SMS – The Safety Framework, Not the Fail-Safe
Safety Management has been an integral part of aviation for many years. Essentially, SMS provides a structured framework for identifying, assessing, and mitigating safety risks in order to ensure a high level of safety throughout the organisation. That being said, SMS is not completely fail-safe.
There is no system in the world which can guarantee absolute safety and eradicate the risk and occurrence of human error. Safety Management Systems are no exception. However, SMS constitutes the necessary framework for ensuring safe operations. In other words, SMS provides the structure, tools, and processes needed to manage safety.
Systematically and effectively.
Essentially, SMS enables organisations to identify, assess, and management risks and hazards by enforcing a clear structure and process for ensuring safety.
A Safety-Centred Culture
Aside from providing the framework for reducing risk and enhancing safety, a successful SMS reflects a strong safety culture which focuses on:
- Continuous improvements of processes and regular reviews of safety policies.
- Easy, transparent, and just reporting of near-misses, hazards, and other safety concerns.
- Analysis, assessment, and mitigation of risk which can positively influence standard operating procedures and best practices.
- Regular safety audits and monitoring of safety performance to ensure that the defined safety procedures and Safety Performance Indicators are used as intended.
Read more: How to Promote a Just Safety Culture
Safety Must Permeate the Entire Organisation
In order for organisations to work effectively with SMS as a safety framework, management must – in collaboration with the employees – integrate SMS into every aspect of the operation.
Here are some key steps to using SMS as the organisational safety framework:
- As a leader, you must reflect a strong commitment to SMS. This includes actively promoting safety as a core value, allocating resources for SMS, and ensuring a just safety culture.
- Exert clear communication and provide regular, comprehensive SMS training for the entire organisation. This ensures that the employees understand the defined safety protocols, can use the chosen reporting tool without fear of reprimand, and want to act as ambassadors of safety.
- Make sure to continuously monitor safety performances through regular audits, safety review boards, and employee feedback.
- Include the entire organisation in your SMS, from operations and maintenance to administrative personnel. Safety is not isolated to one department but must reflect an organisational responsibility and mindset.
When SMS becomes a shared framework for working effectively with safety, your organisation has a better chance of creating a safer and more resilient environment in which safety guides your way of work.
SMS is not a fail-safe. It only works if you put in the effort and acknowledge that safety is never absolute. But with a functioning SMS, your organisation will have a clear and accurate picture of the threats and hazards. This enables you to make the right decisions to accept or mitigate the risk to an acceptable level.
Employee Inputs Are Crucial to a Functioning SMS
How does your organisation identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks? Our guess is that you encourage your employees to report any safety-related issues or hazards. If that is the case, you have grasped the concept of SMS.
Is Your SMS Reactive, Proactive, or Predictive?
Safety Management Systems are here to stay. Essentially, SMS is crucial to our industry because it ensures the highest level of safety in a profession where failure can turn fatal. But why do we distinguish between three different approaches to SMS?
How to Promote a Just Safety Culture
A just safety culture is crucial to a functioning Safety Management System. But how can you ensure and promote a just culture throughout your organisation?
Safety Management: Examining the Four Pillars of SMS
A just safety culture is crucial to a functioning Safety Management System. But how can you ensure and promote a just culture throughout your organisation?
How to Overcome the Obstacles that Prevent Successful SMS Implementation
How can EASA Part-145 maintenance organisations who are in despair and desperate to implement SMS as easily as possible overcome the challenges before deadline?
Safety Management: Make It Simple and Easy to Speak Up
In aviation, SMS is a requirement to be reckoned with. But its success is contingent upon employee inputs, valuable feedback, and the safety culture. The question is how your organisation can encourage employees to speak up about safety?