How can you protect sensitive safety data in reporting and feedback systems?

2 Apply data protection principles

Another way to protect sensitive safety data is to apply data protection principles that ensure the data is collected, processed, stored, and shared in a lawful, fair, and transparent manner. Data protection principles include obtaining consent from the data subjects, limiting the data collection to what is necessary and relevant, securing the data from unauthorized access or loss, and deleting or anonymizing the data when it is no longer needed. Data protection principles also require the airport management to comply with the applicable laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and the Privacy Act in Australia.

3 Implement a safety culture

A third way to protect sensitive safety data is to implement a safety culture that fosters trust, communication, and learning among airport staff and stakeholders. A safety culture is a set of values, attitudes, and behaviors that support safety as a priority and a shared responsibility. A safety culture encourages reporting and feedback as a means of improving safety performance and preventing accidents. It also discourages blaming, punishing, or covering up safety issues. A safety culture can be developed by providing training, education, and awareness on safety topics, by rewarding and recognizing safety achievements, and by involving and empowering staff and stakeholders in safety decisions and actions.

4 Use data encryption and anonymization techniques

A fourth way to protect sensitive safety data is to use data encryption and anonymization techniques that prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of the data. Data encryption is a process of transforming the data into a code that can only be read by authorized parties with a key. Data anonymization is a process of removing or modifying the data that can identify or link to a person or an entity. Data encryption and anonymization techniques can be applied to both the data in transit and the data at rest. For example, you can use secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS) protocols to encrypt the data when it is transmitted over the internet, and you can use hashing, masking, or pseudonymization methods to anonymize the data when it is stored in a database.

5 Monitor and audit the data usage and access

A fifth way to protect sensitive safety data is to monitor and audit the data usage and access by the airport staff and stakeholders. Monitoring and auditing the data usage and access can help you detect and prevent any unauthorized, inappropriate, or malicious activities that may compromise the data. It can also help you evaluate and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the reporting and feedback systems. You can use tools such as logs, reports, alerts, and dashboards to monitor and audit the data usage and access. You can also establish policies, procedures, and controls that define the roles, responsibilities, and permissions of the data users and accessors.