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The Panasonic Trust Awards
Nicola Pinckney – MSc Human Factors & Safety Assessment in Aviation, Cranfield University.
 The
course in ‘Human Factors and Safety assessment in Aviation’ provided an
excellent insight into a rapidly developing field. Combining both
engineering and psychology some aspects of this subject often appear to be
common sense. However without formal tuition and methodology of application
into the work environment they are often missed and are the direct cause of
major accidents. The course covered a wide range of subjects including human
perceptions, aircraft design, risk and reliability, training and simulation
and accident investigation. This wide range of subjects underpins the fact
that human factors impact on all areas.
On completion of the course I was fortunate to secure
an initial contract involving the procurement and refurbishment of a new
military helicopter. In this role, the human factors element of the
university course proved useful in the assessment and development of
modifications. It is essential at the design phase to consider many human
factor issues, including usability and maintainability, as well as fitness
for purpose. Having a background understanding of human perception,
fallibility and reactions, resulted in the production of more effective
final designs.
I have recently been working in the safety engineering
field in support of military helicopters deployed in operational theatres.
The safety work includes development of ‘Safety Cases’ and reports which
present arguments to show design risks are maintained ‘As Low as Reasonably
Practicable ‘(ALARP). Both the ‘Human Factors and Safety Assessment’
elements of the course are routinely used in the safety engineering role.
The understanding gained during the course regarding methods of hazard
assessment and safety assessment from a systematic viewpoint is particularly
useful.
I consider myself very fortunate to have received the
Panasonic Trust award. As a result of undertaking the course I have
significantly developed as an engineer. It has given me the opportunity to
use my previous experience combined with the academic knowledge to work in
an interesting and rewarding role providing outputs which directly influence
safety in the military helicopter field.
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