Fishbone diagrams are a lesser known but very effective risk management tool in aviation SMS programs. Fishbone diagrams get their name because of their fish like appearance, with several fins and a head. Each “fin” or “branch” of a fishbone diagram describes a different element of the safety issue, such as “Man” and “Machine.” The head describes the Top Event (also known as Risk Event, the point at which safety control is lost).
Topics: Risk Management Software
One of the most frustrating and perhaps frightening aspects of learning sophisticated, full-featured risk management solutions is the complexity and understanding the workflow. How does it work?
STOP! It doesn't make sense. Slow down and talk to me like I'm a fourth grader.
Alright, I'm here to help you understand some basics and hopefully make you a better consumer of aviation risk management software. And while you become a better consumer, I'm hoping you'll become a more effective safety manager.
Topics: Risk Management Software
Every aviation safety professional has heard of hazard reporting in regards to aviation safety management systems (SMS). The intent of hazard reporting goes beyond hazard identification in a true SMS program. Safety managers are constantly urging employees to report any:
Hazard reporting forms have evolved from paper-based to the almost ubiquitous online reporting form. From what I've seen, approximately 50% of online hazard reporting forms are directly tied to the aviation risk management database. This is a huge inefficiency, but we'll tackle this in another post.
I'm now assuming you know what a hazard reporting form is. Until recently, I assumed everyone intuitively understood what is an "offline hazard reporting form" and how it relates to their aviation SMS database.
I was wrong. Let's clarify this so you completely understand offline hazard reporting should the topic arise.
Topics: Risk Management Software
Having real time aviation safety charts saves aviation safety managers, executives, and employees a lot of log work on the aviation SMS software side of their SMS program.
Having access to real-time safety charts allows you monitor your SMS program at a glance, rather than having to navigate through your software or aviation safety database to find the information that you need. Over long periods, this saved time will add up.
Topics: Risk Management Software
New safety managers at airlines and airports have considerable work to perform, including:
Safety managers often become so engrossed in SMS activities that they overlook vendors, subcontractors and business partners. These associated organizations also fall under scrutiny when the SMS auditors come to assess regulatory and/or contractual compliance with SMS requirements.
This article discusses how to involve your vendors in your aviation SMS program and why you should be performing safety assessments on your vendors.
Topics: Risk Management Software
No aviation safety program is perfect.
Safety issues, corrective and preventive actions will inevitably “fall through the cracks” and become overdue while being managed. Problems arise when safety issues and other safety items fall critically behind. This exposes an organization to:
Topics: Risk Management Software
Task management in every aviation SMS program is extremely important.
Every employee needs to stay on top of corrective actions and preventive actions to ensure that nothing “falls through the cracks.”
When you are not actively monitoring items that are assigned to you, it’s all too easy to simply overlook them. To quote Orwell, “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”
Topics: Risk Management Software
Aviation related policies are the bureaucratic backbone of any aviation SMS program
Risk management policies will be the hub for both prescriptive documentation as well as documents specific to the aviation SMS program.
During safety audits, the adequacy and currency of your policies will be thoroughly analyzed. Policies and procedures will spell out all-important elements of high quality risk management and mature safety culture like:
Topics: Risk Management Software
The Overdue Issue and CPAs Chart is very useful in your organization, and if it is available I highly recommend aviation SMS management keeps it close at hand.
This chart measures two things:
Topics: Risk Management Software
Hazard reporting in aviation SMS programs is the backbone of any safety program’s performance.
Every aviation safety program depends upon hazard reports for settings goals, determining Key Performance Indicators, and implementing relevant risk controls.
Topics: Risk Management Software
These two on-demand videos offer:
