FOD awareness

[pilot9248]

Hey guys,

I have seen some quite contrasting ways of dealing with the dangers of Foreign Object Debris in aircraft and/or engine assembly or maintenance. Apparently some companies are strongly committed to avoiding FOD, while other companies do not seem to have specific guidelines. At my company, those people working on engines certainly do know about FOD and how to prevent foreign objects from entering the engine.
I am actually concerned with the "threat" of other people accidentally dropping things like pens, paper clips etc. into engines or modules. There are many people who do not actually work in the assembly shop but show up from time to time to check on or discuss something. I am not sure whether everyone of those people is actually aware of FOD. Some people I have recently spoken to did not know much about it. They have of course been aware of the fact that FOD can cause severe damage to our components, but most of them had not realised that those mishaps usually happen accidentally without anybody noticing the foreign object that has entered the engine.
Do you think that FOD awareness is a must for anyone who's not only working in the office but also in assembly lines or testing facilities?
How do your companies handle this?

Kind regards

[cedgz]

fod awarness training is a must just as much as a don't forget to breath awarness training
with some common sense and some active braincells, no training should be needed
for the others, don't forget to breath

damn, i missed the fod training again

[grounded27]

It is quite far from your perspective, the main front line FOD ideal exists on the gate. You speak of a manufacturing or overhaul screw up. To us it would be debris on the ramp that could be ingested by an engine or damage a tire/tyre. A good line AMT/AME does a quick visual for these items, is careful to pick up dropped hardware,waste safety wire etc.

As the above mentioned it becomes common sense.

[Rigga]

TTF,
If your place of work is an Manufacturer/overhaul/workshop of some sort then it would be logical that there is a form of "Barrier" where FOD becomes an issue and FOD Awareness becomes a mandatory training issue.

In that sort of situation I believe it would not be unreasonable for all company personnel to be taught at least FOD awareness (and I think this would be appreciated by customers too) but the more needy/important engine work areas should "specialise" in FOD practices as their "Norm", ensuring visitors (company & external) are fully briefed of their FOD responsibilities in that specific area (as in SHE visitor briefings).

I hope my drivel makes sense?

[pilot9248]

cedgz,
I get your point. At least for the shopfloor people that little bit of common sense certainly goes without saying. I am talking about the office guys and visitors here, though.

grounded,
In my environment, FOD is a "reliable" way of wrecking parts worth some hundreds of thousands of euros/pounds/dollars in just a few seconds, e.g. while balancing or on the test stand. There is of course a higher probability of FOD on the flight line, I suppose.

Rigga,
It makes perfect sense. There is actually no specific barrier. FOD is not really included in visitor EHS briefings, although most assembly areas are usually roped off anyway.

Thank you for your replies

[Krystal n chips]

On the subject of FOD, one is pleased to offer the definitive film offering on the subject......:ok::D

Dr FOD & the Wayward Body - YouTube

Please, no semantics regarding D.....Damage or Debris are the same after all.

Just enjoy the film and the very salient and relevant points it makes.

( it also stars my RAF shoes at the time...albeit considerably cleaner in the film than when in daily use by the owner...not surprisingly.. )

[pilot9248]

Well, first it is Debris, then it becomes Damage as soon as the engine shaft is rotating.

Great film, they just don't make them like that anymore, eh? :D