Effort Needed Employee Participation in Aviation Safety Programs

The more people involved in the aviation field take advantage of these aviation safety programs, the safer the industry is likely to be.

Encouraging participation in these programs can be as simple as word of mouth referrals or posting program information on bulletin boards at the local fixed base operator (FBO).

However, safety promotion efforts alone are seldom enough to motivate employees to actively involve themselves in a safety program.

Safety programs are an integral part of the system that makes the modern aviation world safe.

Safety Promotion Activities Needed to Attract Attention

Incentivizing the participation in safety programs may be necessary to gain the attention of larger numbers of aviation professionals.

Highlighting incidents in the workplace, and requiring all parties involved in an incident to attend a safety program would also increase the participation level of workers in such programs, while also showcasing the issues that led to each individual incident.

Continually spreading awareness that these programs exist, and are plentiful in number is necessary to ensure enough employees take part in these programs to help change the safety culture for the better.

Communication with upper management, and central structure of aviation operators, as well as the clubs and groups that connect much of the civilian sphere of aviation is key to the success of programs that promote aviation safety.

In order to reach the maximum amount of people possible, it is necessary to communicate through these entities in order to let the programs filter down through the employees, and club members.

Examples of these entities to support safety promotion activities include:

• The major, and regional airlines;
• Clubs such as the AOPA, and
• The civil air patrol.

Related Aviation Safety Promotion Articles

• Why Employees Don't Care about Your Aviation SMS
• How to Engage Difficult Employees in Aviation SMS
• Why Safety Promotion Component Is the Overlooked Pillar in Aviation SMS

Unions Also Play Their Part in Aviation SMS Programs

Another set of entities that might also garner support for aviation safety programs would be the workers unions of each respective group of aviation professionals. It is often in the union’s best interest for their workers to be as safe in the workplace as possible, and therefore union leaders might also be interested in promoting aviation safety programs. Examples of these might include:

• The airline pilots association, and
• The aircraft mechanics fraternal association.

With the support of these groups, safety program participation would most likely improve.

For years, the federal government has continually watched and regulated american civil aviation through governmental departments such as the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation and Safety Board, and under the government’s watch, the field has made great strides in safety improvements.

Government May Play Stronger Role in Promoting Safety

The FAA has very stringent regulations as far as safety is concerned, and lobbying for them to make participation in an approved aviation safety program would be a guaranteed way of ensuring participation in such a program.

Everyone in the aviation field has to abide by the Federal Aviation Requirements, and if a program were to be required by the FAR’s then everyone in the field would be required to take part in that program. It is a foolproof way of making the civil aviation world a much safer place.

The next step in a long line of aviation improvements in safety will be the implementation of these aviation safety programs in all of civil aviation.

The one cause that workers, companies, clubs,and unions should all have in common is that of safety. It benefits all of us to be safe when flying, and when working with aircraft, and a safer industry increases the confidence of the traveling public.

Aviation safety programs are the future of safe transportation system, and I think it will become clear as they are implemented that they make flying significantly safer for all of us.

Related Safety Performance Monitoring Article

• 4 Tips to Monitor Employee Safety Performance in Aviation SMS Programs
• 4 Pillars | How to Conduct Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement
• 5 Useful Safety Performance Monitoring Tools in Aviation SMS

Modern aviation safety databases can monitor employee safety program participation. In short, you can monitor employee safety performance. In many organizations, employees will not participate unless they feel there is some "pay value" for them.

Here is a quick video how managers can easily monitor employee safety performance.