Major Exposure Hazards for the Frequent Flyer Business Traveler

The increase in business globalization has lead to a rise in the number of frequent flyer business travelers. The aircraft serves as the business traveler's worksite and contributes to exposure to various hazards. This paper presents the major hazards faced by the frequent flyer business traveler and discusses the key roles that the occupational and environmental health nurse has in identifying and preventing the adverse health effects associated with these exposures. Recommendations for practice are correlated with the classifications of biological/infectious, chemical, enviromechanical, physical, and psychosocial hazards, along with recommendations for prevention based on pre-existing risk factors. Specific tools and source lists of practice resources are also provided.Master of Public Healt

Effects of circadian rhythm phase alteration on physiological and psychological variables: Implications to pilot performance (including a partially annotated bibliography)

The effects of environmental synchronizers upon circadian rhythmic stability in man and the deleterious alterations in performance and which result from changes in this stability are points of interest in a review of selected literature published between 1972 and 1980. A total of 2,084 references relevant to pilot performance and circadian phase alteration are cited and arranged in the following categories: (1) human performance, with focus on the effects of sleep loss or disturbance and fatigue; (2) phase shift in which ground based light/dark alteration and transmeridian flight studies are discussed; (3) shiftwork; (4)internal desynchronization which includes the effect of evironmental factors on rhythmic stability, and of rhythm disturbances on sleep and psychopathology; (5) chronotherapy, the application of methods to ameliorate desynchronization symptomatology; and (6) biorythm theory, in which the birthdate based biorythm method for predicting aircraft accident susceptability is critically analyzed. Annotations are provided for most citations

Fitness-to-fly and the safety role of air cabin crew: personal, social and managerial challenges

Andrea Sander-Grout investigated the impact of cabin crew fitness-to-fly on flight safety and public health. She found that there is significant uncertainty surrounding crewmember exposure to occupational hazards, with potential impacts on flight safety, individual and public health. Aviation and public health stakeholders are using her results in policy development

PERIOD3 variable number tandem repeat genotype associations with performance, injury, illness and re-entrainment

Background: Circadian rhythms are internally driven biological variations that fluctuate with a period of approximately 24 hours, even in the absence of external environmental time cues. These rhythms enable organisms to synchronise their internal clock time with external environmental time. This ensures appropriate timing of biological and metabolic processes, and allows anticipation of daily changes in the environment. Circadian rhythms also play an important role in sports in terms of optimising performance time-of-day and aiding adjustment to global time zone changes. Thus, performance, which is under the control of the athlete, may be impacted by event time-of-day scheduling in the new time zone. It has previously been shown that individual sport athletes in South Africa tend to be morning-types and carry the PERIOD3 (PER3) Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) 5-repeat allele, which has been associated with a preference for mornings. The distribution of the PER3 VNTR polymorphism in combination with an individual's preference for mornings or evenings has not yet been described in team sports. Differences in the PER3 VNTR genotype between team and individual sport athletes are expected, given that individual sport athletes may be free to choose the time-of-day at which they train. In contrast, team sport athletes usually train in groups, thus these individuals may not have the flexibility to choose their preferred training times. There are notable inter-individual differences in adjustment to jet-lag after time zone changes. A possible genetic candidate that may be responsible for some of this variation is the PER3 VNTR gene. This gene consist of two alleles corresponding in size to 4-repeats (PER34) or 5-repeats (PER35). Individuals are either homozygous for the 4-repeat allele (PER⁴⁄⁴) or the 5-repeat allele (PER3⁵⁄⁵), while others are heterozygous for the PER3 gene (PER34/5). The PER3 VNTR genotype might explain individual sensitivity to bright light and has been reported to be associated with sleep pressure- an increase in the brain's pressure and need for sleep, following an extended period of awakening. Individuals homozygous for the longer variant of the gene (i.e. PER3⁵⁄⁵) experience a higher sleep pressure during extended wakefulness. The PER3⁵⁄⁵ genotype has been reported to be more sensitive to the alerting and melatonin suppression effects of blue enriched light than the PER⁴⁄⁴ genotype. Aims: Therefore, the aim of Study 1 was to compare the chronotype and PER3 VNTR genotype distribution of South African Super Rugby players to individuals of low physical activity (i.e. those who are physically active ≤2 times per week). The aim of Study 2 was to determine whether PER3 VNTR genotype might contribute to inter-individual variation in the extent to which game involvement and quality of play are affected following trans-meridian travel. Further, the aim of Study 3 was to compare the impact of time zone travel during the 2012 Super Rugby competition in South African players genotyped as PER⁴⁄⁴, PER34/5 and PER3⁵⁄⁵ on the incidence of illnesses and injuries. Lastly, the aim of Study 4 was to compare the extent to which individuals genotyped as PER⁴⁄⁴ or PER3⁵⁄⁵ respond to appropriately-timed blue light exposure in order to resynchronise their circadian rhythm, following simulated eastward travel, based on changes in dim-light melatonin onset and cortisol circadian phases

Examining factors contributing to fatigue among KLM cabin crew

This research study examines the factors influencing fatigue levels among cabin crew members. The study utilizes interviews and a survey questionnaire to collect data on various variables. While factor analysis was initially intended, it was found unsuitable due to low variable correlation and a high unsuitable number of identified components. Consequently, regression and ANOVA analysis was performed. The dependent variables, reveals average fatigue levels among respondents compared to other healthy adult populations. The independent variable, time difference of 6-7 hours and quality of the hotel facilities have a positive significant influence and a flight duration of 8-12 hours has a negative significant influence on current fatigue levels in the regression model. Alarming fatigue signals from cabin crew are observed from West-American destinations and the Airbus A330 aircraft. The influence of WIFI on fatigue levels is also studied with a situational recall experiment. A paired sample t-test shows a significant difference of increased fatigue levels on planes with WIFI than those without. Although the appropriateness of using current fatigue levels as the dependent variable is questioned, the findings offer valuable insights into identifying fatigue among cabin crew members. These results emphasize the importance of considering multiple factors to mitigate fatigue-related issues in the aviation industry.Este estudo de investigação examina os factores que influenciam os níveis de fadiga dos membros da tripulação de cabina. O estudo utiliza entrevistas e um questionário de inquérito para recolher dados sobre diversas variáveis. Embora inicialmente se pretendesse realizar uma análise factorial, esta foi considerada inadequada devido à baixa correlação entre as variáveis e a um número elevado e inadequado de componentes identificados. Consequentemente, foi efectuada uma análise de regressão e ANOVA. A variável dependente revela os níveis médios de fadiga dos inquiridos em comparação com outras populações adultas saudáveis. A variável independente, a diferença horária de 6-7 horas e a qualidade das instalações do hotel têm uma influência significativa positiva e a duração do voo de 8-12 horas tem uma influência significativa negativa nos actuais níveis de fadiga no modelo de regressão. Os sinais alarmantes de fadiga da tripulação de cabina centram-se nos destinos da América Ocidental e no avião Airbus A330. A influência do WIFI nos níveis de fadiga é também estudada através de uma experiência de recordação situacional. Um teste t de amostras emparelhadas mostra uma diferença significativa de aumento dos níveis de fadiga nos aviões com WIFI em relação aos aviões sem WIFI. Embora se questione a adequação da utilização dos níveis de fadiga actuais como variável dependente, os resultados oferecem informações valiosas para a identificação da fadiga entre os membros da tripulação de cabina. Estes resultados sublinham a importância de considerar múltiplos factores para atenuar os problemas relacionados com a fadiga na indústria da aviação

Clear air turbulence

Research on forecasting, detection, and incidents of clear air turbulenc

Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) for cabin crew : evaluation of the current status and future needs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health, Massey University, Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Wellington Campus, New Zealand

Figures re-used with permission.Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMSs) are a more recent approach to improving safety and increasing operational flexibility and have been utilised in the operation of Ultra-long range (ULR) flights that exceed traditional flight and duty time limits. Because ULR scheduling and FRMS processes for cabin crew are predominantly based on flight crew data, little is known about how well these work for cabin crew. A mixed methods approach was used to evaluate the current status of, and future needs for, FRMS for cabin crew. The sleep of 55 cabin crew was monitored throughout a ULR trip between Johannesburg and New York. On each flight, crewmembers rated their fatigue, sleepiness, and workload, and completed a 5-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task at key times. In addition, semi-structured focus group discussions were held and thematic analysis was undertaken with data from 25 cabin crew with ULR experience. Findings demonstrate that collecting fatigue monitoring data, as for flight crew, is also feasible for cabin crew, provided that operational differences between cabin crew and flight crew are considered. Using mitigations that mirror those used for flight crew, cabin crew fatigue can be managed effectively on a ULR flight. The findings also highlight the importance of: a) considering workload, the cumulative effects of fatigue across the entire ULR trip, and the impact of the entire schedule worked, for improving the management of cabin crew fatigue associated with ULR operations, and; b) sufficient rest for adequate recovery and work-life balance in support of employees’ overall health and well-being; c) company support, in the form of fatigue-related processes and resources, effective communication and management’s engagement with cabin crew. Priority should be given to fatigue management training for cabin crew, which may also enhance perceived company support and assist with achieving a better work-life balance. Viewing fatigue as a compound hazard, the management of fatigue-related safety risks and health risks may be optimized if FRMS and OHS can be more closely linked or integrated, in support of improving cabin crews’ safety and service, and health and well-being

Effects of Fatigue and Self-reported Countermeasures Used by Regional Airline Pilots Conducting Continuous Duty Overnight

Fatigue poses a significant risk to commercial aviation. When pilots become fatigued they are more likely to make errors and in some instances those errors have been causal factors in accidents. Research not only tells us how the human body is affected by fatigue but also what can be done to temporarily reduce its negative impact on performance. However, relatively little data is available pertaining to one specific type of flight operation, the Continuous Duty Overnight (CDO). They are frequently conducted by regional airlines within the United States and typically resemble schedules for workers on a 3rd shift, otherwise known as the night shift. This study utilized an online survey tool to gather data from pilots at one mid- sized regional airline. The pilots provided data on a variety of areas including fatigue, sleep habits, fatigue countermeasures, continuous duty overnights, and their perceptions of safety. Results tend to suggest that pilots at this airline are aware of how their body reacts to fatigue, what measures are necessary to obtain quality sleep, and that the airline itself is operating safely. Nevertheless, several unnerving trends were observed. Many of the pilots admitted to sleeping while on duty and in flight, a practice that is currently forbidden by the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, a substantial portion of participants indicated they did not notice the detrimental affects of fatigue until three or more hours of sleep loss had been accumulated. This is contrary to research by Caldwell (2009) that indicates as little as one to two hours of sleep loss can substantially affect pilot performance. Regardless of regulatory changes, biomedical research, and flight crew education, fatigue will continue to impact flight operations at regional airlines. The simple fact is that fatigue will never be a non-issue. However, this study and others like it have shed light on important factors that allow pilots to use the most effective strategies possible to combat fatigue for short durations until quality sleep can be obtained. Airlines are strongly encouraged to incorporate fatigue education into their initial and recurrent ground training programs. But ultimately it is the responsibility of the individual pilot to ensure he or she is well rested and fit for duty