Stress, production schedules and the general work load and oversight are of course a huge systemic problem.
But having visited the Boing plant as well as Gulfstream and Beechcraft plants, I often wondered how some American Mechanics actually manage on the job with their physical fitness.
I’ve seen many so severely obeese workers that I really wondered, how they manage on the job where you have to work kneen all the time, lie in compartments and fit into tight spaces…
This goes especially for Integral Fuel Tanks. If you’ve ever been in an accessible fuel tank (777, A330 etc.) you know how tight it is there. To really carefully clean up after your work there requires a lot of physical mobility, fitness and disciplin. Mechanics who are just a bit on the fatty side or unfit, will have a hard time or even be incapable of leaving a perfectly clean work area in the fuel tanks when they’re done.