Occupational Medicine/Health Promotion for Austrian Airlines

Term: May 2016 to 2022

An employee survey conducted by Austrian Airlines (AUA) revealed a desire for health-promoting programmes for cabin crew. AUA asked lecturers from the study programs to develop a concept as part of a cooperation offer. Students then implemented it in their practical training in the summer semester of 2015.

Objectives / methods

Two students carried out workplace analyses at AUA's headquarters at Vienna Airport. In doing so, they examined behavioural and relationship ergonomics and provided advice on individual issues on site. The internship was preceded by the one-day "Management in Practice" training programme, where they were given an insight into the day-to-day work of flight attendants. On a second day, the students took part in a flight in an Airbus 320 as part of the cabin crew. After these two days, the actual four-week internship at Vienna Airport began.

Results

In the course of the workplace analysis, the students recorded moderate to sometimes high levels of both static and dynamic stress among the employees. In the check-in area, they identified sedentary activities (>5h/day) and dynamic stresses (>20° rotation/lateral flexion). The cabin crew is subjected to more than 40 rotations/lateral flexions (>20°) per hour and significantly more than 40 flexions in the hip and knee joints in a very confined space when supervising passengers.

Conclusions

In their feedback, the people involved praised the opportunity to have their individual questions answered directly and the solution strategies for coping with their everyday working lives. The students benefited from the specific working environment and gained experience in counselling and project management. An evaluation and continuation of the internship under supervision is planned.

Austrian Airlines

Health and Quality of Life