1. Crew Resources Management
Lecture 9-Stress

2. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture, students should be able to:
Understand STRESS
Describe major causes of stress
Explain how to manage stress

3. Outlines Definition of stress Types of Stress Major Causes of Stress
Symptoms of Stress
Effect of stress
How to manage Stress

4. Major Causes of Human Error in Aircraft Accidents
Lack of Situational Awareness Poor Decision Making Lack of Communication Lack of Teamwork Stress Fatigue Distracted Lack of resources, and knowledge

5. Stress –major contribution to poor CRM
In aviation, accidents almost always occur in a sequence of mistakes.
Stress is one of the first contributing factors lead into the rest causing the effect.
In order to maintain safety in aviation, stress must be managed to avoid an accident.
This is where all of human factor studies and hard work can come into play.
Depending on what particular job a person is performing in aviation, they must take steps to avoid undue stress.
Stress can be avoided by taking steps to relieve other possible factors.
Physical factors such as getting plenty of rest, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water while exercising regularly will help the body resist fatigue and stress.
Mental factors are equally as important. Knowing one’s job well and being confident in the execution of job duties will equally reduce stress.
The equilibrium of physical and mental factors does not completely destroy the stress factor, but it will make it manageable and thus safer for everyone.

6. What is ??

7. Stress Definition
Stress can be defined as physical and physiological tension caused by dealing with difficult situations.
Mental, emotional or physical tension, strain or distress. (Webster, Dictionary)

8. Stress Definition
Stress is sum of Biological reactions to our physical , mental & emotional condition tends to disturb “Body Natural Balance”
Stress also defined as a state of highly unpleasant emotional caused by overload, fear, anxiety, and anger - all of which threaten both individual performance and teamwork.
Stress. A factor which can quickly undermine the emotional climate in which the crew is operating is stress - defined as a state of highly unpleasant emotional arousal associated variously with overload, fear, anxiety, anger and hostility - all of which threaten both individual performance and teamwork.
Stress often arises as a result of a perceived gap between the demands of a situation and an individual’s ability to cope with these demands.
As stress involves the processes of perception and evaluation, it impinges directly on the cognitive and interpersonal skills which form the basis of good CRM.
Both arousal and alertness are necessary to enable each individual to achieve optimum performance in CRM-related skills, but too much or too little arousal will have a significantly adverse impact on the ability of the crew to function effectively as a team. It is therefore important for crew members not only to be aware of the symptoms of stress in themselves and others, but also to understand the effects which stress can have on CRM, and to mitigate these effects where possible by taking measures to counter them.

9. How much STRESS in your life??

10. Cont.
At first, it is essential to begins by making personal assessment of stress in all areas of our life.
We may face:
Major stressors
E.g. loss of income, bankrupt, death of a family member,
Minor stressors
E.g. Overload in work
These major and minor stressors have a cumulative effect which constitutes our total stress adaptation capability.

11. Stress Evaluation

12. Cont.
The more change you have, the more likely you are to suffer a decline in health.
As a Rule of thumb, if you score over 20 checks mostly in the top half of the checklist, you have an 80 percent chance of a serious health change.
If you have about 20 checks distributed over the checklist you have about a 50 percent chance of
Illness in the near future

13. Is Stress Bad??

14. “Stress for Success” by Dr. Peter Hanson
Stress not is not a bad thing. A small amount of it acts as a stimulus and improved your performance.
A certain amount of stress is good because it keeps you alert and prevent complacency (too relax).
e.g. Racing driver, Olympic runner, Flight crew, etc.
In his book “Stress for Success”, Dr Peter Hanson says that stress is not necessarily a bad thing because a small amount of it acts as a stimulant to improve our performance. It keeps us alert and prevents complacency.

15. Stress vs Performance
Slight stress is good but excessive stress lead to depression and other bad effects

16. Stress
Stress is a term used to describe the body’s nonspecific response to demands placed on it, whether these demands are pleasant or unpleasant in nature.
The demands of the pilot can range from unexpected windshear encountered on a landing to a lost wallet.

17. Cont.
Stress in a response to a set of circumstances that induces a change in a pilot’s current physiological and/or psychological patterns of functioning forcing the pilot to adapt to these changes.
Stress is inevitable and necessary part of life that adds motivation to life and heightens a pilot response to meet any challenge.
Performance will improve with the stress but will peak and then begin to degrade rapidly as stress levels exceed a pilot’s adaptive abilities to handle situation.
Performance degrade:
Pilot adaptive abilities in handling situation<level of stress

18. Pilot Stress
In aviation, at all phases of flight, pilots are subjected to different amounts of stress; how they react when subjected to stress will ultimately make or break whether the outcome is a safe and successful flight.
The image below depicts the different amount of workload and hence stress the pilot faces during the different phases of flight. Stress/ Workload is highest during the critical junctures of flight which are taking off and landing.
In aviation, at all phases of flight, pilots are subjected to different amounts of stress; how they react when subjected to stress will ultimately make or break whether the outcome is a safe and successful flight.
The image below depicts the different amount of workload and hence stress the pilot faces during the different phases of flight. Stress/ Workload is highest during the critical junctures of flight which are taking off and landing.

19. Effects of Stress

20. Effects of stress
As stress happen to the aircrew, it effects on the cognitive and interpersonal skills which form the basis of good CRM.
Poor decision making
Loss of situational awareness
Make errors of judgment
Become confused
Unable to cope with increase in workload
Absenteeism from work
Absenteeism : the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

21. The effects of Stress Can result in: Distress & Anxiety Oppression
Affliction
Body signals:
Headaches
Heartburn
Cramps
Fatigue
STRESS: Any activity that requires us to cope.
STRESS becomes DISTRESS when it becomes unmanageable
RESULTS:
Anxiety
Oppression
Affliction
BODY SIGNALS--Primitive “fight or flight”:
Headaches
Heartburn
Cramps
Fatigue
Heart rate up
Adrenaline flow increases
Pituitary gland secretes ACTH (a stress hormone)
Liver secretes cholesterol
Kidneys increase their activity
Blood vessels constrict
Brain increasingly alert
“Bookkeeping formula”:
STRESS = (DEMANDS) - (COPING SKILLS).
Could go into the hole . . .

22. The types of Stress

23. Types of stress Basically there are 2 types of STRESS ACUTE Short term
Common
Small dose - thrilling & exciting , keep you alert
Training Can help us to withstand acute stress better
CHRONIC
Long term e.g.
Death of some you love, medical problem, family break up
Accumulate stress - day by day, year by year grind
If stress remain high & cannot be removed – various sickness sets in: long lasting problem
Acute stress: typically intense but of short duration
Chronic stress: frequent recurrence or of long duration
Acute: serious
Chronic: long lasting
ULTIMATE GOAL MAINTAIN HOMEOSTASIS
IF WE DON’T DEAL WITH ACUTE STRESS THESE ARE OUR RESULTS
FOR CHRONIC STRESS:

24. Terribly Stressed?

25. What are the major causes of stress?

26. MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS (3Ps stressors)
Physical Stress- associate with ENVIRONMENT noise, lack of oxygen, poor visibility, poor lighting, vibration, temperature.
Physiological stress- BODY condition e.g. fatigue, lack of physical fitness, illness
Psychological Stress– SOCIAL or EMOTIONAL factors e.g. death in the family, divorce, sick child, also related to –work overloaded, financial problem

27. MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS Noise Physical Stress
Noise levels in a typical cockpit are in the range dB.
Anything above this causes stress and makes it difficult to concentrate and forces the pilot to have to strain to hear ATC instructions.
Noise levels in the hangars are also high due to hangars situated near aircraft taking off and landing, making it difficult for maintenance personnel to focus and concentrate.
Physical Stressors
These stressors add to the personnel's workload and make it uncomfortable for him in their work environment:
Changes in air pressure due to turbulence exerts unusual g-forces on the body and makes it difficult to control the aircraft.
Vibration transmitted to the body from the aircraft via the seat makes it difficult to read navigational charts and instruments.
Noise levels in a typical cockpit are in the range dB. Anything above this causes stress and makes it difficult to concentrate and forces the pilot to have to strain to hear ATC instructions. Noise levels in the hangars are also high due to hangars situated near aircraft taking off and landing, making it difficult for maintenance personnel to focus and concentrate.
Poor Lightings at their work area make it difficult to read technical data and manuals whilst working on the aircraft and the use of torchlights are also inadequate, increasing the propensity to miss something important.
Confined spaces also render maintenance personnel difficult to perform their tasks as their bodies are sometimes contorted in unusual positions.
Poor visibility due to heavy fog and traveling in instrument meteorological conditions
Temperature
High temperature build up in the cockpit/hangar increases perspiration and heart rate causing overheating of body.
Low temperature build up causes the body to feel cold, weak and drowsy.

28. MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS Physical Stress
Temperature: High temperature causing overheating of body. Low temperature build up causes the body to feel cold, weak and drowsy.
Poor visibility due to heavy fog
Poor Lightings make it difficult to read technical data and manuals while working on the aircraft.
In this situation , we will feel not comfortable and stress will come out.
Physical Stressors
These stressors add to the personnel's workload and make it uncomfortable for him in their work environment:
Changes in air pressure due to turbulence exerts unusual g-forces on the body and makes it difficult to control the aircraft.
Vibration transmitted to the body from the aircraft via the seat makes it difficult to read navigational charts and instruments.
Noise levels in a typical cockpit are in the range dB. Anything above this causes stress and makes it difficult to concentrate and forces the pilot to have to strain to hear ATC instructions. Noise levels in the hangars are also high due to hangars situated near aircraft taking off and landing, making it difficult for maintenance personnel to focus and concentrate.
Poor Lightings at their work area make it difficult to read technical data and manuals whilst working on the aircraft and the use of torchlights are also inadequate, increasing the propensity to miss something important.
Confined spaces also render maintenance personnel difficult to perform their tasks as their bodies are sometimes contorted in unusual positions.
Poor visibility due to heavy fog and traveling in instrument meteorological conditions
Temperature
High temperature build up in the cockpit/hangar increases perspiration and heart rate causing overheating of body.
Low temperature build up causes the body to feel cold, weak and drowsy.
Family problems
Financial concerns
Health care
Pressure from friends
Time for personal interests
ORGANIZATIONAL
Role conflict
Job ambiguity
Underwork/overwork
changes
Travel
People management
Organizational structure

29. MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS Physiological Stressors
Not having proper meals also result in not having enough energy and induces symptoms like headache and shaking.
Lack of sleep; Fatigued, the pilot is unable to maintain performance standards for long periods as he struggling to stay awake.
Conflicting Shift Schedules affect the body's cycle and lead to a degradation of performance.
Working long hours without any break especially at busy airports when handling multiple aircraft departing and arriving on intersecting and parallel runways.
Flying when unwell resulting in the body using more energy fighting the illness and hence less energy to perform vital tasks.
Physiological Stressors
Flying when unwell resulting in the body using more energy fighting the illness and hence less energy to perform vital tasks.
Not having proper meals also result in not having enough energy and induces symptoms like headache and shaking.
Lack of sleep; Fatigued, the pilot is unable to maintain performance standards for long periods as he struggling to stay awake.[4] due long working hours
Conflicting Shift Schedules affect the body's circadian cycle and lead to a degradation of performance.
Working long hours without any break especially at busy airports when handling multiple aircraft departing and arriving on intersecting and parallel runways.

30. MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS Psychological Stressors
Financial problems such as impending bankruptcy and loans and to pay.
Marital problems due to divorce or strained relationships due to persistent quarreling.
Interpersonal problems with superiors and colleagues due to miscommunication or perceived competition and backstabbing.
Psychological Stressors
Work related stressors prior to the mission can increase arousal due to apprehension but too much can cause over-anxiousness and failure to perform up to speed. ie in ATC, envisioning handling multiple aircraft and making sure all are deconflicted and safe in the most expeditious manner.
Financial problems such as impending bankruptcy, recession, loans and mortgages to pay.
Marital problems due to divorce or strained relationships due to persistent quarreling.
Interpersonal problems with superiors and colleagues due to miscommunication or perceived competition and backstabbing.
However, it is to be noted that a particular situation can bring about different degrees of difficulty for different people. The situation can be a stressor for one person and "normal" for another. Also, the stressor can cause stress in the same person when he is in a different predicament ie stressors which he has usually kept in checked suddenly is overwhelming him now due to perhaps increasingly turmoil in the family.

31. Signs of stress
Physiological symptoms - such as sweating, dryness of the mouth.
Health effects - such as nausea, headaches, sleep problems, diarrhoea, ulcers.
Mental effects - such as poor concentration, indecision, forgetfulness, anxiety, irritability, depression, moodiness.
Behavioural symptoms - such as shaking, nervous laughter, taking longer over tasks, excessive drinking

32. How to Manage Stress

33. Life-Stress Management
Become knowledgeable about stress.
(e.g. effect of stress, sign of stress, causes of stress etc.)
Take a systematic approach to problem solving
Develop a life style that will avoid the effects of stress
Establish and maintain a strong support network.
Relaxation techniques; Careful regulation of sleep diet and physical exercise;

34. Flight Stress Management
Good flight stress management begins with good life stress management.
Flight stress management checklist:
Avoid distraction
Avoid situations that distract us from flying the aircraft.
Reduce workload
Reduce our workload to reduce stress levels. This will create a proper environment in which to make good decisions.
Be calm
If emergency does occur, be calm. Think for a moment, find the alternatives, then act.
Maintain proficiency
Proficiency build confidence. Familiarize ourselves thoroughly with the aircraft, its systems, and emergency procedures.
Know and respect our personal limit
Recognize the potential signs and symptoms of stress.
Be proactive in removing the cause of stress.
Removing yourself from the stressful situation by knowing your own capability .
Do not be over focused in finishing the mission regardless of the situation.
Be update with all existing procedures and familiar at the workplace.
Organize yourself
Change your environment
Build up your strength
Listen to your body
Learn to relax
Find ways to laugh each day
Develop a supportive network around you
So what do we do about this mess?!
ORGANIZE--Take better control of the ways you’re spending your time and energy.
CHANGE ENVIRONMENT--Control what and who is surrounding you to get rid of stressors and gain support for yourself.BUILD STRENGTH--Good physical condition helps you to stand up against your stressors.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY--It will let you know when you’re pushing too hard (headache, stomach, etc.)
SOW DOWN!LEARN TO RELAX--Just 20 minutes practicing a good relaxation technique can do wonders to clearer thinking and decision making.
LAUGH--Humor is good stuff for stress control . . .
SUPPORTIVE NETWORK--Hang out with those who are positive and supportive. You’ll live longer and healthier!

35. Stress Managements If you don’t manage stress, it will manage YOU!
STOP burning up emotional energy
LOOK rationally at the problem
LISTEN to your rational not emotional mind
ACT once you have a plan, do it !
Managing Stress.
In high pressure situations, stress can be relieved by establishing priorities and by delegating tasks to other members of the crew, but this technique can be successfully implemented only if an organisational culture has been established in the first instance which empowers subordinates by training them in the cognitive and interpersonal skills which will enable them to take on additional responsibility when the circumstances call for it.
In a low pressure situation, where fatigue, boredom and over-familiarity with the task are the greatest hazards, careful attention to environmental conditions such as heat, humidity noise, vibration and lighting can help to maintain alertness. Concern of individual crew members for their own physical well-being by keeping fit and maintaining a healthy life-style, in so far as the demands of the job allow, will also help to ensure that they are best able to contribute to the team effort when the need arises.

36. Stress Managements Be sure the solution starts with “I”
Be realistic and practical.
TAKE a BREAK !!
Talk to someone who is not emotionally involved with the problem.
Don’t expect miracles......just keep trying.
Action Coping
Removing the source
Removing the demand – altering situation for less demanding ones
Cognitive Coping
Reducing the emotional and physiological impact of stress
Defence mechanism – repression and denial
Rationalization or emotional and intellectual detachment from the situation
Change of mind set ; (positive thinking,)
Symptoms-Directed Coping
Use of drugs and tranquilizers, tobacco and alcohol
Physical exercises and meditation

37. STRESS - SUMMARY Stress is Inevitable 2 Types – Acute & Chronic
Stress Effects our Physical & Mental health
Stress affects our situation awareness and our decision making
We need to effectively cope with stress to be efficient
Training enhances our ability to cope-up with stress
Manage stress for health