FAA Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)Regulations, Records and Human FactorsMedium
At a maintenance facility, mechanics have unofficially stopped applying torque-seal paint on fastener heads even though the shop's written procedures require it, because 'nobody ever checks it.' New hires quickly adopt this shortcut after observing senior technicians. This pattern is an example of which 'Dirty Dozen' factor?
- AComplacency
- BNorms
- CPressure
- DLack of Knowledge
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Norms
Norms are unwritten rules or habits that develop within a workgroup over time, often deviating from official procedures; new employees adopt them simply because 'that's how it's done here,' as illustrated by skipping torque-seal application.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Complacency is individual overconfidence from repetition, not a group-adopted cultural practice.
- C. Pressure involves time/production stress pushing shortcuts, not an established cultural habit.
- D. Lack of Knowledge would mean the workers don't know the procedure, but here they know and choose to skip it.
Norms (Dirty Dozen)
Unwritten rules or informal practices that develop in a workplace, often deviating from official procedures, and are perpetuated as 'the way things are done.'
- Passed on informally to new employees
- Often develop because 'nothing bad has happened yet'
- Can undermine formal safety procedures
- Corrected through strong safety culture and supervision
Memory trick: 'This is how we've always done it' — Norms are shortcuts baked into shop culture.