Health Publications

A gray world: the practical man's guide to ORM - Crossfeed

Mech, Fall, 2003 by Donald Borkoski

If everything were in black and white, we wouldn't need a decision process. Everyone simply would follow the book! Most people think aviation is just that clear. An unambiguous approach is our goal, but every maintainer worth his salt knows that our world is made up of varying shades of gray.

How do we operate in a gray world?

We all know the easy answer is to follow the black-and-white rules found in NATOPS, MIMs, instructions, or TPI. What happens when the book isn't clear? That's when the fun starts. For example, "Can you safely release an aircraft with a popped hydraulic delta-P?" The book doesn't say!

We have a tried-and-true process to help make decisions: operational risk management (ORM). For the old skeptics in the fleet, yes, it is a fancy term for what you always have done. We have found that many successful, old skeptics make decisions this way. The ORM process and its steps are designed to help determine where on the gray-scale any hazard falls, so you can make the right decision.

The five steps are a common-sense approach, but, if you skip just one step, you may not make the "success roster."

1. Identify hazards: There's a popped hydraulic filter.

2. Assess hazards: It resets, it's a bypass filter, good turn check, and good patch test.

3. Make risk decision: Let it fly.

4. Implement controls: Write a MAF, tell the aircrew, check it upon return, and check it on the daily and turn-around.

5. Supervise: See if it fails again, check for secondary indications, and evaluate the need for closer scrutiny.

Many commands have adopted these ORM techniques, but others have not received the word. OpNavInst 3500.39A/MCO 3500.27A mandates ORM as our primary decision-making process, and these documents have stated this requirement since 1991. The enclosures in these instructions describe the process in detail.

Everyone in your command should know at least the first and most critical step is to identify hazards-not only at work, but also off duty. Safety always should be first, and everyone should help to identify hazards and to take necessary action.

Put out the word! Give your troops or fellow shipmates the critical-thinking and decision-making tools needed to protect themselves and you. Our world already is full of gray areas; teach and practice ORM to keep 'em flying!

Warrant Officer Borkoski is the avionics, electrical, and ALSS branch head at the Naval Safety Center. He recently reported from AIMD, USS Kearsarge.

For more info ...

Visit our ORM website at www.safetycenter.navy.mil/orm/default.htm.>