Pressure

Pressure (hereinafter, the Factor) is the human factor that is characterized by pushing against opposing forces particularly through creating a sense of urgency or haste. The Factor is one of the Dirty Dozen of Human Factors.

In aviation maintenance

According to the FAA AMT Handbook,

Aviation maintenance tasks require individuals to perform in an environment with constant pressure to do things better and faster without making mistakes and letting things fall through the cracks. Unfortunately, these types of job pressures can affect the capabilities of maintenance workers to get the job done right. [Figure 14-25] Airlines have strict financial guidelines, as well as tight flight schedules, that force mechanics to be under pressure to identify and repair mechanical problems quickly so that the airline industry can keep moving. Most important, aircraft mechanics are responsible for the overall safety of everyone who uses flying as a mode of transportation.

Organizations must be aware of the time pressures that are put on aircraft mechanics and help them manage all of the tasks that need to be completed so that all repairs, while done in a timely manner, are completed correctly with safety being the ultimate goal. Sacrificing quality and safety for the sake of time should not be tolerated or accepted. Likewise, aircraft maintenance technicians need to recognize on their own when time pressures are clouding their judgments and causing them to make unnecessary mistakes. Self-induced pressures are those occasions where one takes ownership of a situation that was not of their doing.

In an effort to combat self-induced pressure, technicians should ask for help if they feel overwhelmed and under a time constraint to get a repair fixed. Another method is to have someone check the repair thoroughly to ensure that all maintenance tasks were completed correctly.

Lastly, if given a repair with a specific time limitation that you do not feel is realistic or compromises safety, bring it to the attention of the organization’s management and openly discuss a different course of action.

Mitigating the risk: (a) Ensure that the pressure is not self induced, (b) Ask for extra help if time is an issue, (c) Communicate if you think you will need more time to complete a repair rather than rush through it. Pressure to get things repaired is always present in aviation. Maintainers must not let the pressures of time constraints get in the way with safely finishing a repair.