Getting Employee "Buy In" For FOD (Foreign Objects and Debris) Control Program

[BadgerMan]

Try this link.....you may find some good examples of effective programs:

http://www.fodnews.com/

Here's an extreme example:

 

[Stijloor]

Try this link.....you may find some good examples of effective programs:

http://www.fodnews.com/

Here's an extreme example:

Photo shop?

Stijloor.

 

[Joy]

Thanks Stijloor.The site has enough information to make us FOD free

 

[Randy]

Normally a bird strike isn't considered FOD, just like anti-aircraft munitions aren't.

Trust me, non-flight critical items can still create catastrophic failure during flight.......Because of FOD (clippings), a short in a radio transmitter caused sparking, which ignited wiring which spread in the radio bay melting honeycomb structure for a fuel cell and the fun really started there...Nobody had any hotdogs or marshmello's for that one....Scratch one Cobra

 

[Joy]

Normally a bird strike isn't considered FOD, just like anti-aircraft munitions aren't

It is true that a missile fired at aircraft is not considered as FOD but bird hits are always considered as FOD.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Thanks Joy. We have already identified possible FOD at the workbenches (wire/lead clippings, solder, ESD, screws, washers etc....) The emplyees already participate in solid ESD practices (wristbands, ESD mats, ESD totes/bins, etc..) It's more of a Clean as you go issue than anything else. We have a presentation in the works to hopefully open their eyes to the potential hazards/costs/missed oppurtunities that can occur with FOD. I guess it's just going to take some time to get everyone on board. Thanks again Joy!

RTerranova has brought up the clean room subject even before I had a chance to do so. It occurs to me how easy it is for people to say "But I only work on (xyz); it's not life or death" when they don't know just what that subassembly does for the safely operating aircraft's system. It occured to me to ask: what happens if a beard hair gets stuck in the component you are producing? Could it cause a circuit to malfunction? What system do your subassemblies go into? FOD can range from wrenches to hair to snot contamination from a wet sneeze. I think it boils down to what they are working on. Cabin controls and radios matter.

 

[Jonsat - 2010]

We have a few class 8 rooms for some sensative items we work but controlled rooms aren not required for the large majority of our worload.

 

[Randy]

It is true that a missile fired at aircraft is not considered as FOD but bird hits are always considered as FOD.

Flying into a mountain could be considered FOD as well, but not in real life. FOD is normally considered to be related to ground operations and/or maintenance activities. Hazards encountered in flight, natural or otherwise are not normally identified as FOD.

I've got between 4000-5000 flight crew hours with about 3000+ of them maintenance test flight hours so I could just be be guessing here. I have experienced 1st hand FOD related problems during all aspects of flight operations that ranged from minimal damage to catastophic loss of the aircraft and having to ride down to the ground under nylon so I take FOD serious. I have lost friends brecause of FOD. No matter what the level of FOD, people in aerospace have to understand the seriousness of it and if they don't or won't then a career change is in order. FOD WILL KILL!

 

[Joy]

FOD is normally considered to be related to ground operations and/or maintenance activities. Hazards encountered in flight, natural or otherwise are not normally identified as FOD.

As you have long flying experience,kindly help me to understand following situation.If an unaccounted tool,left in the aircraft or engine compartment during maintenance activities, blocks the control movements during flight,will it be considered as FOD?Please note that the damage or problem is created in air.

As you have lost friends due to FOD,so is me.We still remember those tragedies so the subject is so important to us and sometimes makes us emotional.I respect your opinion and try to learn from you.

In case you get a clear definition of FOD with clarifications of non FOD items,please post in the forum.It would behelpful for us.

 

[Jim Wynne]

As you have long flying experience,kindly help me to understand following situation.If an unaccounted tool,left in the aircraft or engine compartment during maintenance activities, blocks the control movements during flight,will it be considered as FOD?Please note that the damage or problem is created in air.

As you have lost friends due to FOD,so is me.We still remember those tragedies so the subject is so important to us and sometimes makes us emotional.I respect your opinion and try to learn from you.

In case you get a clear definition of FOD with clarifications of non FOD items,please post in the forum.It would behelpful for us.

I'm not answering for Randy, of course, but in the case of a tool being where it shouldn't be, that's a result of a problem in ground operations, not something that originates in flight.

I'm not an expert in this area, but a quick look around the interwebz leads me to understand that bird strikes in flight are considered separately from FOD, as Randy says. It appears to me that wildlife on the ground at airports are considered FOD, but again, that applies to ground operations and not bird strikes in flight.

There is also some confusion over the "D" in "FOD," as it can stand for either debris or damage. Again, my non-expert understanding is that to be considered Foreign Object Damage, the problem must be created by Foreign Object Debris, and if birds in flight are not considered "Debris" then they also can't cause "Damage." In other words, damage caused by a foreign object doesn't necessarily qualify as Foreign Object Damage, the way that it's understood and defined.