ABSTRACT

Objective

This study aims to identify and examine prevalent human factors in the Australian Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) industry.

Background

There is little research into the human factors of HEMS operations. Weather, fuel planning, fatigue, and pressure are prominent human factors found in HEMS operations globally.

Method

The research methodology involves primary data through a tailored human factors survey of HEMS staff in Australia, and secondary data from historical ATSB (Australian Transport Safety Bureau) accident reports involving HEMS operations.

Results

Results from a survey, as well as secondary data, show that Australian HEMS is in line with global trends, regularly encounter issues related to weather, fatigue and feelings of pressure. Weather factors were the most encountered event by most Australian HEMS crews surveyed. The likelihood of an individual committing an error or violation was increased when they felt pressure to complete the task. The cause of the pressure was found to be unique to HEMS operations with the condition of the patient being the most common. However, the source of the pressure was equally attributed to self-imposed pressure and pressure imposed by others. Years of experience in HEMS operations is identified in reducing exposure to some of the investigated hazards and human factors.

Conclusion

The weather situation, fatigue and feelings of pressure were the three main human factor issues in Australian HEMS.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚直升机紧急医疗服务 (HEMS) 中的人为因素检验

摘要

客观的

本研究旨在识别和检查澳大利亚直升机紧急医疗服务 (HEMS) 行业中普遍存在的人为因素。

背景

关于 HEMS 操作的人为因素的研究很少。天气、燃油计划、疲劳和压力是全球 HEMS 运营中突出的人为因素。

方法

研究方法涉及通过对澳大利亚 HEMS 工作人员进行的量身定制的人为因素调查获得的原始数据，以及来自 ATSB（澳大利亚运输安全局）涉及 HEMS 运营的历史事故报告的二手数据。

结果

调查结果以及二手数据显示，澳大利亚 HEMS 符合全球趋势，经常遇到与天气、疲劳和压力感相关的问题。接受调查的大多数澳大利亚 HEMS 机组人员最常遇到的事件是天气因素。当个人感到完成任务的压力时，犯错误或违规的可能性就会增加。发现压力的原因是 HEMS 操作所特有的，其中最常见的是患者的情况。然而，压力的来源同样有自我施加的压力和他人施加的压力。多年的 HEMS 运营经验在减少暴露于某些已调查的危险和人为因素方面得到了证实。

结论

天气情况、疲劳和压力感是澳大利亚HEMS的三个主要人为因素问题。