What are the most effective ways to make airline safety management accessible?

Le déploiement d’un SMS Système de Management de la Sécurité permet de structurer l’organisation de ma?trise du risque en de garantir un niveau élevé de ma?trise du risque. Il doit être audité régulierement pour s’assurer de son efficacité. Il permet aussi définir et déployer une organisation de retour d’expérience RETEX , traitement curratif des événements mais aussi d’analyse des signaux faibles et donc prédictif / systémique.

A SMS program can provide safety data which can be utilized to identify areas for improvement and contribute to the safety-focus culture within an organization.

Standardized Processes and Procedures: Implementing standardized processes and procedures across the ground handling operation ensures consistency and efficiency. This includes uniform handling protocols, documentation standards, and inventory management practices. Risk Management Strategies: Implementing robust risk management strategies is vital to mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain. This includes contingency planning for unexpected events, such as adverse weather conditions, geopolitical issues, or global crises. Diversifying suppliers and maintaining alternative logistics routes can enhance resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Working in the Ground operations department SMS was standard, in aviation general, as I would be faced with hazards left right and centre. Conducting your safety checks reduces the risk of being injured and reporting the situation bringing it to light. Those four SMS components mentioned are essential idea of any SMS which are responsible for safety oversight. Effective safety management systems prevent injuries, process failures, and improve the long-term profitability of the companies that implement them.

Based on my experience and previous position, implementing and abiding to a SMS is vital to any airline to that wishes to have safe operations.

Just Culture or a no blame culture should be well understood by all airline employees an this is achieved mainly to proper training and awareness promoted by high management.

The airline mentality of yesteryear is over. There should be no incident that is taught to the employees that will result in immediate termination (save for gross misconduct which are HR policies). It is NOT a bad thing to receive a lot of reports. It must be understood from the top down and bottom up and made very clear through training and in policy that the company has a clear non-punitive reporting policy. If employees do not feel safe in reporting, they won't. Few, or no reports coming in should ring alarm bells that your organization is missing key elements in their SMS.

Management and employees understanding of hazards and risks through: 1-Reporting culture: sharing critical safety information 2-Just culture: staff understanding of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. 3-learning culture: company learn form mistakes, staff are updated on safety issues by management. 4-flexible culture: organizational willingness to change.

Foster a just culture (Non punitive culture) where employees feel comfortable reporting safety concerns without fear of punitive action. - Provide feasible reporting model includes confidential reporting as an option to promote flexibility in reporting.

Aviation is on industry that creates no room for corrective maintenance, meaning we have to live and love a preventive system of maintenance, and this is why implementing just culture is key, and no one will create a culture that is unsafe for business. From (human - human) to (human - equipment)also to human-equipment-environment) relationship, they must be a standard operating procedure evaluted for optimum safety in place and should be incorporated into every activity in every airline.

Establish.a clearly, readable, accessible,practical and proactive SMS. Have all inclusive awareness campaign and ensure enforcement mechanism are well in place.also design reward policies and identity safety champions

This goes back to the whole title of this article. In today's world and aviation, the workforce is never under one roof all the time. With technology, you can make the world smaller and more inclusive by promoting, demonstrating and using your internal SMS program to its best potential. This starts simply by ensuring that proactive and reactive reporting is electronic, user-friendly and readily accessible to every employee. It also includes leveraging digital manuals and tablets for the crew as the one-stop shop for information, learning and reporting.

Enhancing airline safety management effectively involves comprehensive training and education for all staff, including pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, and maintenance personnel. Regular safety training sessions keep employees up-to-date on the latest procedures and regulations, equipping them to manage emergencies. Providing resources and workshops on safety management increases awareness and compliance with safety protocols. For instance, airlines often conduct hands-on training with emergency equipment and procedures, coupled with workshops on safety culture and aviation's human factors. Such initiatives ensure that every staff member understands and can access safety management, leading to safer, more secure airline operations.

- Develop comprehensive safety training programs for all personnel. - Utilize interactive and engaging training methods, including simulations and e-learning modules. - Conduct regular safety briefings for flight crews, ground staff, and maintenance personnel. - Use face-to-face and digital platforms for briefings to reach a broader audience.

Developing a recurrent training program is imperative to ensure that all staff and stakeholders attain a level of proficiency where the learned processes become second nature. By consistently conducting training sessions, individuals can practice and refine their skills to the point where executing tasks becomes almost automatic. This repetition fosters a deep understanding and mastery of the processes, enhancing overall efficiency and effectiveness within the organization.

Data is useless unless you actually use it and sadly this is where a lot of SMS programs and companies fall short. The numbers tell the story, read them. You do not have a fully realized SMS program if you have not built solid processes to monitor and evaluate. If you are racing to simply close open reports then your system will never work, and it will likely and loudly arrive in front of you when it is too late. Monitor for both hazards/risks AND success. The monitoring, evaluation and measurement are what will either prove your CAP successful or identify that it needs to be revised.

I want to add two points: Ensure the safety management system complies with aviation regulatory requirements by working closely with relevant aviation authorities to align safety practices with standards and guidelines. Foster a sense of community engagement by involving passengers and staff in safety initiatives. Conduct public awareness campaigns to educate the public about airline safety measures and emergency procedures.

A successful SMS program is a living, breathing and ever-evolving thing. It will not work as simply a policy on paper and another manual on the shelf. It also will not work if "copied and pasted" from another operator. It will be most effective when it is designed from scratch for the specific operator. The regulatory authority does not care that you have a fancy-looking rubric for risk analysis. They only care that your program is effective for your organization. This is why regulators typically call SMS inspections "program/process validation inspections". Keep this in mind when developing your program and go from phase to phase with the mindset of "living, breathing and evolving program".

Even though the implementation of an SMS within any air operator includes a safety policy addressed and endorsed top bottom by the accountable manager, this should not just be a desktop exercise to ensure compliance and convert it into a check box along the items list for implementation, but ensuring that finance, resources and a proactive approach must be in place with the aim of continuously improving in order to maintain an acceptable level of safety.