Presentation by
Effiong Ekpe
INTRODUCTION
In most professional jobs, physical fitness and well-being is a vital requirement for an individual who wishes to undertake such profession. It is a legal requirement to undergo thorough medical checkup before being deemed qualified for most professions. In aviation, this is because most of the aircraft accidents recorded are related to human factors of physical and psychological fitness.
The physical fitness and sound health of aviation workers are critical to their performance because of the nature of the job as a physically demanding one. The ability of aviation workers to carry out their tasks may be hindered by poor eyesight, poor hearing, physical injuries, and other physical related factors (Stolzer, Harlford, & Goglia, 2008, p. 58). Additionally, aviation activities are carried out in environments that are physically challenging, characterized by substantial change in temperatures, air composition, humidity and other weather related factors – the reason for which individual worker’s physical and health fitness are taken seriously.
This presentation therefore discusses the importance of physical fitness as it affects performance in aviation.
FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT WORK FITNESS AND JOB PERFORMANCE
❌ Lack of Exercise
In addition to taking regular meals consisting of well balanced diet, it is recommended that workers take regular physical exercise, at least thrice a week and twice the resting pulse rate for twenty minutes. It has been established that people who engage regularly in exercises sleep continuously without waking up in the middle of the night which enables them to wake in the morning feeling fresher than those who do not exercise.
This will work well for the aviation workers who are always involved in long working hours and therefore need good, quality rest. Physical fitness through exercising the body and eating a well balanced diet are vital in maintaining proper eyesight, which is crucial in the aviation profession.
Physical exercise helps in keeping the nervous system active, by dilation of blood vessels to allow free circulation of blood and dissolved oxygen that help to keep the mind alert. The nerves help to transmit information to the brain which is essential to make sound judgment at work.
❌ Ill-health
Health factors affect fitness of individuals and their performance in aviation, in varying degrees, depending on individuals’ state of health and intensity of health condition. Physical conditions such as obesity, heart attack, diabetes, age related conditions such as blurred vision, and hearing loss considerably reduces performance in aviation. Poor sense of hearing, for example, will hinder the flow of communication, which is crucial in aviation.
❌ Stress
Mental fitness of workers is critical for optimum performance in aviation. Stress can affect mental fitness. Stress is inevitable in life and may lead to poor performance if not well managed. Stress results from demands to cope up with life situations or adjust to some changes in life or the environment. The results of stress, if not well managed, may lead to poor performance and make individuals unfit for the industry.
❌ Workload
Overworking can lead to physical stress and break down, resulting in under performance.
❌ Use of Drugs
Poor health habits that lead to unfitness such as use of drugs, smoking and too much alcohol consumption affects the power of vision thus leading to poor performance. Aviation workers should be responsible for their health, avoid smoking, and practice safe alcohol intake, as provided for by aviation regulations.
CONCLUSION
The health of an aviation worker is like a car – if not properly maintained, it will definitely break down. On the other hand, with regular exercise, balanced diet, and proper medical care, the aviation worker will remain fit and in a position to always enhance his performance level in line with industry demands and expectations.
REFERENCE
- Carayon, P. (2011). Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care and Patient Safety. Boca Raton: CRC Press
- Hoeger, W. K., & Hoeger, S. A. (2011). Principles and Labs for Physical Fitness. Stanford: Cengage Learning
- Rink, J. E., Hall, T. J., & Williams, L. H. (2010). Schoolwide Physical Activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics
- Salas, E., & Maurino, D. E. (2010). Human Factors in Aviation. Waltham: Academic Press
- Salvendy, G. (2012). Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons
- Stolzer, A. J., Halford, C. D., & Goglia, J. J. (2010). Safety Management Systems in Aviation. Farnham: Ashgate Publishers
