Date: 201302
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: B767-300 and 300 ER
Operator: Air Carrier
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Portable Extinguisher
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Maintenance; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Routine Inspection
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Human Factors; Aircraft; Company Policy
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: There was a problem with several safety checks in the aft section of the aircraft. I was doing my safety checks and noticed that there were no infant life vests in the compartment near my jumpseat. I also noticed that one of the oxygen bottles pointers was not in the red zone. Also one of the first aid kits was not sealed and was missing items. I called door 1L and spoke to the Greeter and another Flight Attendant for each problem as the Purser was busy doing other company instituted duties and was not available. Company Maintenance handles our maintenance issues. One Mechanic came and checked the oxygen bottle; and said pressure was okay as it was above 1500 PSI. I inquired how he came to that amount as we were always advised that out of red band it was low and were required to call. After searching my FAOM found that it said 1600 PSI; different than what was reported by the Mechanic. But where is 1600 PSI? How are we to determine if we only see 1500 PSI and the top PSI number on all the bottles was not even visible due to a sticker: Not resolved.Mechanic came on regarding the infant life vests; he brought on two. I said we needed more than that but the FAOM never states just how many. I told him he had to look in his manual. Why don't we have a number in our FAOM? He came on again and advised that we were to have 20. I overheard that a Flight Attendant found some in the closet at mid-cabin right. There ended up being 13 infant life vests. Why they were there; I don't know. Here's the real problem: there are 3 flight attendants that are supposed to do safety checks in area two. I counted and came up with 49 separate safety checks. If I am finding issues and report them are the other 2 just listening in so as not to report the same items? There is also not enough time to adequately check all 49 checks looking in several areas of the FAOM for verification on what exactly is the check. There are also vague pictures as to what is supposed to be checked and a line indicating about where the check is. There is no exact mention of where some of these items are. It's time consuming confusing and frustrating. We had a very easy safety check many years ago. We each had distinct checks noting exactly where the item was located by compartment numbers etc. In each section there was a listing of what was required of each check. We didn't have to go all over our FAOM looking for information on what the icon meant; because we didn't have icons. We had words describing the item to be checked. There are many other problems with these checks; too many to name here; but one being that most equipment is so difficult to see that we just hope and assume it is okay. Someone would have to lie on the floor to see.




Synopsis: B767-300 Flight Attendant identified multiple safety equipment and safety check issues.