A319
Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
During my preflight check I found that I was unable to adjust one of my shoulder harnesses at my jump seat at 1 left; inboard to accommodate my stature due to a jam. Possibly a smaller flight attendant may have been able to wiggle his/her way into the shoulder harness and be safely strapped in; however; for someone of my size--6 FT; 190 LBS-- it was not possible. I continued with my other pre-flight checks and duties planning to return to deal with the issue of the stuck shoulder harness however before I knew it passengers began to board and I began my boarding responsibilities. Just before the door was closed I then had to deal with a last minute group and almost 20 bags to check. By this time I had totally forgotten about the shoulder harness issue until I needed to sit down for takeoff. I would not have been able to completely strap in as is policy so I utilized the workable jump seat harness at 1 left outboard. The flight was a short one hour and as soon as I could I jumped right into the service followed by assisting in the main cabin.During the quick fight I again failed to remember to work on the problem seat harness until final descent and landing. Once on the ground and passenger deplaning was almost complete I attempted to get the shoulder harness unstuck but just then all the cleaners started swarming onto the plane and I just left. I then explained the jump seat issue with a local domicile representative who then verified my concerns. In closing; if I were to have sat in jump seat 1 left inboard I would have to be writing this same report explaining why I didn't strap into my jump seat safely.
A large Flight Attendant discovered his assigned jump seat harness was jammed and unusable for someone of his stature. When other duties prevented him from attempting to fix the jam he was compelled to sit in another seat contrary to SOP. He ultimately left the aircraft with the seat belt still jammed after completion of his flights.