The Dirty Dozen: Why Cutting Corners Jeopardises Safety
This article series sheds light on the 12 most common causes of human error, known as the Dirty Dozen (article 10 of 12).
‘Resources’ refers to anything you need to perform your job. Resources include time, people, documentation, tools, equipment, parts, and information.
Sometimes, you may experience that you lack the necessary resources. When critical resources are missing, the likelihood of errors increases.
Missing tools, inadequate staffing, or insufficient training can all lead to unsafe decisions, shortcuts, compromises, and operational inefficiencies.
In other words, lack of resources puts crews, colleagues, and passengers at risk.
Read more: Diving into the Dirty Dozen: Limit the Impact and Improve Safety
Experts in Workarounds and Shortcuts
But what can we do when we lack resources?
First of all, it is always a good idea to try to anticipate what you need to do you job, before it becomes urgent. In other words, plan ahead!
That being said, the real danger of lacking resources is not the fact that we do not have resources available at a given time. The real danger is humans.
Humans are experts in creating workarounds, improvising, and taking shortcuts to meet demands. We do not let shortages stop us. In fact, we always find a way to resolve and cope. Especially without the proper resources available.
Workarounds could be:
- Skipping steps in a procedure
- Using the wrong tools
- Applying improper or faulty materials
- Installing worn parts because new parts were unavailable
When we use shortcuts or workarounds, mistakes are more likely to occur. This compromises safety and reduces awareness of the situation.
And safety should never be compromised. Do not let the situation dictate what is acceptable behaviour. Remember that is a perfectly valid to say “NO” in the interest of safety.
Read more: Human Factors in Aviation: The Crucial Role of Training
Reducing the Impact of Resource Shortages
We cannot always control the flow and availability of resources, but there are some things we can do to mitigate shortages:
- Plan ahead and identify resource gaps before they turn critical.
- Create an open reporting culture where employees feel safe to report issues revolving around resources – or lack thereof.
- Prioritise training which enables employees to recognise and adapt to lack of resources without jeopardising safety.
- Encourage teamwork and communication where people work together to find safe solutions in challenging situations.
Read more: The Human Factor: Why Humans Make Mistakes
