Task based risk assessment for human factors impact on aviation maintenance deviations: A case study on three specific tasks and their operational implications

This paper investigates human performance on a set of selected tasks in an aviation maintenance organisation, where a significant prevalence of unsafe acts and conditions were observed. The methodology began with visual inspections of the work environment. Semi structured interviews were then undertaken to gain an insight into the job demands and critical issues reported by front line operators. Three representative critical tasks were then selected for a detailed task analysis. This fed into a task based risk assessment that mapped out safety critical deviations together with timelines for nominal and deviation paths. The likelihood and severity of potential outcomes were estimated in terms of loss of productivity. Task performance was assessed in terms of the likelihood of failure and compared with a monetised risk exposure for both nominal paths and when short cuts and deviations occurred.