Study of fatigue and workload among aircraft de-icing technicians

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and workload experienced by aircraft de-icing personnel have been largely neglected in occupational health and safety research. OBJECTIVE: To provide an initial assessment of fatigue and workload among de-icing ground crews. METHODS: Company records were used to reveal possible relationships between different variables (age, seniority, truck type, and work shift). A group of 20 volunteer participants (17 men and 3 women) rated their level of fatigue before and after one shift using the Samn-Perelli fatigue scale. Workload was evaluated using the NASA-TLX method at the end of the shift. RESULTS: The average fatigue experienced by de-icing worker was significantly greater (P = 0.043) for the technicians in open-basket trucks than for the ones in trucks with a cabin (4.43 vs 3.37). Furthermore, there was a significant age difference (P = 0.048) in the perceived level of fatigue (4.1 vs 3.1), with younger workers (< 30 years) reporting a higher level than older workers (30 years). Overall NASA-TLX score were not significant (P > 0.05) for any of the factors tested: type of truck, shift and age. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that particular attention should be paid to young technicians and technicians working in open-basket trucks, since the fatigue levels reported in association with these factors were higher.

Ergonomic Time and Motion Studies of Aircraft De-icing Work

“…The result is that the net arithmetic energy turnover levels for the group as a whole, as shown in Figure 4, lies in the middle range. The figure of 165 watt/m 2 cited by Torres et al [23] for work in open baskets is comparable with our results. Figure 8 shows the combined results for work-related energy turnover and time required.…”

“…Studies of stresses and fatigue arising from de-icing work have been published by Torres Medina et al [21][22][23][24]. A study by Torres et al [23] demonstrates that ground staff perceives work in open baskets as significantly more stressful and tiring than in closed baskets.…”

“…A study by Torres et al [23] demonstrates that ground staff perceives work in open baskets as significantly more stressful and tiring than in closed baskets. Günebak et al have examined questions of traffic management coordinator (de-icing facility personnel controlling all movements on the de-icing apron from the control tower) communications [25,26].…”

De-Icing of aircraft: Incorporating business risks and occupational health and safety

“…When conducting de-icing tasks on aircraft, maintainers are exposed to many risks as falls from heights of ten meters or more, splashes or run-offs of fluids from the aircrafts, the platform colliding with the aircraft, being sucked towards the intake of running motors during audit of small aircraft, slipping on the ground during audit of small aircraft, direct exposure to de-icing/anti-icing fluids, direct exposure to conditions on the airport tarmac (cold temperature, wind-chill factor, noise, glare (passing from darkness to brightness), musculoskeletal lesions associated with working postures and the weight (about 3 to 5 kg) of the de-icing nozzle being handled, fatigue (Torres et al, [96]) and others. A de-icing ground crew sprays these liquids and inspects critical surfaces to ensure that no ice remains (Ayache et al, [19]).…”

A Proposal for a Predictive Performance Assessment Model in Complex Sociotechnical Systems Combining Fuzzy Logic and the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM)

“…The workload can be demanding and might affect workers psychologically and physiologically [9] [10] [11] [12]. Human factors as age, sex, physical strength, knowledge level, experience and others are significant factors that characterize the performance of workers [10]. Organizational factors as providing adequate guidelines and resources are essential for an appropriate execution of the procedures in force [13].…”