TryGliding Just Go membership Classifieds

In Safety Bulletin 04/24 Safety Conversations in Clubs we discuss promotion of positive safety conversations, dialogue within and between clubs, underpinning improvements in safety culture. bit.ly/SafetyConversations_SB042 refers.

safety

Drew McKinnie
Safety Manager

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The subject of psychological and psychosocial safety is gaining great attention in aviation environments.
High profile disasters like the Germanwings Flight 9525 in 2015, deliberately caused by a suicidal co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, captured media and public attention. That investigation showed the Captain had been locked out of the cockpit, and that the co-pilot was diagnosed with psychotic depression. However, medical secrecy prevented disclosure to Germanwings and Lufthansa.

This accident, among others, drove the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) to publish a benchmark study of psychosocial risk management and mental health in civil aviation in April 2024. Report at bit.ly/RAeS_CivilAviation_MentalHealth refers. It is a well-researched, well-expressed work with major implications and positive safety suggestions for all aviation bodies.

SafeSkies and PACDEFF Human Factors forums in 2024 highlighted the importance of building positive safety capacities addressing aspects of aviation culture, behaviour, respect and diversity, preventive approaches to ensure personal safety and mental health.

Divergences were also examined. Environments that damage workplace culture, endanger mental health, build barriers to inclusion, respect and diversity were also discussed, along with legal liability implications for organisations and foreseeability tests in law.

We might reflect on the 2023 Barriers to the Pipeline Report by Women In Aviation / Aerospace Australia bit.ly/Barriers2Pipeline_WomenInAviation. Here, male domination in aviation, continuing barriers to participation, respect and equity have been cited, needing conscious attention to remedy. Not just women, but all groups, deserve respect and the opportunity to enjoy gliding in a safe and inclusive environment.

Nevertheless, we enjoy a wonderful sporting aviation activity in clubs across the country, at camps and at competition sites. We voluntarily share our time and effort to develop and promote our sport. Our GAus Strategic Plan contains key goals including -
l Grow Participation, Inclusiveness, Diversity and Volunteerism – Fostering a diverse and inclusive community aligns with our strategic intent to provide a welcoming environment for all and to ensure pathways for lifelong participation in gliding.

l Build and Implement an Enhanced Safety Culture – A strong safety culture underpins our Strategic Intent by ensuring gliding remains a safe and respected activity within the broader aviation framework.

l Create a Culture of Fellowship, Fun and Enjoyment – Encouraging a balance of safety, fun and affordability is at the core of our strategic intent to provide lifelong enjoyment through gliding.
So how do we do this? A modified summary of psychosocial and psychological safety elements is provided below. It is tweaked to address aspects of culture in gliding and sporting aviation clubs, beyond workplace safety and employment environments.

In gliding and sporting aviation environments, we seek to prevent harm, promote positives, respond to problems, address potential risks with high aviation, personal and social rewards. A positive safety capability approach to this includes safety elements of building challenger safety, contributor safety, learner safety and inclusion safety for all participants, underpinned by cultural safety in clubs.

This highlights that there are aspects of fostering psychosocial and psychological safety that are preconditions for positive safety conversations and culture. It has to be shared and supported by all members, even senior folks from earlier generations and those in positions of authority. We have collaborative safety obligations to be vigilant for signs of absence or suppression, or walking past problems, or inconsistent standards. I ask panels, club committees, working groups and individual members to reflect on these elements and encourage discussion on problems and opportunities for improvements.

(See comments on Safety Conversations and Challenge Networks in SB 04/24: “If there’s anything you see or sense that you don’t like, please say something. Let me know, and I will do the same for you.”)

We prefer great role models and positive behaviours to improve gliding safety and club inclusion. There is a direct link between our integrity policies and the environment within which we strive to improve operational, airworthiness, competition and personal safety. How safe we feel and how respected we are in our interactions with other members is a key ingredient.

Disclaimer: I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, nor an anthropologist or behavioural scientist. Yes, I am a lifetime observer of human behaviour. I am not pushing barrows of political correctness or woke agendas. Yes, I identify as a progressive Boomer with convictions based upon respect for others. I do listen to expert advice, and actively promote discussion of risk and safety insights.