Aviation Maintenance Workplace Safety
Aviation Maintenance is a growing industry. It has attracted thousands of individuals every year. Although, it is an awarding job but it comes with equally dangerous risks. As an aviation maintenance technician, you will be responsible for ensuring that all components of aircraft are working properly. This includes engines, propellers, fuel tanks and other crucial parts. If a component fails, it could put the lives of passengers at risk.
Also, as an aviation maintenance technician, you need to ensure workplace safety for everyone who works there. If anything goes wrong with your aircraft, it could cause huge damage to other lives or property, which can lead to lawsuits against the airline and its employees. This can also affect your career as an aviation maintenance technician as well as other employees working in this field.
Therefore, it’s important that any person working in this industry does so safely and without risking their health or safety by doing so.
Below, we have mentioned some of these good practices for Aviation Maintenance workplace safety that all aspiring and current technicians should be aware of to ensure safety of all.
Ensure Open Communication
Communication is the best safety measure for any field, but it’s particularly crucial in the aviation maintenance workplace. When working on aircraft, communicating to your team members about anything you may find wrong, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is of utmost importance. Even a little screw can cause big trouble if it is not fixed properly. So, no matter what it is, communicate it openly!
Labelling Your Tools Correctly
Aviation Maintenance is a field that requires an incredible amount of precision and attention to detail. Correct labelling is therefore a significant component of workplace safety and should not be overlooked by technicians. When you’re working with tools and equipment, it’s important to know which screw is which and where it goes. Proper labelling ensures technicians are using the right tool in the right place.
Know the Safety Codes
Aviation workplace safety signs and signals are created in accordance with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). These signs are also known as warning signs that will help you communicate and know of any critical situation in a few minutes, allowing fast action. Here are what all these different safety signs named after colors mean.
Red – It refers to Danger. When someone shows or says this color, it means there is an immediate danger which must be looked into urgently.
Yellow – It refers to Caution: These are the conditions or areas that could be potentially dangerous. This color should be your sign to ensure you have your protective gear on.
Red-Orange – It refers to Bio-Hazard: This safety sign indicates any dangerous material, fumes, vegetation, etc. that could cause potential sickness or death to humans.
Green – It refers to Safety Instructions: This color refers to any protective gear that can be used in an emergency. This can include first-aid kits, protective gear, etc.
Wearing Protective Gear
Aviation Maintenance is a highly technical field that requires great care and attention to detail. Thus, it is important to always wear the protective gears, even when you are not working. These gear include hard hats to protect the head from any falling object (which is more common than you might think), gloves and coveralls, protective shoes, fume extractors and respirators to protect you from any harmful fumes the engine might release, and of course, PPE kits. Wearing protective gear is important for your safety and every piece you have, should be worn properly for your own good.
It is important to know the protocols and practices of workplace safety in aviation maintenance. These are some of the best practices that all technicians should follow, for the safety of all.
