulation)
• Health protection and promotion

AIRCRAFT SEAT ERGONOMICS

Persons aboard an aircraft in flight need to maintain a correct seating posture. For the
passengers, it is a matter of comfort, which is part of the entire flight experience.
However, for the flight crew members, they need to be seated in a way that not only
ensures comfort but also reduces fatigue from being seated in the same position for a
considerable period of time. The ergonomic seat design should allow the pilots to
operate the aircraft efficiently too.

Advantages of Utilizing Aircraft Seat Ergonomics

- The users are seated comfortably for better flight

experience. - The users are able to sit down and get
up from the seat easily and quickly (Especially
important during emergency evacuation). - Flight
crews are able to see the surrounding outside the
flight deck clearly without having to lean forward for
better view.
- Flight crews are able to view the flight instruments
more clearly and easily due to their closer distance
from the instrument displays - Flight crews are more
alert due to a good seating posture (Especially
important for the flight crews, who need to stay vigilant
at all times during the flight)
- Prevent users from feeling tired easily due to a
uncomfortable seating posture (Especially important for the flight crews, who need to
stay vigilant at all times during the flight makes controls easier)
- An ergonomic aircraft seat increases space in the cabin
- The probability of backbone injuries is reduced, especially during scenarios when pilot
has to be ejected from the aircraft during emergencies
- To prevent health implications such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

THE BEST POSITIONS FOR SLEEPING ON A PLANE

When you're exhausted on a long haul flight, there's nothing more frustrating than not
being able to sleep. With little room to play with and blasts of air conditioning firing from
awkward angles, it can often prove tricky to get comfortable. But in a bid to help fliers
 HPC 327-ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

master the art of the in-flight snooze, Travel has produced a guide to some of the most
sleep-inducing positions you could adopt.