Female genital mutilation and the practice of midwifery Dissertation

Female genital mutilation and the practice of midwifery - Dissertation Example The practices of FGM seem to be barbaric and cruel to Western society and in societies that hold such practices are done with the belief that there is a benefit to stealing the sexual arousal mechanisms from women in order to make them less carnal and more proper. The difficulty comes in trying to honour cultures for their beliefs while motivating them to change those beliefs because of false and dangerous consequences where female sex organs are concerned. Midwifery requires the acceptance of beliefs in concert with the application of good medical and traditional knowledge where childbirth is concerned. Consulting and caring for women who have had FGM requires sensitivity to the cultural beliefs with a firm understanding of how such procedures affect women in reference to their procreative lives. Psychological and medical knowledge is necessary to treat women with both respect and dignity despite any converse beliefs on the subject. While ideally it would be beneficial to abolish th e act of FGM, at this point in time it is still a potential problem that might arise when caring from patients from certain cultures or who come from a history of traumatic circumstances that ended in FGM. The following research proposal will explore the potential for a project in which the subject of FGM is examined through victims of the procedures, through the medical consequences that midwives face when dealing with patients who are victims of FGM, and through examining the balance between the victimisation of women and the cultural belief systems that must be honoured and respected while finding ways to deal with the consequences and offer reparative solutions where possible. 1.2 Background Female genital mutilation, also known as... From this research it is clear that female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, has been defined by the World Health Organisation as â€Å"all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons†. Unlike male circumcision, there are no health benefits to female circumcision and often contribute to urination difficulties or difficulty in childbirth later in life. The procedure most often will occur between the ages of birth and 15 and is considered a violation against women by world organisations across agencies. There are an estimated 100 to 140 million women who live with the consequences of the procedure with 92 million living on the African continent. There are four major types of FGM. These types are as follows: †¢ Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris). †¢ Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina). †¢ Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. †¢ Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

Pearl Harbor Essay Example for Free

Pearl Harbor Essay When we were asked to consider a question to answer, which would have been suitable for our personal study, I knew straight away that I would want to structure my question around Pearl Harbor. Since childhood, watching movies about Pearl Harbor always caught my attention. From most movies and books it seemed to me as if the Japanese people were just cruel and evil people, who had no basis to attack America; so was this the reason for the bombing? That they were just cruel people? Or did they have a legitimate reason which had been completely cut out of history by authors and the Hollywood directors? That question was embedded in my mind, and I always thought that I would research it when I had time, or to speak the truth, be motivated to. After sitting a few classes in lower sixth history, which was based upon our personal studies; I had realised that this was the time I was looking for. I could answer a question that really made me think, and not only that I would also be doing it as a little study. This furthered my interest on such a crucial time during World War Two. I went to the library and took out a couple of books regarding Pearl Harbor. Once I had read the books; I assumed I would now know the reason for Japan bombing Pearl Harbor, but the books I read had something in common, it told me how the bombing took place, how many were killed or injured etc, but never once mentioned why this all had taken place. The bombing by a few historians was seen as a focal point in that era, which helped secure a win for the Allies, so why was only half of the story published? In-fact it I possessed the same amount of knowledge on this particular topic, as I had done previously. This was when I decided to take it a step further and took out a selection of books regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and also did some research on the internet. At first it was overwhelming having so much information in front of my eyes and now knowing how I should analysis it all. This was when I decided that I would read each book/site at different times of the day so I did not get confused. After each book or site I had read, I took a notepad and jotted down all the crucial sentences, phrases, and even copied pictures which would give me jump start. Now knowing that the question was answerable, I submitted it to my history teacher. Whilst I was awaiting her acknowledgment, I for some unknown reason had left everything unfinished. It was only during Christmas holidays, did I really start to think about a basic plan for my personal studies. I knew that in total I should be aiming to have at least three chapters (which did not include my conclusion). I would separate them into three separate categories; time leading up to the bombing, the day the bombing had taken place, and finally a key reason for the atrocity following a conclusion to tie up the lose ends. After receiving a conformation on the title, all I had to do was to read my notes which had been previously written a little while before. I would say that making my notes before writing the study had helped me a lot. I did not have to waste my time finding and analysing facts, as I had already done so. By the end of January, I had completed my first complete draft. It seemed to me that I had covered all the relevant issues which had to be mentioned which would help me get an answer. In total my first draft was made up of two-thousand one-hundred words, around a little more than a thousand words short than the maximum allowed. I took advantage of this and decided that I would use this gap to analysis each fact I presented. This was a good idea as I could comment on whether I thought a source was reliable or not. Overall I was satisfied with what I had achieved, in the space of time I had left. In future if I were ever given a similar task as this, I would remember to use the time wisely, and not take it for granted. I am sure if I had done that this time round, I would have been able to go through more sources, which would have given me a much better image to discuss. Another aspect of this study, which I am happy about is the fact it has shown me that I am capable of answering such an awkward question, and can make a sound judgment on what are relevant facts and what are just unreliable. This study also gave me a new perspective on the whole topic surrounding the incident at Pearl Harbor; I got an answer to my question, and had been implanted a new question in my head. Did America provoke Japan into making the first move, which would secure the fate of America fighting the Nazi regime? Who knows, some time in the future when I have the motivation I may be very well be answering that question, and am sure I could to a reasonable job of it due to the skills I have picked up from answering this study. Please Note: The writing in italic is the quote and the writing in bold is my comment on the source. The letter or number beside the quote indicates where I got it from, the list of books and sites can be seen on the last page. Chapter One Events leading up to the attack of Pearl Harbor The Japanese attack on the American fleet based at Pearl Harbor was less an attempt to provoke the United States into a declaration of war than a final admission that war between the United States and Japan was bound to come. Through hindsight I know that this quote is quiet reliable; it shows that there was hostility between the twp nations which had provoked the bombing. When trying to answer the question (above) and you come across such quotes; you can see the jigsaw taking shape. On the other hand, I still have to be cautious as this was written thirty-nine years after the bombing, and could have been exaggerated to make Japan look as if they were ware mongers. This signaled the end of a long period of increasing bitterness between the two nations. The struggle was centered on Japans ambitions for an unchallenged hegemony in the Far East. During the early 1920s the Americans held a conference in Washington. This was in direct result of Japan ceasing Manchuria. The reason America had condemned and refused to recognize the state of Manchukuo (which was set up to replace Manchuria) was solely due to the fact that the Japanese troops had just marched into Manchuria and took it over, as well as the fact that it presented a direct threat to the open door policy. Japan was becoming an increasingly crowded country; Manchuria offered around 200,000 square kilometers of land, which to the Japanese looked as an attractive offer. By 1931 Japan had invested vast sums of money into the economy of Manchuria, which at that time was controlled by the South Manchuria Railway Company. In order to protect the money Japan had invested, they stationed a large army in the South of Manchuria. An explosion on a section of the South Manchuria Railway had given the Japanese an excuse to blame the local population of sabotage and to occupy Manchuria. The Americans in Washington stated that Great Britain, United States, and Japan would be allowed to have the amount of ships in a naval fleet at the ration of 5:5:3. Obviously the Japanese were the ones to pull the short straw. As years went by, there were several more treaties signed and enforced, which furthermore restricted Japan and its naval fleet. The same treaties also had an impact on the United States and Great Britain, but it had a deeper impact on Japan, rather than on the western super powers. In December of 1936 Japan has urged the United States to be lenient and allow them (Japan) to have naval parity, but this was rejected on the grounds of pre-existing treaties. The rejection had given no other alternative, but to withdraw from the London Conference, which was going to be held on January of 1936. Within a year of the withdrawal, the Japanese construction of naval vessels had, exceeded that of France, Italy, Germany and Russia. They were now looking to be a formidable rival to the American fleet in the Pacific. As they were re-arming their forces, they had noticed that many countries in Asia seemed to fear the Japanese. This to Japan looked like a new opportunity for Japan to conquer Asia. Already Japans leaders were declaring a policy of Japanese hegemony over Eastern Asia. When President Roosevelt declared I hate war in a speech in 1936, Japan must have sensed that they would most probably get away with attacking USA. When President Roosevelt said that he hated war, I would say that it had a hidden agenda behind it. Knowing that the only way he could go to war was is someone from the axis would attack the USA; he knew that Hitler was scared to bring in America, so they had to provoke another member of the axis, as Italy was to far, it would have to be Japan. Knowing that if Japan was provoked they would make a rash move, he set out to trap them. First say he hates ware, then secondly move and rename a fleet to the pacific, giving a mirage which showed that American troops were sitting ducks which was not capable of defending itself from an attach. This source is quiet reliable as it has from the President of America during the period it question, and it also had a direct correlations with the study title, as it shows that America was trying to play a cat and mouse game with Japan. In the month of July of the year 1937, Japan had ceased the opportunity and moved its forces to Inner Mongolia, and Northern China. The reason they did this was because they could extend their control of power. The Americans had sympathized with the Chinese and public opinion asked for something stronger to be done, rather than moral gestures put forward. President Roosevelt replied with nothing more forceful than his Quarantine speech of October 1977. The President saw war as a disease and that the best thing would be to stop the contagion spreading. He suggested A quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease. The League of Nations in 1932 had condemned the actions that were inflicted by Japan, which violated the Nine Power Treaty and the Kellogg Pact. To show Japan and the entire world, that the League of Nations would not accept such atrocities, they offered to hold a conference in Brussels. As anticipated, Japan bluntly did not attend. Shortly after this, the Americans had decided that they were going to evacuate all their nationals from Chinese territories. The Japanese militarists saw this move as a sign of weakness. To test the ever so fragile cabinet and leader of the Americans, Japan had bombed and sunk Gunboat Panay, on 13th December 1937 in the Yangtze River. The Americans immediately protested, demanding reparations. Japan apologized promptly and paid indemnities. Japan had taken over most of Northern and Central China by 1938. This led America to urge to manufactures to put a moral embargo on the shipments of aircrafts and other ware attributed material. This did not seem to disturb, nor stop the Japanese from invading. By 1940 they had marched to the French-Indo China region, and had taken control. By now, there was sharp disagreement on United States policy towards Japan in American government circles, with the cabinet itself divided. Experienced diplomats and statesmen such as Henry Morgenthal and Henry L. Stimsom said that some sort of ultimatum should have been given to Japan. In mounting pressure Roosevelt issued an order restricting the supply of strategic materials, especially petroleum products to Japan. After much deliberation, he also allowed a naval fleet to re-base itself from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, which was in Honolulu, Hawaii. They were later renamed to the Pacific Fleet. Now tensions between the two nations were going to increase to a new level. The Japanese had to avoid provoking the Americans into war diplomatically, whilst still taking their exploiting their opportunity to the fullest possible.

Relationship Between Molecular Size and Rate of Diffusion

Relationship Between Molecular Size and Rate of Diffusion DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS Minh Thu Vo INTRODUCTION The center of this lab states around the diffusion across a cellular membrane, how exactly materials move and diffuse in concentrations. Both diffusion and osmosis are forms of movement that are part of passive transport dealing with cell membranes. Diffusion is where the solutes move from an area of high concentration to a low concentration. Water goes through the cell membranes by diffusion. Osmosis is specifically the movement of water through membranes. Since osmosis and diffusion are both part of passive transport, this means that they do not require energy or pumps. There are different environments created due to diffusion. There are hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic environments. Hypotonic is when the solution has a lower solute concentration compared to the water potential. The hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration and lower water potential. In an isotonic solution, there is no net movement and there is an equal concentration of solutes and water (Veno). In our lab, we modeled diffusion and osmosis with a hospital scenario. It is important for a solution to have sugar sucrose in it so the water and solute can be equal to create an isotonic environment. If there wasn’t, there would either be a hypotonic causing the cell to burst, or there would be hypertonic causing the cell to shrink. Purpose of this experience states the relationship between molecular size and the rate of diffusion across a semi-permeable membrane. The osmotis behavior in plant cells and the relationship between the osmolarity of the surrounding solution and this behavior. Each cell type have a unique osmolarity and be able to quantitatively estimate the osmolarity of plant cells experimentally with the use of solution of varying solute concentrations (Lab manual). We created models of living cells by using dialysis tubing. The dialysis tube represented the cell membrane to act as selectively permeable to water and some solutes. Osmosis is a particular kind of diffusion, because the diffusion happens with water molecules moving from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration, passing through a selectively permeable membrane. By taking into consideration the movement of two liquids (the iodine and the starch) through a semi-permeable membrane (the dialysis tubing), and bearing in mind the definition of osmosis, we should expect the two substances to mix with each other until the entire content of the test tube appears a homogeneous mix of starch and iodine. However, we know from the background information that starch molecules are very large carbohydrate molecules, and we also know that selectively permeable membranes only guarantee the passage to small or medium molecules; by knowing this additional information, we can state the following hypotheses. If the starch molecules are too large to pass through the selectively permeable membrane (the dialysis tubing), then the iodine (which has small molecules) will expand from the space around the dialysis tubing (point of high concentration), and move through it, going to the inside of the tubing (point of low concentration) until equilibrium is gained; while the starch will not manage to diffuse throughout the test tube, and so will remain inside the tubing and never achieve equilibrium. Instead, if the starch molecules are small enough to pass through the selectively permeable membrane (the dialysis tubing), then the iodine will expand from the space around the dialysis tubing (point of high concentration), and move through it, going to the inside the tubing (point of low concentration) until equilibrium is gained; while the starch will diffuse from inside the tubing (point of high concentration), move through it and diffuse out the test tube (point of low concentration), and so will also achieve equilibrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS Part A: Diffusion of molecules through a selectively permeable membrane Prepare the dialysis bag with the initial solutions of starch and glucose, then tight the bad by rubber band. Pour water into a baker then add several drop of I2KI to have the color light brown. Place the bag of mix solution in the beaker and wait about 30 minutes to remove this bag into another dry beaker. Pour the solution of beaker into a clean tube, add some drop Benedict’s reagent to tube then heat it. 1) iodine entered the bag, because the solution within the dialysis bag changed from a clear color to a blue/black color. We know because the solution within the bag contains starch that the blue/black color is caused by the diffusion of iodine into the bag, which then reacted with the starch present. Glucose diffused out of the bag, an area of high glucose concentration, into the beaker solution, an area of low glucose concentration. We know this because after the experiment was conducted we tested the beaker solution for glucose using Benedict’s solution. This indicates that glucose molecules are small enough to diffuse through the membrane. 2) The movement of iodine resulted from the relative high concentration of it outside the bag compared the solution within the bag. It also occurred because it is small enough to diffuse through the pores in the membrane. The glucose was in higher concentration in the bag compared to outside the bag resulting in it to diffuse through the bag. Glucose was able to diffuse through the bag because it is small enough, but we know the starch didn’t diffuse, even though there was a concentration gradient, because the outside solution after the experiment was conducted didn’t react to iodine. This means the starch was too large for the membrane 3) I would expect the glucose and IKI molecules the diffuse out of the bag as a result of the higher concentration of the two of them inside the bag in relation to the outside of the bag. When the I2KI diffuses out of the bag I would expect it to react with the starch present outside of the bag and turn the solution blue/black. I would also expect the solution outside the bag to react positively to Benedict’s solution at the end of the experiment due to the glucose that diffused into it. The starch is too large to diffuse, so I would expect it not diffuse at all. Part B: Osmotic behavior in cells Prapare a slide of Elodea in sucrose O.5M solution and another slide of Elodea in distilled water. Part C: Estimating the osmolarity of plant cells Add 100mL of each solution in to 7 beakers as following order: DI water, sucrose 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M, 0.6M. Use sharp blade the get 7 sample of potato, weight each sample then transfer to each beaker solution. Incubate them about 1 hour then remove all sample out of beaker, blot them onto paper to dry then weight each sample. The experiment we conducted gave the result that when a potato has contact with a sucrose solution, the cells will start to shrink. We did this by cutting up slices of potato and weighed them and recorded their initial weights. We used deionized water and different concentrations of sucrose. We than placed each potato slice in beakers with their designated solutions. We let them soak and incubate for an hour then we removed them from the beakers. Next we measured their new weights and recorded them. The objective of this experiment is to detect diffusion and osmosis in potato cells in sucrose solutions. Diffusion is the spontaneous spread of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is a type of diffusion involving water. The results will either be hypertonic or hypotonic. Hypertonic means that the solution is more salute than water. Hypotonic means less salute and more water. For this lab, we can apply these principles to plant cells. The plant cells have a semi permeable membrane so they can experience osmosis and diffusion as discussed earlier. When it comes to the potato cells, added with sucrose it will experience a reaction changing the form of the cells. The hypothesis of this experiment goes as follows, if we place potato cells in a sucrose solution, then the cells will shrink. They will shrink because when the sucrose is added the water in the potato, where there is high concentration, will move to the outside of the potato where there is low concentration. RESULTS Part A Table 1: Iodine and Benedict’s test Part C Graph molarity of sucrose solution vs % change weight potato DISCUSSION Part A The clolor of beaker change to orange after Benedict’s test that indicate glucose molecule are small enogh to disuse through the membrane. Glucose diffused out of the bag, an are of high glucose concentration into the beaker solution where area of low glucose concentration. 1) iodine entered the bag, because the solution within the dialysis bag changed from a clear color to a blue/black color. We know because the solution within the bag contains starch that the blue/black color is caused by the diffusion of iodine into the bag, which then reacted with the starch present. Glucose diffused out of the bag, an area of high glucose concentration, into the beaker solution, an area of low glucose concentration. We know this because after the experiment was conducted we tested the beaker solution for glucose using Benedict’s solution. This indicates that glucose molecules are small enough to diffuse through the membrane. 2) The movement of iodine resulted from the relative high concentration of it outside the bag compared the solution within the bag. It also occurred because it is small enough to diffuse through the pores in the membrane. The glucose was in higher concentration in the bag compared to outside the bag resulting in it to diffuse through the bag. Glucose was able to diffuse through the bag because it is small enough, but we know the starch didn’t diffuse, even though there was a concentration gradient, because the outside solution after the experiment was conducted didn’t react to iodine. This means the starch was too large for the membrane 3) I would expect the glucose and IKI molecules the diffuse out of the bag as a result of the higher concentration of the two of them inside the bag in relation to the outside of the bag. When the I2KI diffuses out of the bag I would expect it to react with the starch present outside of the bag and turn the solution blue/black. I would also expect the solution outside the bag to react positively to Benedict’s solution at the end of the experiment due to the glucose that diffused into it. The starch is too large to diffuse, so I would expect it not diffuse at all. Part B Base on predictions and observation, 0.5M sucrose is hypertonic solution and distilled water is hypotonic solution. Sucrose has the greatest osmolarity. I expect pond water would be hypertonic because it contains compound that make expand to the cell wall (dangerous for cell), in fact pond water is a hypotonic. Part C Base on graph, at sucrose molarity 0.2M is the curve cross the zero change line. This information can be used to determine the osmolarity of the potato tissue. Sucrose 0.2M make no change weight potato that means the natural potato sucrose molarity at 0.2M. If solution has higher molarity than potato, it loses weight because water move out of cell. In contast, the solution is lower molarity then it gains weight and water move into the cell. Thus I can estimate the osmolarity of the potato tuber tissue is sucrose 0.2M. From the results taken, the more concentrated solutions of sugar seemed to draw the water towards it. This supports my hypothesis and also shows that sugar is also a hypertonic solution since it is were there was more water brought into the solution than outside of it. This could be applied in the real world with people who suffer from dehydration. By raising the sugar level in their body, they are more likely to take in more water into their cells. One thing that could be tried in future experiments could be to add additional types of solutions to the experiment that would simulate more of the human internal cell system. By adding more substances, the chances of seeing how osmosis truly works in the body can be seen that could prove useful for medical purposes (Towle). REFERENCES CSULA, lab manual Biol 100b, 2015 â€Å"Plasma Membrane† Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 2009. 8th Nov. 2009. Towle, Albert, Modern Biology, Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., Orlando, Fl, 1993. Veno, Barbara, slides and take notes biol 100b

The Great Depression in America :: essays research papers fc

â€Å"Father, won’t we have anything to eat for dinner?† said a young boy in a poor household, after his parents lost everything. Aww, now that’s a sad story. The economic collapse of 1929, also known as the Great Depression, helped make most of the United States bankrupt. The Great Depression was the worst economic disaster in the entire history of the U.S. (Gusmorino). It put millions of people out of work, and made people homeless and hungry. Food and job lines were nearly endless in the cities. The Great Depression was a horrible time for most of Americans. Many people lost their jobs and a lot of businesses closed. This job loss forced many Americans to becoming migrant workers. One of the main causes for this depression was that too many people over estimated the stock market’s stability, and they put lots of money into it (Gusmorino). When the stock market did crash, the people that invested in it lost everything. Also, people that put their life savings in banks lost everything they had, because the banks lost all their money. After this, it was hard to get the American people to put their trust back in the banks and the stock market, so President Roosevelt made a series of new laws and deals, creating more jobs, and ensuring that your money would not be lost in a bank. The new jobs that President Roosevelt created were mostly construction jobs to maintain and repair public lands. For example, one of the new jobs was to fix and maintain highways. Also, he gave money to farmers for them to set up work camps on their farms. These work camps offered jobs to anyone that was willing to travel to a farm and work there. This process of leaving your home, and living wherever you can work, is called migrant labor. During this historical time period, millions of Americans were forced into a life of migrant labor (Migrant). A migrant worker is someone who travels from town to town, looking for work. Then, when they find work, they live at the job site. Migrant workers usually live in small camps or tents along irrigation canals or right on a farm field. When a drought swept through the Great Plains in 1931, and dust storms came in 1932, the farmlands on the plains were all completely destroyed (Fanslow). Those people out of work moved to states like California for jobs.

Can Money Buy Happiness? Essay

â€Å"When you have money in hand, only you forget who you are, When you don’t have any money in your hand, the whole world forgets who you are† -Bill Gates Good Morning respected teachers and dear friends. Can Money Guarantee Happiness? It is one of the most heavily disputed questions of all time. However if we look at it practically, we will find an immediate answer, that, YES, Money in all its splendour, is the key to happiness. Imagine being able to buy whatever you wish for- cars, palatial houses, helicopters, jet planes, a journey to space, a walk on the moon-wouldn’t it give you joy & happiness, not to mention an envious social status? Definitely it would and what do you think would allow you to buy these things? The answer is, of course, MONEY! Money, thus, definitely guarantees happiness! To argue on this point, we must observe that the very invention of money was to bring happiness and balance to human life. What with the barter system and its many setbacks, the idea of money instituted a sense of equilibrium, so that everyone could follow a definite routine and a similar pattern of things. Without money, man would be a barbarian with no sense of stability! Money is something that distinguishes man from an animal. How, then, can my worthy opponents say that money does not guarantee happiness and that people would be happier without it? I do think anybody who says that money is everything but happiness would agree that donating brings joy. What will you give to others when you yourself don’t have anything? And how would have anything without buying it using money? Poverty is the greatest curse. It is the lack of money that compels people to cheat or even murder. If one has money, one can buy all things that he or she wants. A torn jeans worn by the rich becomes a fashion statement, whatever the rich do becomes customs & what they say becomes law! Money can buy you authority, power, obedience and whatnot! By appointing domestic servants, you aren’t only saving your time so that you can enjoy with your family, but are also taking an uneducated person out of unemployment. Coins & Notes bring you closer to people. Social interactions lead to happiness and self satisfaction. And how can you host a party for your long-lost friends or go out for a movie with your family if you don’t have money? Money helps you to travel to exotic places, meet new people at luxurious events & thus give a treasure trove of happy memories & a bountiful of acquaintances!

Aviation Safety

Aviation Safety Introduction Carelessness can be defined as ignorance or incorrectly assessing a risk. According to NTSB (2003), it is important to carefully follow maintenance and inspection procedures in order to avert aircraft related accidents, safeguard company property, and save life. By and large, most aircraft emergencies and fatal accidents are as a result of mistakes that occur during the process of maintenance and inspection.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Aviation Safety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Looking at the number of accidents witnessed annually in the sector, it is quite obvious that the training offered to mechanics during their formative stages is not yielding the expected results. Apart from the aviation industry, many other accidents can also be attributed to human error. This paper presents a discussion on mistakes that occur during maintenance and inspection and how they affect the operations of air carriers as well as consumers. Maintenance Related Concerns As can be deduced from past studies, human related errors are to blame for the high number of accidents occurring due negligence, and failure by aviation maintenance technicians to comply with stipulated maintenance standards and procedures (CAA, 2002). Statistically, associated number of accidents has continued to increase and this can be linked to issues such as technical engine failure. Sadly, the repercussions are serious and lead to deaths and severe damage to property and human life (Dillingham, 2010). Similarly, the reputation of the air carriers has been dwindling due to such accidents. Because of the complex nature of the problem, it has been a challenge to come up with concrete solutions. Consequently, the situation has continued unabated. Regardless of whether maintenance related aircraft accidents are new to the aviation industry, the awareness of the need for aviation safety implies that should be thorou ghly investigated. Presently, the increase in the number of accidents due to poor maintenance and inspection is a major concern to many stakeholders (CASA, 2012). It is, therefore, important to shift focus from investigating the performance of flight crews and to concentrate more on establishing where the problem lies within the maintenance and inspection units. Apparently, this has been largely ignored in a number of past investigations. In areas where the possibility of errors is quite high, the task of aircraft maintenance and inspection can be extremely complex and quite varied. One of the greatest concerns is that aviation maintenance technicians often have to work under very strict deadlines. Although these technicians understand the importance of meeting scheduled departure times, it is unhealthy for them to be made to work under pressure.Advertising Looking for research paper on aviation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn M ore To ease the pressure on aviation maintenance technicians, it is necessary for air carriers to employ additional staff and to designs flexible working plans for the maintenance crew. Among other benefits, this will reduce fatigue and grant them an opportunity to rest and embark on their duties when they are very fresh and feeling energized. Another concern that has been raised is that aircraft maintenance technicians are required to take care of very old aircrafts (Holanda, 2009). In general, this is can be very exhaustive, creates a stressful work environment, wastes so much time, and is quite involving. The demands on aviation maintenance technician increases further as new aircrafts are added to the fleet. The need to take care of old as well new aircraft poses challenges to the maintenance crew and requires familiarity with both technologies. A very highly skilled workforce is thus critical if air carriers are to effectively deal with emerging maintenance issues (CASA , 2012). Besides having a strong educational background, wide experience is a distinct added advantage for any aviation maintenance expert. Fortunately, there is an increased recognition of the significance of human factors in aviation safety. Subsequently, safety and effectiveness of aircrafts is now closely associated with the performance of aircraft of maintenance technicians. Human Error and Aviation safety According to Conquest and Beckett (2003), the effect from technical failures is quite negligible in comparison to that from human error. As such, it is imperative to ensure that the needs of aviation maintenance technicians are fully met. In a recent exercise carried out by Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, three things that lead to accidents include the fact that flight crews fail to adhere to procedures, the existence of maintenance and inspection errors, and design factors. Human Error in Aircraft Maintenance and Inspection Generally, human error in the aviation industry becomes obvious when aircraft failures that are linked to the actions or non actions of aircraft maintenance technicians happen (CAA, 2002). However, the failure experienced may be due to other factors and not necessarily because of the inability of maintenance technicians to deliver effectively. It is also possible that during a maintenance exercise an anomaly may be undetected, leading to aircraft failure and subsequently, an accident. To a large extent, many past accidents have been linked to human errors as major contributors (Conquest Beckett, 2003). While in some cases, accidents can directly be attributed to human error, the same may not be said of certain accidents where poor maintenance is seen to have partially contributed to the occurrence of an accident.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Aviation Safety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In a list published by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Aut hority, the major problems resulting from unprofessional practice during maintenance include poor installations of aircraft components, use of unauthorized aircraft parts, poor electrical wiring, unsatisfactory lubrication of movable parts, and fastenings that are left incomplete. According to CASA (2022), there are numerous issues that can lead to maintenance errors. While some are easily noticeable, others may completely be hidden. To address these issues, it is imperative for the air carriers to require all aviation maintenance technicians to strictly follow outlined maintenance procedures while performing maintenance tasks. Aviation maintenance technicians must be made to understand the importance of being extremely vigilant. Any form of negligence must be avoided at all costs and stakeholders must steer away from actions or non actions that can be detrimental to the effective performance of an aircraft. Where an aviation maintenance technician deliberately acts in a manner like ly to create problems for the aircraft and the air carrier company, he or she must be subjected to some form of punishment. In order to effectively deal with problems created by human error, concerned persons must diligently carry out thorough investigations and interpret findings in a way that will benefits the carrier company as well as general public. Contributing human factors or any individual involved must be identified and appropriate measures should be taken to avoid a repeat of the same at a later time. In various past studies, it is evident that while organizations can be a source of accidents due to negligent acts, they can also help to prevent the occurrence of accidents and save human life. However, the ability of organizations to address safety issues in their operations depends so much on the technology available to them. While organizations with improved technology are better placed to effectively deal with identified safety concerns, those without such technology su ffer serious challenges and are unable to address safety problems even after they have been detected.Advertising Looking for research paper on aviation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apparently, the promotion of safety as well as prevention of accidents in the aviation sector is rarely looked at as a human problem that must be dealt with by ensuring that aviation maintenance technicians are well prepared. Better results can, however, be realized when the training offered is accompanied with strict follow ups to ensure that trainees effectively utilize the skills learnt. Obviously, the rising number of accidents point to the fact that aviation maintenance technicians are not putting skills learnt to good use as it is widely expected. Because of carelessness, technicians have ended up causing serious irreversible damage to humanity and air carrier companies. It is also very important for top management in organizations to ensure that staff members are serious about their work. Without some form of reinforcement from senior personnel in the organization, the problem will continue uncontrollably. Strong support from the top is, therefore, a key requirement. Ordinari ly, errors do not happen in isolation. They occur within the context of organizations which can either resist or promote them. Ideally, this implies that organizations have the liberty to decide how to deal with safety concerns that affect their day to day business operations. On the one hand, they can choose to let things get worse, and hence cause more problems for themselves and the general public while on the other hand, they can decide to implement strict measures that will see an end to laxity and alleviate any problems in future. It is, therefore imperative for the organization to have very strong and reliable leadership at the top to avoid the promotion of mediocre standards. Departures from approved procedures must be avoided at all costs and senior managers must see to it that all aviation maintenance technicians perform their functions as expected. Refusal to follow outlined guidelines as well as logging requirements to perform maintenance tasks is unacceptable and must n ot be entertained by anyone in the organization. Human Error in the Maintenance Environment Typically, unique characteristics are bound to shape human error within the maintenance environment (Huang, 2009). To a great extent, this is thought to be completely different when compared to other operational departments of an organization. One of the biggest challenges faced by aviation maintenance technician is that unlike problems seen in other departments, maintenance related errors cannot be identified at the time of occurrence. In some cases, the aviation maintenance technician who makes an error may fail to realize it as it may happen long after the maintenance has taken place. Ordinarily, detected human errors associated with maintenance only become obvious when an aircraft malfunctions and it is generally not easy to identify the real cause of the error. Errors are thus discussed with regard to failures encountered with aircrafts. According to Goldman et al. (2002), communication is a very important factor to consider in aircraft maintenance. In most cases, communication breakdown among stakeholders leads to unexpected repercussions. The huge amount of information created must be properly disseminate to the right recipients and where possible properly stored for future reference. Besides, it is important to ensure that any information sent out is in a form that can be effectively understood by whoever receives it. Ineffective communication to the maintenance crew, for example, can have a very damaging outcome. Communication must be put in the simplest possible form and the use of technical jargon must be avoided so as to ensure that the recipient understands the communication relayed. When maintenance problems are encountered, communication must be sent to the manufacturer before it is late, to get the correct remedy. If ignored, this could lower the performance level of an aircraft and in some cases lead to unnecessary expenses. Although communication betwe en airlines is never easy to do, it is necessary and the maintenance crew must be encouraged to get involved. Lack of or poor communication within the organization’s maintenance unit can also be very dangerous (Goldman et al, 2002). For there to be unity, and for everyone to move towards the same direction, there must be smooth communication. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the unit head to keep the communication fire burning within the organization. Whenever issues are encountered, these must be dealt with immediately so that people can move on. Any complicated issues can, however, be escalated to senior managers in the organization for further attention and advice. In a worse case scenario, a breakdown in communication can easily lead to delays in delivery of critical services and this can in turn affect the general operation of the airline. In the event that such misunderstandings affect the customer, the biggest loser will be the company. Conclusion Given the tigh t link that exists between human error and aviation safety, it is certainly not easy to effectively deal with the resultant problems. Although well structured training programs and strong leadership can be of great help, good will from the aviation maintenance technicians is vital. Without whole hearted support from these technicians, any efforts to deal with aviation safety will bear very little or no fruit at all. As has been explained in this paper, detecting human errors in the aviation industry is not easy. Errors tend to be detected long after they have happened and usually, they tend to occur in the absence of the aviation maintenance technicians. Analysis is thus based mostly on assumptions rather than on concrete evidence. This notwithstanding, organizations must take all the necessary precautions to guarantee the safety of their staff members, customers, and aircrafts. Proper guidelines and procedures must be put in place and the maintenance crew should be equipped with cr itical skills to help them carry out their tasks. Dissatisfaction among staff and lack of concern will lead to serious damage and must be addressed fully. Aviation maintenance technicians and by extension, all other employees, must be treated with respect. They must all form an opinion that the organization has their interests well catered for. When all is said and done, it is the organization’s reputation that is at stake. Other important considerations are effective communication at all levels and well organized of trainings for aviation maintenance technicians. However, as noted earlier, it is imperative to devise follow up programs that will make it possible to reinforce the skills learnt during the training. It is of no use for people to receive world class training but fail to utilize it effectively. References Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). (2002). Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance and Inspection. Web. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). (2012). SMS for Aviati on – A Practical Guide. Web. Conquest, T. Beckett, B. A. (2003). Aviation Safety: Better Guidance and Training Needed on Providing Files on Pilots Background Information. Collingdale, PA: DIANE Publishing. Dillingham, G. L. (2010). Aviation Safety: Improved Data Quality and Analysis Capabilities are needed as FAA Plans a Risk-Based Approach to Safety Oversight. Collingdale, PA: DIANE Publishing. Goldman, S. M., Fiedler, E. R. King, R. E. (2002). General Aviation Maintenance Related Accidents: A Review of Ten Years of NTSB Data. Web. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB). (2013). Mechanics: Managing Risks to Ensure Safety. Web. Holanda, R. (2009). A History of Aviation Safety: Featuring the U. S. Airline System. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse Publishing. Huang, J. (2009). Aviation Safety through the Rule of Law: ICAOs Mechanisms and Practices. Frederick, MD: Kluwer Law International.