Management of change in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is a complex undertaking because so often it involves performing in-depth risk analysis and risk assessments on current and hypothetical
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
Bowtie analysis in aviation safety management systems (SMS) databases is a fairly new tool that is catching on with great success in aviation risk management programs. There are not many SMS databases that have the bowtie, but if you want a great risk management tool seamlessly incorporated into your hazard and risk register, then getting an SMS database with the bowtie is a great choice.
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
Surprisingly, we receive questions about “airline SMS programs” and “airport SMS programs” all the time, as if they were two entirely different species of aviation SMS.
I get the feeling that the question of airport SMS vs airline SMS arises from misinterpreting what aviation safety management systems (SMS) are.
In three lines, aviation SMS implementations are:
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
Like the concept of safety culture, hazard identification in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is usually taken at face value: it’s just something that happens or doesn’t happen.
While the concept of hazard identification – literally just the awareness of hazards within a system – is very simple, understanding the process of hazard identification is significantly more complex and requires careful consideration.
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
I love the Bowtie.
It’s logical, lightweight, and delivers a ton of pertinent information that no other tools in your aviation risk management toolbox can deliver.
I've seen very few aviation service providers with fewer than 100 employees use the bowtie in their aviation safety management systems (SMS). This does not mean that smaller operators will not benefit from conducting a bowtie analysis.
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
The Bowtie in aviation risk management is a fairly new and trending, but extremely effective way of approaching risk and risk management in aviation safety management systems (SMS).
Long story short, the Bowtie was developed in order to gain a clearer, more comprehensive handle on every angle of risk in a situation, be it a hypothetical or real one.
In terms of risk management, the Bowtie has split into three areas:
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
Through the course of daily work in an aviation safety management system, you will discover safety issues – this is called “discovery.” When you make discoveries, such as through hazard reporting or SMS audits, you need to formally process them through your SMS Safety Assurance Process.
Knowing your aviation safety management system (SMS) is much like going on an extended backpacking trip.
To be safe, you need to be aware of:
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
Dedicated, hard-working safety managers drive the setup of airline and airports' aviation safety management systems (SMS).
These safety managers are often left to decipher ambiguous requirements that are open to multiple interpretations. This comes into play, especially when upper management wants to "pencil-whip" an aviation SMS and merely check the boxes.
Most safety managers are not content to merely "check the box."
Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy, 2-Safety Risk Management
Airport SMS programs and Airline SMS programs need to use a formal process for ranking various risks. Risk assessments satisfy this need and, based on your Acceptable Level of Safety policy, allow you to know which actions to take next on the issue you are assessing.
The risk assessment process in aviation SMS starts with discovery, which usually happens via:
Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management
These two on-demand videos offer:
