Exploring fatigue challenges and contributing factors in the South African aviation industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from blunt-end stakeholders
- Authors: Clark, Darryl Malcolm
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Fatigue , Aircraft industry South Africa , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Influence , Executives Attitudes , Fatigue in the workplace , Aeronautics Law and legislation South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464743 , vital:76541
- Description: Background: Despite the global aviation industry's ongoing commitment to safety, crew fatigue remains a persistent and pressing issue. Within South Africa, fatigue management was primarily governed by regulations, however, there was ongoing debate about whether these regulations adequately reflected the latest scientific evidence and operational demands. This study addressed this gap by investigating perceptions about fatigue and fatigue management from management and decision-makers (blunt-end stakeholders) within the South African aviation sector. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions surrounding fatigue and fatigue management among management and decision-makers (blunt-end stakeholders) within the South African aviation sector. Specifically, it sought to contribute to ongoing research dedicated to developing a better understanding of whether, how, and why regulations pertaining to fatigue management may need to change. By exploring the perspectives of blunt-end stakeholders, the study aimed to uncover insights into the challenges and potential gaps in current regulations, with the ultimate goal of informing potential regulatory adjustments to enhance aviation safety. Methodology: A cross-sectional, qualitative exploratory design investigated perceptions about fatigue and fatigue management among blunt-end stakeholders in the South African aviation industry. Data was collected through online semi-structured interviews and written open-ended questionnaires to capture diverse perspectives. The methodology aimed to comprehensively understand fatigue-related experiences and perceptions among pilots and cabin crew, considering the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling, ensuring representation from various regulatory categories and industry sectors. The study employed a thematic analysis approach to analyse data collected through online semi-structured interviews and written open-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis facilitated the identification of key patterns and themes in the perceptions of blunt-end stakeholders within the South African aviation industry regarding fatigue and fatigue management Results: The thematic analysis of data from thirteen South African aviation industry stakeholders unveiled insights into crew fatigue challenges and regulatory concerns. Participants emphasized crew fatigue as a significant safety risk linked to entrenched crew mentalities, where instances of disregarding fatigue management protocols posed imminent safety risks. Additionally, outdated regulations were cited, hindering optimal crew rest periods and modern fatigue mitigation technologies, with discrepancies in regulatory support exacerbating challenges across operational contexts. Aviation stakeholders expressed apprehensions regarding the efficacy of existing Flight and Duty Regulations, advocating for amendments to enhance fatigue management practices. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated fatigue issues, leading to shifts in crew morale, increased stress levels, and regulatory challenges, necessitating adaptive fatigue management strategies and proposed risk mitigation plans, including regulatory adjustments and enhanced stakeholder engagement. Discussion: The study investigated the intricate landscape of fatigue-related risks within the aviation industry, recognizing the systemic and context-specific nature of these challenges. It is evident from our findings, in line with previous research, that fatigue within the aviation sector is not merely an isolated issue but a multifaceted consequence of systemic factors. Our study highlights the pressing need for revisiting the current Flight and Duty Periods (FDPs) and overall fatigue management strategies to address these underlying systemic issues effectively. Unlike static safety concerns, fatigue-related risks evolve dynamically, influenced by technological advancements, industry practices, and external factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis elucidated the complex interplay between safety protocols, operational standards, and the well-being of crew members, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in mitigating fatigue-related risks. Central to our findings is the recognition of the limitations of existing regulations in adequately addressing emerging challenges associated with crew fatigue. Our study underscores the imperative of regulatory agility in safeguarding both passengers and crew members, advocating for continuous evaluation and refinement of regulatory frameworks. Specifically, there is a critical need to revisit and adapt current FDPs and fatigue management strategies to align with the systemic causes of fatigue identified in our research. Conclusion: This study contributed a comprehensive analysis of crew fatigue in South African aviation, focusing on perspectives of blunt-end stakeholders. It highlighted widespread recognition of fatigue's safety implications, exacerbated by factors like economic stressors and regulatory deficiencies, including those intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants advocated for regulatory reforms to enhance crew rest provisions and address scheduling challenges. The research underscored the need for a proactive, collaborative approach prioritizing aviation professionals' well-being. Recommendations emphasized tailored regulations, technology integration, and ongoing collaboration among stakeholders to refine fatigue management strategies and ensure industry resilience. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Clark, Darryl Malcolm
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Fatigue , Aircraft industry South Africa , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Influence , Executives Attitudes , Fatigue in the workplace , Aeronautics Law and legislation South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464743 , vital:76541
- Description: Background: Despite the global aviation industry's ongoing commitment to safety, crew fatigue remains a persistent and pressing issue. Within South Africa, fatigue management was primarily governed by regulations, however, there was ongoing debate about whether these regulations adequately reflected the latest scientific evidence and operational demands. This study addressed this gap by investigating perceptions about fatigue and fatigue management from management and decision-makers (blunt-end stakeholders) within the South African aviation sector. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions surrounding fatigue and fatigue management among management and decision-makers (blunt-end stakeholders) within the South African aviation sector. Specifically, it sought to contribute to ongoing research dedicated to developing a better understanding of whether, how, and why regulations pertaining to fatigue management may need to change. By exploring the perspectives of blunt-end stakeholders, the study aimed to uncover insights into the challenges and potential gaps in current regulations, with the ultimate goal of informing potential regulatory adjustments to enhance aviation safety. Methodology: A cross-sectional, qualitative exploratory design investigated perceptions about fatigue and fatigue management among blunt-end stakeholders in the South African aviation industry. Data was collected through online semi-structured interviews and written open-ended questionnaires to capture diverse perspectives. The methodology aimed to comprehensively understand fatigue-related experiences and perceptions among pilots and cabin crew, considering the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling, ensuring representation from various regulatory categories and industry sectors. The study employed a thematic analysis approach to analyse data collected through online semi-structured interviews and written open-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis facilitated the identification of key patterns and themes in the perceptions of blunt-end stakeholders within the South African aviation industry regarding fatigue and fatigue management Results: The thematic analysis of data from thirteen South African aviation industry stakeholders unveiled insights into crew fatigue challenges and regulatory concerns. Participants emphasized crew fatigue as a significant safety risk linked to entrenched crew mentalities, where instances of disregarding fatigue management protocols posed imminent safety risks. Additionally, outdated regulations were cited, hindering optimal crew rest periods and modern fatigue mitigation technologies, with discrepancies in regulatory support exacerbating challenges across operational contexts. Aviation stakeholders expressed apprehensions regarding the efficacy of existing Flight and Duty Regulations, advocating for amendments to enhance fatigue management practices. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated fatigue issues, leading to shifts in crew morale, increased stress levels, and regulatory challenges, necessitating adaptive fatigue management strategies and proposed risk mitigation plans, including regulatory adjustments and enhanced stakeholder engagement. Discussion: The study investigated the intricate landscape of fatigue-related risks within the aviation industry, recognizing the systemic and context-specific nature of these challenges. It is evident from our findings, in line with previous research, that fatigue within the aviation sector is not merely an isolated issue but a multifaceted consequence of systemic factors. Our study highlights the pressing need for revisiting the current Flight and Duty Periods (FDPs) and overall fatigue management strategies to address these underlying systemic issues effectively. Unlike static safety concerns, fatigue-related risks evolve dynamically, influenced by technological advancements, industry practices, and external factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis elucidated the complex interplay between safety protocols, operational standards, and the well-being of crew members, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in mitigating fatigue-related risks. Central to our findings is the recognition of the limitations of existing regulations in adequately addressing emerging challenges associated with crew fatigue. Our study underscores the imperative of regulatory agility in safeguarding both passengers and crew members, advocating for continuous evaluation and refinement of regulatory frameworks. Specifically, there is a critical need to revisit and adapt current FDPs and fatigue management strategies to align with the systemic causes of fatigue identified in our research. Conclusion: This study contributed a comprehensive analysis of crew fatigue in South African aviation, focusing on perspectives of blunt-end stakeholders. It highlighted widespread recognition of fatigue's safety implications, exacerbated by factors like economic stressors and regulatory deficiencies, including those intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants advocated for regulatory reforms to enhance crew rest provisions and address scheduling challenges. The research underscored the need for a proactive, collaborative approach prioritizing aviation professionals' well-being. Recommendations emphasized tailored regulations, technology integration, and ongoing collaboration among stakeholders to refine fatigue management strategies and ensure industry resilience. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The effects of different shift patterns on nurses’ sleep-wake behaviours in selected, private healthcare facilities
- Authors: Bell, Emma Catherine
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Fatigue , Fatigue in the workplace , Sleep deprivation , Sleep-wake cycle , Shift systems , Nurses , Health facilities, Proprietary
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424219 , vital:72134
- Description: Nurses are required to work shifts to provide 24-hour care, in which they complete physically and mentally demanding tasks. The length and type of shifts, particularly night shifts interfere with the natural sleep-wake behaviours, leading to extended wakefulness and overall reduced sleep, and increase the likelihood of sleepiness during subsequent shifts. This can in turn affected various cognitive processes such attention, vigilance and alertness, which are necessary during the care process. Sleepiness as a result of working shifts has also been associated with an increased risk accidents and error during the delivery of care. Given the unique demands and ways in which workplaces are structured, each context arranges its shifts in unique ways and thus, in order to determine how to manage the effects of shift work, it is important to understand how it affects self-reported fatigue and sleep, of, in this case, nurses. While there has been extensive research on this in the global north, to date, there has been limited research aimed at examining the effects of shift work on nurses’ sleep-wake behaviours and fatigue in the South African context. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterise shift arrangements in selected private facilities and explore its effects on private healthcare nurses. This study adopted a cross-sectional, survey design using an amended version of Standard Shiftwork Index. The questionnaire included demographic and shift details and explored the impact of the shift systems on nurse sleep-wake behaviours and disturbances and fatigue and workload. It was distributed among shift working nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council across three selected, private, healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape, over a two-month period. The responses were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics, with open-ended questions analysed using a thematic analysis. A total of 51 nurses completed the survey. Nurses worked 12-hour shifts which included night shifts and day shifts with fixed start and end times. Over time was commonly reported and generally, nurses reported having very little control over their shift arrangements. Overall, nurses slept less than what they reported they needed on duty days, with nurses working both day and night shifts reporting to sleep less than the globally recommended required sleep. This was compensated for by longer sleep durations during days off. The data collection revealed that three different shift arrangements were in use, including permanent day shifts, permanent night shifts and rotating shift work including nights, with permanent night nurses working significantly more consecutive shifts (seven) than the other two shift types and having significantly more days off (seven) as well. While there were no significant differences in self-reported sleep across the three shift types, permanent night nurses were found to have the shortest sleep. During days off, rotating nurse reported significantly longer sleep times compared to day shift workers which may point to the need to catch up from sleep debt. Rotating nurses experienced the greater total disturbances to their sleep than permanent day and permanent night shift nurses. While not statistically significant, it may point to the fact that rotating shift workers could not obtain regularly timed sleep (due to having to change their schedules) compared to permanent day and night nurses. Workload (physical, emotional, mental and time pressure) did not differ between the shifts (day or night) or the shift types, but did reflect a heavier workload, possibly due to the data collection occurring during the 5th wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. This study highlights that nurses in private healthcare facilities are working extended hours which were associated with reduced total sleep, irrespective of the nature of the shift, with rotating shift nurses experiencing some degree of greater disturbances to their sleep. The number, duration speed and direction of the shifts of rotating nurses needs to be explored further, whilst also exploring the influence of individual factors on sleep-wake behaviours of nurses. It may be beneficial for the healthcare facilities to implement fatigue management strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of shift work, given the impact that this may impact the delivery of care. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Bell, Emma Catherine
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Fatigue , Fatigue in the workplace , Sleep deprivation , Sleep-wake cycle , Shift systems , Nurses , Health facilities, Proprietary
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424219 , vital:72134
- Description: Nurses are required to work shifts to provide 24-hour care, in which they complete physically and mentally demanding tasks. The length and type of shifts, particularly night shifts interfere with the natural sleep-wake behaviours, leading to extended wakefulness and overall reduced sleep, and increase the likelihood of sleepiness during subsequent shifts. This can in turn affected various cognitive processes such attention, vigilance and alertness, which are necessary during the care process. Sleepiness as a result of working shifts has also been associated with an increased risk accidents and error during the delivery of care. Given the unique demands and ways in which workplaces are structured, each context arranges its shifts in unique ways and thus, in order to determine how to manage the effects of shift work, it is important to understand how it affects self-reported fatigue and sleep, of, in this case, nurses. While there has been extensive research on this in the global north, to date, there has been limited research aimed at examining the effects of shift work on nurses’ sleep-wake behaviours and fatigue in the South African context. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterise shift arrangements in selected private facilities and explore its effects on private healthcare nurses. This study adopted a cross-sectional, survey design using an amended version of Standard Shiftwork Index. The questionnaire included demographic and shift details and explored the impact of the shift systems on nurse sleep-wake behaviours and disturbances and fatigue and workload. It was distributed among shift working nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council across three selected, private, healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape, over a two-month period. The responses were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics, with open-ended questions analysed using a thematic analysis. A total of 51 nurses completed the survey. Nurses worked 12-hour shifts which included night shifts and day shifts with fixed start and end times. Over time was commonly reported and generally, nurses reported having very little control over their shift arrangements. Overall, nurses slept less than what they reported they needed on duty days, with nurses working both day and night shifts reporting to sleep less than the globally recommended required sleep. This was compensated for by longer sleep durations during days off. The data collection revealed that three different shift arrangements were in use, including permanent day shifts, permanent night shifts and rotating shift work including nights, with permanent night nurses working significantly more consecutive shifts (seven) than the other two shift types and having significantly more days off (seven) as well. While there were no significant differences in self-reported sleep across the three shift types, permanent night nurses were found to have the shortest sleep. During days off, rotating nurse reported significantly longer sleep times compared to day shift workers which may point to the need to catch up from sleep debt. Rotating nurses experienced the greater total disturbances to their sleep than permanent day and permanent night shift nurses. While not statistically significant, it may point to the fact that rotating shift workers could not obtain regularly timed sleep (due to having to change their schedules) compared to permanent day and night nurses. Workload (physical, emotional, mental and time pressure) did not differ between the shifts (day or night) or the shift types, but did reflect a heavier workload, possibly due to the data collection occurring during the 5th wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. This study highlights that nurses in private healthcare facilities are working extended hours which were associated with reduced total sleep, irrespective of the nature of the shift, with rotating shift nurses experiencing some degree of greater disturbances to their sleep. The number, duration speed and direction of the shifts of rotating nurses needs to be explored further, whilst also exploring the influence of individual factors on sleep-wake behaviours of nurses. It may be beneficial for the healthcare facilities to implement fatigue management strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of shift work, given the impact that this may impact the delivery of care. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The reported prevalence of aircrew fatigue and the contributing factors within the South African aviation industry
- Authors: Blair, Dylan Ross
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Fatigue , Flight crews , Fatigue in the workplace , Sleep deprivation , Sleep-wake cycle , Air travel Safety measures , Airlines South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362762 , vital:65360
- Description: Fatigue in aviation results from the complex interaction of various factors (both work and non-work-related) that are important to understand when attempting to manage it. Managing fatigue effectively is important given that it has and continues to influence crew wellness and aviation safety. One of the ways of managing fatigue is through appropriately designed Flight Time Limitations (FTLs) however; in South Africa there have been calls from the unions and the crew to update these in line with the latest science and operational demands and insights. Doing this requires the generation of context specific data, which this thesis aimed to provide as an initial step. Firstly, this study aimed to explore the reported prevalence of fatigue across the South African aviation industry. Secondly, it elucidated what factors (both work and non-work related) crew perceived contributed to fatigue and lastly, the crew‟s perceptions regarding the current FTLs were explored. Methods: To realize the aims of the study, an online survey was developed using existing literature initially, and through consulting with and getting information from aviation industry stakeholders and other experts in the field of aviation and fatigue. This consultation (which occurred over a number of iterations of the survey) ensured that there was a balance between the scientific and the actual operational perspectives on how best to explore crew perceptions around fatigue. The finalized survey was divided into five parts: part one was consent to participate; part two included questions pertaining to the participants‟ demographic information; part three included questions pertaining to the crews‟ perceptions around fatigue (its prevalence, its impact on safety and how it affected crew); part four explored crew‟s perceptions on fatigue contributory factors, both work and non-work related; finally part five included questions pertaining to crew perceptions about the current South African FTLs, specifically their concerns, suggestions for improvement and any aspects they considered as fatigue mitigating. The survey was made available via the South African Civil Aviation Authority‟s (SACAA) website as well as via the industry stakeholder‟s networks that encouraged all crew across the different sectors of the industry to participate. All numerical data collected were analysed descriptively through inferential statistics, while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 194 participants completed the survey, 167 were from cockpit and 27 were from the cabin crew. The results of the study highlight that there is a high perceived prevalence of fatigue. The crew also recognized that fatigue is a significant safety risk, but less indicated that fatigue interfered with their ability to do their duties. Crew reported that the length of duties, number of sectors flown, insufficient sleep at night, early sign-on‟s, late sign-offs, working too many consecutive days in a row, inadequate or irregular sleep before and during periods of duty, night flying, bad weather, severe turbulence, having young children or dependents to look after, financial stress, extended commuting to get to and from work, and poor diet were some of the work and non-work-related contributory factors to fatigue. In line with these findings, questions around the perceived concerns about the current FTLs revealed that crew were concerned about unclear definitions of the civil aviation regulations (CARs), the lack of control of disruptive rostering schedules, periods of high workload due to the number of sectors flown per duty, the length of duty periods and effects of being on standby duty, inadequate rest between duties and strings of duty. The crew also had concerns regarding the Flight Duty Periods (FDPs) where the crew were concerned with the flying limits being used as targets by the operators, a lack of science applied to the FDPs, and that the current FDPs are outdated. The recommendations included limiting disruptive rostering schedules by altering standby provisions for the crew, instilling a block roster schedule, disallowing double signing on and off on the same day, and reducing split shifts. The crew also recommended adjusting duty durations by adjusting daily and monthly limits, tapering duty lengths, but also limiting discretionary extensions. Increasing rest provision was another recommendation suggested by the crew and included increasing the number of rest days off as well as the minimum hours of rest between duties needs to be increased. The fatigue mitigating aspects were minimal if any. Conclusion: Overall the study revealed that there is a high perceived prevalence of fatigue within this sample of the South African aviation industry and that the concerns outlined by crew around the contributory factors to fatigue are consistent with previous research, but also reflect the unique operating context of South Africa. This study serves as a base from which to explore more specific areas of the crew working time that are disruptive to sleep. This may help operator‟s roster duties in a more predictable way to limit the incidence of fatigue, while also offering the opportunity for the regulator and other stakeholders to focus their efforts on how to better design the current FTLs to limit the prevalence and risks associated with crew fatigue. , Thesis (MSc) -- Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Blair, Dylan Ross
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Fatigue , Flight crews , Fatigue in the workplace , Sleep deprivation , Sleep-wake cycle , Air travel Safety measures , Airlines South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362762 , vital:65360
- Description: Fatigue in aviation results from the complex interaction of various factors (both work and non-work-related) that are important to understand when attempting to manage it. Managing fatigue effectively is important given that it has and continues to influence crew wellness and aviation safety. One of the ways of managing fatigue is through appropriately designed Flight Time Limitations (FTLs) however; in South Africa there have been calls from the unions and the crew to update these in line with the latest science and operational demands and insights. Doing this requires the generation of context specific data, which this thesis aimed to provide as an initial step. Firstly, this study aimed to explore the reported prevalence of fatigue across the South African aviation industry. Secondly, it elucidated what factors (both work and non-work related) crew perceived contributed to fatigue and lastly, the crew‟s perceptions regarding the current FTLs were explored. Methods: To realize the aims of the study, an online survey was developed using existing literature initially, and through consulting with and getting information from aviation industry stakeholders and other experts in the field of aviation and fatigue. This consultation (which occurred over a number of iterations of the survey) ensured that there was a balance between the scientific and the actual operational perspectives on how best to explore crew perceptions around fatigue. The finalized survey was divided into five parts: part one was consent to participate; part two included questions pertaining to the participants‟ demographic information; part three included questions pertaining to the crews‟ perceptions around fatigue (its prevalence, its impact on safety and how it affected crew); part four explored crew‟s perceptions on fatigue contributory factors, both work and non-work related; finally part five included questions pertaining to crew perceptions about the current South African FTLs, specifically their concerns, suggestions for improvement and any aspects they considered as fatigue mitigating. The survey was made available via the South African Civil Aviation Authority‟s (SACAA) website as well as via the industry stakeholder‟s networks that encouraged all crew across the different sectors of the industry to participate. All numerical data collected were analysed descriptively through inferential statistics, while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 194 participants completed the survey, 167 were from cockpit and 27 were from the cabin crew. The results of the study highlight that there is a high perceived prevalence of fatigue. The crew also recognized that fatigue is a significant safety risk, but less indicated that fatigue interfered with their ability to do their duties. Crew reported that the length of duties, number of sectors flown, insufficient sleep at night, early sign-on‟s, late sign-offs, working too many consecutive days in a row, inadequate or irregular sleep before and during periods of duty, night flying, bad weather, severe turbulence, having young children or dependents to look after, financial stress, extended commuting to get to and from work, and poor diet were some of the work and non-work-related contributory factors to fatigue. In line with these findings, questions around the perceived concerns about the current FTLs revealed that crew were concerned about unclear definitions of the civil aviation regulations (CARs), the lack of control of disruptive rostering schedules, periods of high workload due to the number of sectors flown per duty, the length of duty periods and effects of being on standby duty, inadequate rest between duties and strings of duty. The crew also had concerns regarding the Flight Duty Periods (FDPs) where the crew were concerned with the flying limits being used as targets by the operators, a lack of science applied to the FDPs, and that the current FDPs are outdated. The recommendations included limiting disruptive rostering schedules by altering standby provisions for the crew, instilling a block roster schedule, disallowing double signing on and off on the same day, and reducing split shifts. The crew also recommended adjusting duty durations by adjusting daily and monthly limits, tapering duty lengths, but also limiting discretionary extensions. Increasing rest provision was another recommendation suggested by the crew and included increasing the number of rest days off as well as the minimum hours of rest between duties needs to be increased. The fatigue mitigating aspects were minimal if any. Conclusion: Overall the study revealed that there is a high perceived prevalence of fatigue within this sample of the South African aviation industry and that the concerns outlined by crew around the contributory factors to fatigue are consistent with previous research, but also reflect the unique operating context of South Africa. This study serves as a base from which to explore more specific areas of the crew working time that are disruptive to sleep. This may help operator‟s roster duties in a more predictable way to limit the incidence of fatigue, while also offering the opportunity for the regulator and other stakeholders to focus their efforts on how to better design the current FTLs to limit the prevalence and risks associated with crew fatigue. , Thesis (MSc) -- Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
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