Lack of teamwork

Lack of teamwork (hereinafter, the Factor) is the human factor that is characterized by a lack of working together to achieve a common goal. The Factor is one of the Dirty Dozen of Human Factors.

In aviation maintenance

According to the FAA AMT Handbook,

A lack of teamwork may also contribute to errors in aircraft maintenance. Closely related to lack of communication, teamwork is required in aviation maintenance in many instances. Sharing of knowledge between technicians, coordinating maintenance functions, turning work over from shift to shift, and working with flight personnel to troubleshoot and test aircraft are all are executed better in an atmosphere of teamwork. Often associated with improved safety in the workplace, teamwork involves everyone understanding and agreeing on actions to be taken. A gear swing or other operational check involves all the members of a team working together. Multiple technicians contribute to the effort to ensure a single outcome. They communicate and look out for one another as they do the job. A consensus is formed that the item is airworthy or not airworthy.

The technician primarily deals with the physical aspect of the aircraft and its airworthiness. Others in the organization perform their roles and the entire company functions as a team. Teams can win or lose depending on how well everyone in the organization works together toward a common objective. A lack of teamwork makes all jobs more difficult and, in maintenance, could result in a miscommunication that affects the airworthiness of the aircraft.

Mitigating the risk: (a) Ensure that lines of communication are open between personnel, (b) Always look out for co-workers with safety in mind, (c) Discuss specific duties when jobs require more than one person to eliminate any questions. Personality difference in the workplace must be left at the door. Organizations should emphasize that a lack of teamwork can ultimately effect the safety of maintenance work.