Safety Assurance

A functional Safety Management System (SMS) must include Safety Assurance activities. These activities include; 1) Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement; 2) The Management of Change, and; 3) Continuous Improvement of The SMS. I’ll briefly discuss each.

Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement

The key component of SPMM is Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs). SPIs provide crucial information for monitoring the safety processes within your organization. SPIs are flexible and can be developed for any type of safety process that is relevant and applicable to your organization. There are no specific number of SPIs that must be developed and monitored. It all depends on what’s important (critical, or of specific interest) for your operation. However, having too few, or too many, SPIs can lead to problems.

SPIs are categorized into either Lagging or Leading indicators. Lagging indicators are used for events that have already happened (reactive). Leading indicators are used for events that may happen sometime in the future (proactive/predictive). You will be using both Lagging and Leading indicators.

SPIs are also categorized as either Quantitative or Qualitative. Your SPIs will consist of a combination of both. Most indicators are Quantitative, which makes it easier for comparisons and detecting trends, as well as being objective. Qualitative indicators, on the other hand, are useful for measuring attitudes, beliefs, and opinions. Methods include interviews, observations, focus groups, and survey narratives. However, Qualitative indicators are subjective, so use caution when drawing conclusions!

The Management of Change

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Annex 19, Appendix 2, Section 3.2 (The Management of Change):

The service provider shall develop and maintain a process to identify changes which may affect the level of safety risk associated with its aviation products or services, and to identify and manage the safety risks that may arise from those changes.

These changes can range from relatively minor—such as new/revised documentation—to much larger and more complex changes such as expansion/contraction, a new fleet, or new routes. MOC is a formal process to help organizations manage operational risks, which is particularly important in high-risk industries, such as aviation. Changes—both positive and negative—can, and will, introduce new hazards and safety risks. These risks, if not mitigated, can lead to significant material and/or human losses.

An MOC case works basically the same way as the normal, everyday safety risk management process that you currently have in place; a process used to identify hazards and mitigate risks. The main difference is that an MOC case will generally be of a much larger magnitude, typically requiring more involvement with management and stakeholders, as well as human and financial resources. It may also require a significant amount of time for completion.

Failing to conduct an MOC case, when one should be conducted, commonly occurs. The reasons for this can range from not fully understanding the need for an MOC case, to simply not wanting to conduct one. The latter can be associated with the organization’s safety culture (or lack of).

Significant changes in the organization and/or operation will drive the need for a formal MOC case.

Continuous Improvement of The SMS

Your SMS is not a static program. You can’t just implement it and forget about it! That being said, there will always be opportunities for improvement, especially when below standard performance has been identified through your safety performance monitoring processes. Continuous improvement can be achieved by using a variety of activities. Some of these activities are proactive while others are reactive.

Proactive activities include the evaluation of your facility, equipment, documentation, and procedures by the use of audits and surveys. You will also evaluate employee performance to verify the fulfillment of their safety responsibilities.

Reactive activities include verification of the effectiveness of controls and mitigation of risks based on events that have already happened. This includes corrective/preventive actions to reduce the likelihood of the same events (i.e., accidents and incidents) from happening again at a future time.

Registration is now open for our SMS Overview virtual course on July 15! Click here for details.

Dr. Bob Baron conducts aviation safety training, consulting, and program implementation for aviation operators on a global basis. Sensitive and knowledgeable about various cultures, Dr. Baron uses his 36+ years of academic and practical experience to assist aviation organizations in their pursuit of safety and quality excellence. He has extensive experience working with developing nations and island countries. He also provides training and consulting to some of the largest airlines and aircraft manufacturers in the world, as well as civil aviation authorities and accident investigation bureaus.

Dr. Baron is also available as a paid speaker at your company's safety events or conferences. Not just limited to aviation, Dr. Baron can also present to any high-risk industry that has a genuine interest in improving its safety culture and/or safety management processes. To request a speaking engagement, you can contact Dr. Baron by clicking here.

Dr. Baron’s company, The Aviation Consulting Group LLC, provides numerous training, consulting, and auditing services. For more information, click here.