Safety Training – Including Human Factors (Initial Training)

Course Objectives:

The objective of this course is to enhance awareness of human factors and their impact on maintenance safety. It aims to develop a safety-oriented mindset among maintenance personnel while equipping them with knowledge of human error models, risk assessment, and error prevention strategies. Furthermore, the course reinforces the importance of a positive safety culture within the organisation and ensures compliance with EASA regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

This course is intended for aircraft maintenance technicians and engineers, quality assurance personnel, safety managers and supervisors, compliance monitoring and audit staff, and any personnel involved in maintenance activities within EASA Part 145-approved organisations. It is designed to provide essential knowledge to all individuals responsible for maintaining and ensuring the safety of aircraft maintenance operations.

This training course ensures that personnel are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to maintain high safety standards and comply with EASA regulations, ultimately contributing to a safer aviation maintenance environment.

Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• Explain the need for addressing safety management and human factors in aviation maintenance.
• Identify and assess safety risks, hazards, and mitigation strategies.
• Understand the key principles of safety culture and organizational factors influencing maintenance practices.
• Recognize common human errors, their implications, and strategies for error management.
• Describe human performance limitations, including stress, fatigue, workload, and situational awareness.
• Assess environmental factors affecting workplace safety and operational efficiency.
• Apply best practices for communication, teamwork, and professionalism in the maintenance environment.
• Understand the organization’s safety program, including error reporting, investigation processes, and safety improvement actions.

Regulatory requirement compliance:

This course aligns with EASA Part 145.A.30(e), which mandates that maintenance organizations provide safety and human factors training to their personnel.

The syllabus adheres to ICAO Human Factors guidance and is structured to meet the competency requirements for personnel performing maintenance activities under EASA regulations.

Prerequisites:

• Basic understanding of aircraft maintenance procedures.
• Prior experience in a maintenance environment is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Familiarity with aviation safety principles is recommended.
• Proficiency in English for technical and regulatory materials.

Course Topics:

PART 1 – GENERAL/INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN FACTORS

• Need to address safety management and human factors.
• Statistics.
• Incidentss.
• Safety risk management
  • Hazard identification
  • Safety risk assessment
  • Risk mitigation and management
  • Effectiveness of safety risk management

PART 2 – SAFETY CULTURE/ORGANISATIONAL FACTORS

• Justness/trust
• Commitment to safety
• Adaptability
• Awareness
• Behaviour
• Information

PART 3 – HUMAN ERROR

• Error models and theories
• Types of errors in maintenance tasks
• Violations
• Implications of errors
• Avoiding and managing errors
• Human reliability

PART 4 – HUMAN PERFORMANCE & LIMITATIONS

• Vision
• Hearing
• Information-processing
• Attention and perception
• Situational awareness
• Memory
• Claustrophobia and physical access
• Motivation
• Fitness/health
• Stress
• Workload management
• Fatigue
• Alcohol, medication, drugs
• Physical work
• Repetitive tasks/complacency

PART 5 – ENVIRONMENT

• Peer pressure
• Stressors
• Time pressure and deadlines
• Workload
• Shift work
• Noise and fumes
• Illumination
• Climate and temperature
• Motion and vibration
• Complex systems
• Other hazards in the workplace
• Lack of manpower
• Distractions and interruptions

PART 6 – PROCEDURES. INFORMATION, TOOLS AND PRACTICES

• Visual inspection
• Work logging and recording
• Procedure – practice/mismatch/norms
• Technical documentation – access and quality
• Critical maintenance tasks and error-capturing methods (independent inspection, reinspection, etc.)

PART 7 – COMMUNICATION

• Shift/task handover
• Dissemination of information
• Cultural differences

PART 8 – TEAMWORK

• Responsibility
• Management, supervision and leadership
• Decision-making

PART 9 – PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY

• Keeping up to date; currency
• Avoiding error-provoking behaviour
• Assertiveness

PART 10 – ORGANISATION’S SAFETY PROGRAMME

• Safety policy and objectives, just culture principles
• Reporting errors and hazards, internal safety reporting scheme
• Investigation process
• Action to address problems
• Feedback and safety promotion

Course Duration:

This Advanced E-training courses takes about 8 hrs to complete.

Materials Used

Required Materials:

There are no additional materials or documentation required for this course.

Supplemental Materials:

A notebook and pen if you require to make notes.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware requirements:

A reliable computer with a stable internet connection is necessary to complete the course and/or online examination.

Software requirements:

There is no software deemed necessary for this training.

Browser information:

We recommend that you use Google Chrome during the course and online examination.

Instructor & Training Material Author Information

Instructor & Training Material Author credentials:

Mr. Danny Goergen is a highly experienced aviation professional with over two decades of expertise spanning aircraft maintenance, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, training, and consultancy. His career has been defined by a commitment to excellence in safety, operational efficiency, and industry best practices. Danny is a certified Human Factors Trainer.

Starting as an aircraft mechanic, Danny honed his technical skills before earning a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Engineering. He then transitioned into process engineering at an EASA Part 145 approved component repair shop, where he played a pivotal role in optimizing maintenance operations. Over the years, he has held multiple EASA Form 4 positions, including Technical Manager and Quality Assurance Manager, demonstrating his ability to lead and uphold rigorous industry standards.

In 2009, Danny founded Holland Aviation Consultancy & Engineering (HACE), a firm dedicated to providing expert consultancy, audit support, and training services to the aviation maintenance sector. Through HACE, he has developed an online training platform offering courses in Human Factors, EWIS, Fuel Tank Safety, and aviation regulations, ensuring that professionals worldwide have access to high-quality, industry-relevant education.

Danny’s extensive experience includes quality management roles in EASA Part 145 maintenance organizations, Part 147 training centers, and Aircraft Part-Out and Aviation Supplier organisations. As a lead auditor and compliance expert, he has been instrumental in ensuring organizations meet and exceed regulatory requirements. His work with MROs, training organizations, and aerospace firms has positioned him as a trusted advisor in regulatory compliance, safety management, and continuous improvement.

Beyond consultancy, Danny is a qualified and experienced auditor and has provided internal audit support for numerous organizations, such as APOC, Chromalloy, EPCOR, Fokker Services Group, Intelsat and Viba Aerospace & Defense. His expertise covers not only EASA, FAA, and CAAC regulations, but also ISO-9001, EN/AS9120, ASA-100 and AFRA standards, allowing him to navigate complex international compliance landscapes effectively.

As a respected trainer and mentor, Danny has conducted numorous classroom and online training sessions for aviation professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to uphold the highest industry standards. His ability to translate regulatory requirements and aviation standards into practical, actionable strategies makes him a valuable asset to any aviation organization.

With a passion for aviation safety and continuous improvement, Danny Goergen remains dedicated to supporting the industry’s evolving needs through expert consultancy, quality management, and training solutions.

Contact information:

Mr. Danny Goergen can be contacted via e-mail (danny.goergen@hace.aero) or tefephone +31(0)28183203

Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannygoergen/

Assessment and Grading

Testing procedure:

Students will perform an online examination with Multiple-choice questions. A laptop or tablet with WiFi internet connection is needed to complete this examination.

Grading procedure:

All lessons need to be marked completed and the online examination needs to be passed with a minimum passrate of 75% in order to receive a Certificate of Course Completion.

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

There are no assignments or projects applicable for this online course.

Course Ground Rules

Course Participation & Expectations

To ensure a smooth and effective learning experience in this self-paced course, students are expected to:

• Engage with course materials actively and complete all required activities.
• Utilize available resources, including instructor support (if applicable), FAQs, and discussion forums.
• Stay updated on course announcements and guidelines.
• Use the designated student email for any course-related communication.
• Address any technical issues promptly to avoid disruptions.
• Follow proper online etiquette (netiquette) in all interactions within the learning platform.

By following these guidelines, students can maximize their learning experience and successfully complete the course