Dirty Dozen: Common Causes of Human Factors Errors in Aviation

Flashcards testing concepts, definitions, and statistics from the FAA Dirty Dozen Human Factors training document.

What percentage of maintenance mistakes involve human factors?

About 80 percent of maintenance mistakes involve human factors, which if not detected would lead to accidents.

According to the transcript, what percentage of verbal communication is received and understood in a conversation?

Only 30% of verbal communication is received and understood by either side in a conversation.

What is identified as the #1 cause of forgetting things in a maintenance task?

Distractions are the #1 cause of forgetting things, including what has or has not been done in a maintenance task.

What specific step should be taken when restarting work after a distraction?

Go back 3 steps when restarting the work.

How is complacency defined in the aviation workplace?

Overconfidence from repeated experience performing a task.

How is lack of communication defined?

Failure to transmit, receive, or provide enough information to complete a task.

How is lack of knowledge defined in the context of aviation human factors?

Shortage of the training, information, and/or ability to successfully perform.

How is lack of assertiveness defined?

Failure to speak up or document concerns about instructions, orders, or the actions of others.

How is stress defined as a cause of mistakes?

A physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes physical or mental tension.

How is lack of awareness defined?

Failure to recognize a situation, understand what it is, and predict the possible results.

How are norms defined in the aviation workplace?

Expected, yet unwritten, rules of behavior.

How is pressure defined as a human factor error?

Real or perceived forces demanding high-level job performance.