Positive and Negative Effects of Work on Health in Aviation Industry - Desklib

This article discusses the positive and negative effects of work on health in the aviation industry, specifically in the roles of baggage transport and airport fuel truck driving. It also compares the two jobs and highlights the work factors affecting the mental and physical health of workers.

Running head: WORK FACTORS
Paper 251.100 (Work and Health)
Name of the student:
Student number:
Assignment 1 - Positive and negative effects of work on health
Workplace type and name: AEROCARE – aviation industry
Date:
Author note:

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WORK FACTORS
Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
First job type: baggage transport in airport......................................................................................2
Description of the worker and the job:........................................................................................2
Template Table assignment 1......................................................................................................3
Positive factors:...........................................................................................................................3
Negative factors:..........................................................................................................................4
Second job type: airport fuel truck driver........................................................................................5
Description of job type:...............................................................................................................5
Template Table assignment 2......................................................................................................6
Positive factors:...........................................................................................................................6
Negative factors:..........................................................................................................................7
Comparison of both the jobs:...........................................................................................................8
References:..................................................................................................................................9

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Acknowledgement:
I would like to thank my departmental head, professors and my peers due to their
unconditional support throughout the completion of the assignment. I would also like to thank
the Aerocare authority for giving me the permission to conduct the interview at their premises.
The interviews were also helpful in providing their valuable information and this helped me in
completing y assignment. Therefore, I owe my gratitude to all of them.
Introduction:
Work factors can be explained as the aspects of the job like the skills, knowledge, mental
and physical demands as well as the working conditions that affect the mental and physical
health of workers thereby determining the quality of their lives. Work factors can be divided into
four categories that are Physical, Chemical, Biological and Psychosocial (Helmreich & Merriat,
2017). Several factors present at workplace can be classified under them regarding the nature of
their source like noise, vibration, pressures, pressure, lighting, gases, vapors, bacteria, fungi,
stress, workload and others. Therefore, this assignment would mainly be pondering upon two job

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roles and the discussions of various positive and negative work factors related with it (Hawkins,
2017). It is mainly based in the organization called AEROCARE that is an aviation organization
where skilled teams are responsible for managing every aspect of flight support that also includes
extraordinary challenges. It has now become one of the largest ground handler within the
Australian and New Zealand region with the ability of being a leading provider of ground and air
cargo services active at 315 airports in 50 countries across all five continent.
First job type: baggage transport in airport
Description of the worker and the job:
The worker is a 35-year-old man who is short on height and is quite lean. He has the duty
of transferring baggage around the airport. He has the responsibility of collecting, sorting as well
as checking luggage against the flight lists. They have to make sure that the items are going on
the right aircraft. They also have the duty of transferring luggage from the check-in areas to that
of the departure areas. They are also seen to move luggage to and from the airport holds using
trucks and cargo leaders and loading of the conveyer systems. The man named Jones conducts all
these action in Aerocare. He also store cargoes in warehouses making it ready for distribution.
They load inbound luggage onto the conveyers as well as in the arrival halls. He also helps in
cleaning and de-icing aircraft. He also contributes in helping in cleaning the runways making
them free from debris as well as snow in winter. Therefore, it is seen that he had varied job
duties to fulfill his role requirements.
Template Table assignment 1
Table 1 Worker/Job Baggage transport

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Work Factors Positive effects on health Negative effects on health
Team spirit, leadership and
acknowledgement
Ensures motivation and
satisfaction of employees
No negative effects
incentives Monetary benefits, financial
security, quality life
No negative outcomes
Manual handling No benefits Musco-skeletal disorders,
accidents, injury
High temperature No benefits Impaired concentration and
judgement, hyperthermia, heat
stroke, deaths
Positive factors:
On detailed interview, it was seen that two important positive factors were present that
ensured employee satisfaction with the employee. It was that the management is extremely
helpful and collaborative with all the employees of the baggage transfer section. The immediate
supervisor shares a very good rapport as well as bonding and emotional attachment with all the
baggage transfer professional team members. They get recognition for their hard work that is one
of the most important positive work factors. Researchers are of the opinion that appropriate
resources like that of the influence, social support as well as acknowledgement have the
capabilities for increasing the motivation of the employees (Harrison & Mackenzie-Ross, 2016).
They also ensure commitment among the employees. This in turn ensures dedication and better
health and well-being of the employees making them satisfied with their jobs. Jones stated that
the relationship with the supervisor is so good that they do not have to handle any issues
singlehandedly. Supervisors not only acknowledges about their hard work but also helps them in
acting as a team and shows himself as example about how to conduct the work smoothly
(Gregson et al., 2015). When supervisors stimulate the employees intellectually, presents role
model for the employees, they can ensure effective work output from employees making them

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mentally stable and stress free. Another important positive factor of their work stated by Jones
was that they have attractive fixed salary along with incentives and compensation pay. It is one
of the best systems for rewarding the success as well as the effort in the workplace by allowing
the subordinates for earning prizes and recognition. It is one of the highest factors for motivation
for employees helping them to earn extra money, thereby enabling economic stability and better
career financially, and enjoying quality life (Chan, 2016).
Negative factors:
One of the most negative work factor related with baggage transfer is the associated
manual handling of heavy loads as well as lifting and stacking them in proper ways. Jones stated
that although there are machines and instruments that cannot be used, but they tend to mainly do
it manually because it saves time in the busty shifts when there are many passengers and their
loads to handle. In such arenas, employees are seen to lift heavy loads, put them down, move
objects by hands, by bodily force and many others. Researchers are of the opinion that manual
lifting of such kinds are associated with cumulative disorders like gradual and cumulative
deterioration of the muscoskeleton disorders that might take place due to continuous lifting and
handling activities (Stolzers, 2017). Low back pain as well as acute trauma such as cuts and
fractures due to accidents is also common. Jones stated that he had been working her for five
years and the negative effects he had faced are neck and upper limb disorders, lower limb
disorders as well as the back pain and back injury disorders. Researchers are of the opinion that
injury in muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, joints, bursa, blood vessels, nerve mainly result in
gradual and cumulative wear and tear through repetitive handing (Okun, Guerin & Schulte,
2016). Another thing that was also stated by the Jones is working in extremes of climate when
stacking and loading of the luggage to the airplanes. Jones stated that because of the tarmac, it

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sometimes feels 50degree centigrade to him but they still need to work even then. He states that
it really becomes hot when he has to be in hold of the plane and also he has to be very precise
with the way, he stacks the very heavy bags to make sure that they can fit in the plane. Often
different types of disorder may affect the individuals with no possible mechanism explained by
the researchers for this disorder. Many states that it might lead to impairment in concentration as
well as judgment making individuals exposed to occupational safety and accidents. Many others
state that “a pattern of delayed impact” may result from cumulative fatigue as well as
dehydration in such cases. Hyperthermia as well as heat stroke might occur due to prolonged
exposure to higher temperatures that might result in death if not treated in emergency manner
(Zaddow wt al., 2017).
Second job type: airport fuel truck driver
Description of job type:
The next person who was interviewed was Mark Jonathan who dos the role of airport
driver and he is skilled with driving trucks that make deliveries from time to time in the airport.
He is specifically a fuel truck driver where he is responsible for delivering fuel to the various
aircraft flying in and out of the airport. Some of the trucks or vehicles that he also drives are the
buses food trucks as well as more. Often he has to work in other shifts when drivers are
unavailable.
Template Table assignment 2
Table 2 Fuel truck driver
Work Factors Positive effects on health Negative effects on health
Education and training Better knowledge and skills to No negative effects

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handle task and activities and
hence better job satisfaction,
mental stability and reduction
of accidents
Work life balances Rest and personal happiness,
mental stability
No negative outcomes
Jet fuel pollution, inhalation
and touch
No benefits Skin irritation, cancer, lung and
brain injury
Constant position and driving No benefits Hip and leg pain, cramps in
muscles, muscle ache and
fatigue all over the body
Positive factors:
One of the most positive factors that Mark has found in this job is the scope of education
and training at every state whenever he requires need and help. Researchers are of the opinion
that training and development focused actions help the employees develop their knowledge and
skills by which they can complete the tasks successfully. It also helps them to feel that the
company cares for their need and accordingly provide them the scope of knowledge and skill
development. It helps in career advancement opening more doorways to varieties of
opportunities (Smith et al., 2015). Mark said that is often given the opportunity for driving
various types of vehicles each with different functions. He can drive food trucks, ramp stand,
employee buses, conveyors, cleaning equipment, fuel trucks, and other equipment. However, the
organization had cared for his safety and it does not force him to drive the vehicles without
having any idea. He is given training and practical sessions after which only, they are given the
duty to drive. This makes him comfortable and happy that h can drive different vehicles that
would help him in his career as a driver (Hughes et al., 2015). Good work life balance is another
important factor that has helped him to maintain a happy and satisfied life personal as well as the

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professional lives. The organization is very punctual and never forces employees to work beyond
hours of shift time (Feltner et al., 2016). Researchers are of the opinion that such factors help in
increasing productivity, lowers absenteeism rates, happier and stressed workforce as well as
improvements in employee health and well-being. This also ensures greater employee loyalty,
commitment and motivation. Therefore, it helps Marks to be happy and motivated for his work
(Scanlon et al., 2015).
Negative factors:
One of the negative factors that remains associated with this job is exposure to gases of
fuel. Working regularly with the jet fuel can expose people at a greater risk for suffering from
both chemical as well as physical burns. Jet fuel is also seen to give chemical that cause lung and
brain disorders. JP 5 and JP 8 are the two most dangerous components, which exposes people
working with jet fuel to danger. Exposure of them in the skin makes burning sensation in the
skin. Petrochemical fumes resulting from it can impair the brain as well as disrupt and kill the
brain cells that results in dizziness and confusion along with dis-coordination (Reason, 2016). It
can also cause many lung disorders like can cause nausea, swelling of the lungs (pneumonitis)
and even chest tightness and loss of consciousness. It also contains carcinogens like toluene and
benzene that can cause cancer. As mark has the responsibility or receiving as well as dispatching
the different fluids to the air craft such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, avgas as well as gasoline and
glycol. He also tests the quality of the fuel, maintenance of the vehicle along with monitoring the
equipments involved. So, he is in danger of getting affected by the elements of the fuel. Hazards
and health effects also remain associated with drivers as they have to reaming in one position
throughout the day other the times when they are performing different tasks (Laberge,
MacEachen & Calvet, 2014). They suffer from neck, back as well as shoulder pain. Mark also

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complained of cramps, pressure points as well as poor circulation both in the legs and hip
region.. Many of the researchers are also of the opinion that there might be also long term
potential for degeneration of spinal discs as well as disc herniation (Loeppke et al., 2015).
Comparison of both the jobs:
When both the jobs are compared, it can be seen that the profession of baggage transfer is
associated with manual handling and lifting that exposes them to low back pain and musco-
skeletal disorders. Moreover, it also results in cumulative disorders along with accidents and
injury. They also face threats from higher temperature exposure causing heatstroke,
hyperthermia and fatigues and dehydration. However, the job of a driver is mostly in sitting
position and therefore it has the capability of affecting the spinal discs, hip and leg region.
Moreover, it also results in exposure to gaseous substances that result in burning of skins, brain
and lung injury as well as cancer (Sorensen et al., 2016). The main positive work actors were
mainly seen to fall in the category of psychosocial factors of work. While effective leadership,
teamwork, and incentives are positive factors in the first job, training and work life balance were
seen to be the positive work factor for next job.
References:
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Anaesthesia, 117(1), 137-137.
Feltner, C., Peterson, K., Weber, R. P., Cluff, L., Coker-Schwimmer, E., Viswanathan, M., &
Lohr, K. N. (2016). The effectiveness of Total Worker Health interventions: a
systematic review for a National Institutes of Health pathways to prevention
workshop. Annals of internal medicine, 165(4), 262-269.

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Gregson, S., Hampson, I., Junor, A., Fraser, D., Quinlan, M., & Williamson, A. (2015).
Supply chains, maintenance and safety in the Australian airline industry. Journal of
Industrial Relations, 57(4), 604-623.
Harrison, V., & Mackenzie Ross, S. (2016). An emerging concern: toxic fumes in airplane
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