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FAA Ramp Worker - Sec. 353 - Questionnaire: OMB Control No. 2120-0831

This Federal Aviation Administration's questionnaire is designed to collect data on the guidance, training, and technology used to prevent accidents involving ramp workers from organizations and individuals. This questionnaire aims to engage stakeholders to identify hazards, address gaps, and share best practices. The questionnaire is divided to solicit responses from both organizations and individuals. After answering the first question, respondents should complete the set of questions associated with their response (e.g., Individual or Organization).

A red asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement - page 1 of 4
Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0831. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
Demographics - page 2 of 4
Which of the following best describes how you are completing this questionnaire? *
If you are completing the questionnaire, first determine whether you are responding as an individual or on behalf of an organization. Select "Individual" if you are representing yourself and your role within the aviation industry, such as a ramp worker, aviation service provider, safety personnel, or another role not specifically categorized. Choose "Organization" if you are responding on behalf of a company or entity, such as a ground service provider, airline operator, fixed based operator, or another type of organization within the aviation sector that does not fit these specific categories.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES - page 3 of 4
Which of the following best describes your primary role or job category, as an individual, on the airport ramp?
Individuals should select the category that best matches their role: "Ramp Worker" for those physically working on the airport ramp with tasks like loading, unloading, and guiding aircraft (e.g., baggage handlers, ramp agents); "Aviation Service Provider" for those providing essential support between flights (e.g., aircraft mechanics, caterers, fuelers); "Safety Personnel" for roles focused on compliance, incident investigation, or risk management (e.g., airport safety managers, quality assurance auditors, SMS coordinators); or "Other" if their role doesn't fit these categories.
How many years of experience do you have working on or around an airport ramp?
Indicate the total number of years you have spent working on or around an airport ramp. Include all relevant experience, regardless of whether it was part-time or full-time, and consider any roles where you directly engaged in activities such as loading, unloading, guiding aircraft, or providing auxiliary support services.
Have you been provided training related to engine ingestion and jet blast hazards?
This training typically includes visual diagrams illustrating aircraft 'danger zones,' safety videos demonstrating the suction power of jet engines, and strict guidelines about avoiding areas behind running aircraft engines. If you recall learning these concepts, you have likely undergone this training.
When provided training related to engine ingestion and jet blast hazards, what were the learning objectives? Select all that apply.
Consider the training you received and how it applies to your work on ramps. If the training involved policy or procedural compliance, such as adhering to mandatory engine spool-down times or Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations around aircraft, select POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. If your training covered spatial awareness topics, like identifying the 25-foot ingestion danger zone in front of an idling aircraft engine, select SAFE WORKING DISTANCES. If coordinating with team members using tools like marshalling hand signals or radios to confirm operations/activities around aircraft on ramps was discussed, select USING COMMUNICATION TOOLS. If personal defense through wearing protective gear, such as hearing protection or a high-visibility vest, was discussed, select USING PPE. If recognizing environmental cues, like flashing red beacons or painted ground lines, was discussed, select UNDERSTANDING MARKINGS AND WARNINGS. If documenting or reporting safety risks, such as reporting or logging a report for a faded engine hazard line, was discussed, select HAZARD REPORTING.
What improvements in training could prepare you for working more safely around aircraft engines and blast areas? Select all that apply.
Consider the training you received and how it applies to your work on ramps. If training involving policy or procedural compliance, such as adhering to mandatory engine spool-down times or Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations around aircraft, could be improved, select POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. If your training covering spatial awareness topics could be improved, like identifying the 25-foot ingestion danger zone in front of an idling aircraft engine, select SAFE WORKING DISTANCES. If coordinating with team members using tools like marshalling hand signals or radios to confirm operations/activities around aircraft on ramps could be improved, select USING COMMUNICATION TOOLS. If personal defense through wearing protective gear, such as hearing protection or a high-visibility vest, could be improved, select USING PPE. If recognizing environmental cues, like flashing red beacons or painted ground lines, could be improved, select UNDERSTANDING MARKINGS AND WARNINGS. If documenting or reporting safety risks, such as reporting or logging a report for a faded engine hazard line, could be improved, select HAZARD REPORTING. Select NA if you feel no improvements are needed to the training received.
Are there safety markings or signage in your current workplace that indicate the risk of ingestion and blast zones on the airport ramp?
Answer this question about your current workplace and not based on past experience or locations.
Which markings or signs are present at your current workplace? Select all that apply.
Answer this question about your current workplace and not based on past experience or locations.
Which communication tools do you currently use while performing your duties on airport ramps? Please select all that apply
Are airport ramp markings clearly defined and visible under most conditions?
Airport ramp markings may include critical visual cues such as yellow taxiway guidelines, red and white safety envelopes around gates, white equipment parking area borders and specialized markings like red "no parking" zones, and jet blast areas.
Does your current employer have a Safety Management System?
A Safety Management System (SMS) is an organization-wide, structured approach to managing aviation safety risks through specific policies, procedures, and hazard reporting channels. You can determine if your company has an active SMS if you have filled out a safety hazard report, participated in mandatory safety training, read regular company safety newsletters, or seen changes made to your daily ramp operations based on reported safety data.
Are you aware of any corrective actions or remediations that were implemented as a result of the reporting a hazard or safety incident to your current employer?
Have you been trained to perform wing walker duties?
Wing walker duties are defined as providing visual clearance and guidance to towing vehicle drivers to ensure the aircraft wings do not strike buildings, equipment, or other aircraft.
Are you trained to operate ground support equipment (GSE) in the airport operations area?
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) encompasses a range of tools and vehicles designed to facilitate aircraft operations at airports, and is categorized into powered and non-powered types according to international standards such as the IATA guidelines. Powered GSE includes self-propelled vehicles with internal combustion or electric engines, such as pushback tugs for maneuvering aircraft away from gates, belt loaders for transporting luggage into aircraft holds, ground power units that supply electricity to aircraft with inactive engines, air conditioning and air start units for cabin climate control and jet engine initiation, lavatory and water service trucks for waste management and water replenishment, and de-icing vehicles for removing ice from aircraft surfaces. Non-powered GSE consists of stationary structures or wheeled trailers that require towing, such as baggage carts for luggage transport, dollies for moving air cargo containers and pallets, tow bars for connecting aircraft to tugs, passenger stairs for boarding and deplaning at remote stands, and chocks for securing aircraft and vehicle tires to prevent rolling.
If trained to operate ground support equipment (GSE), who provided the training?
This training not only includes how to operate GSE but also how to operate GSE in the airport environment.
ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES - page 4 of 4
Which of the following best describes the primary category of your organization?
When completing the questionnaire as an organization, each Organizations should choose "Ground Service Provider" if they are a third-party conducting ramp operations, "Airline Operator" if representing a commercial airline, "Fixed Based Operator" for those representing an FBO, or "Other" if their function is not covered by these definitions.
As an organization, do you provide training related to engine ingestion and jet blast hazards?
As an organization, do you provide training related to engine ingestion and jet blast hazards? This training often includes visual diagrams illustrating aircraft 'danger zones,' safety videos demonstrating the suction power of jet engines, and strict guidelines about avoiding areas behind running aircraft engines. If your organization offers training that covers these concepts, then you can affirmatively answer this question.
If you provide training related to engine ingestion and jet blast hazards, what are the learning objectives? Select all that apply.
Reflect on the training your organization provided and how it was intended to enhance employees' work on ramps. If the training focused on policy or procedural compliance, such as enforcing mandatory engine spool-down times or managing Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations around aircraft, it was aligned with POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. Training that emphasized spatial awareness, such as identifying the 25-foot ingestion danger zone in front of idling aircraft engines, was directed towards SAFE WORKING DISTANCES. If the program included coordinating with team members using tools like marshalling hand signals or radios to confirm operations and activities around aircraft on ramps, it emphasized USING COMMUNICATION TOOLS. Training that involved personal protection, including the use of hearing protection or high-visibility vests, focused on USING PPE. If the curriculum covered recognizing environmental cues, such as flashing red beacons or painted ground lines, it was aimed at UNDERSTANDING MARKINGS AND WARNINGS. Finally, if employees were trained to document or report safety risks, such as logging a report for a faded engine hazard line, it supported HAZARD REPORTING.
Is your organization aware of any technological solutions or innovations currently being used to improve ramp safety?
To answer "yes" to this survey question, an organization might utilize technology to improve /mitigate ramp hazards. Examples include automated Proximity Detection Systems (PDS), Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection, artificial intelligence (AI) computer vision cameras to monitor ramp operations, the use of wearable IoT sensors for ground crew health tracking, digital marshaling wand innovations, or telematics-driven GSE (Ground Support Equipment) speed limiters.
As an organization, does your workplace have a Safety Management System (SMS)?
A Safety Management System (SMS) is an organization-wide, structured approach to managing aviation safety risks through specific policies, procedures, and hazard reporting channels. You can determine if your company has an active SMS if you have filled out a safety hazard report, participated in mandatory safety training, read regular company safety newsletters, or seen changes made to your daily ramp operations based on reported safety data.
If your organization has SMS, what best describes your role?
In the context of a safety management system (SMS), the Accountable Executive, typically a CEO or VP, holds ultimate legal and financial responsibility and allocates necessary resources. The Safety Manager or Director oversees daily SMS operations, updates documentation, and ensures compliance. The Safety Officer or Auditor conducts workplace inspections, investigates incidents, and identifies hazards. SMS Committee Members, a diverse group of workers and managers, meet regularly to review safety data and recommend policy changes. The Safety Training Specialist designs and delivers training, ensuring employees understand hazard reporting and tracking safety qualifications. Finally, every general employee or contractor acts as a Frontline Hazard Reporter, actively submitting hazard reports as the "eyes and ears" of the SMS.
Are there formal mechanisms in place within your organization for reporting safety concerns and/or hazards within your organization?
All responses to this collection of information are voluntary; confidentiality will be provided in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and other relevant privacy and confidentiality guidelines. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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OMB Approval #2120-0831 · Expiration Date 04/29/2029