SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

How to Develop Healthy Safety Reporting Cultures in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 9, 2020 6:00:00 AM

Making It Personal

Every continuously-improving safety program will fail when employees are not involved in identifying and reporting safety hazards. Getting workers to participate in their aviation safety management system (SMS) is all about making the SMS personal. People care more about things that directly involve and matter to them.

An aviation safety manager functions as the primary bridge between an SMS implementation and the employees – he/she IS the force of “personal.”

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

Why Safety Promotion Requires More Focus in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Sep 14, 2020 6:15:00 AM

Adequate Safety Promotion Is Scarce in Most Aviation SMS

Like safety training, safety promotion in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is wrought with rigid material that screams in so many ways, “tune me out!”

Much of the safety promotion information doled out at workplaces looks more like an IKEA how-to manual than serving as a tool to make employees cheer for, and feel as if they are true contributors to their aviation SMS.

Safety promotion is among the most important elements in every aviation SMS implementation.

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

Winter Fatigue Hazard Register Review - Aviation SMS SRM & SA Example

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jan 15, 2020 5:45:00 AM

Winter Is Coming - Move Fatigue Upward in Hazard Register

The Northern Hemisphere is blanketed in winter, which involves, cold, ice, many long nights and grey days.

For human fatigue that means two things:

  • More melatonin production
  • Seasonal depression

Winter fatigue is a real, medically proven problem that affects many people.

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion, 2-Safety Risk Management

FAA Part 5 Compliance: Safety Promotion (the "Overlooked Pillar")

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jan 1, 2020 5:48:00 AM

Safety Promotion as an Aviation SMS Pillar

Since November 2006, ICAO mandated that aviation service providers implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS). The objective of the aviation SMS is to:

  • Proactively manage safety,
  • Identify potential hazards,
  • Determine operational risk, and
  • Implement risk control measures;
  • Continuously monitor system for hazards; and
  • Demonstrate continuous improvement of the SMS.
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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion, FAA Compliance

Aviation SMS Data Protection: What Should Employees See?

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 27, 2019 6:05:00 AM

What Is Safety Transparency in Safety Management Systems

Safety transparency is a big deal in aviation safety management systems (SMS). On one hand, employees need protections from managerial reprisals and negative peer pressure when self reporting errors and mistakes. On the other hand, employees are genuinely interested in learning what dangers lurk in the workplace and how to avoid these dangers.

How much safety information should be shared?

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

What Is Safety Culture in Aviation Risk Management

Posted by Christopher Howell on Nov 26, 2019 6:01:00 AM

Definition of Safety Culture in Aviation Risk Management

Safety culture in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is usually defined as being the safety attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and values of employees in an organization. Unfortunately, such a high-level, conceptual definition of safety culture does not help safety manager address core personnel challenges in your organization's SMS.

In much of the SMS guidance material pushed out by regulatory agencies and standards-setting bodies, such as ICAO's document 9859 Safety Management Manual,

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion, Safety Culture

4 Pillars | 10 Things You Need to Know about Aviation Safety Training

Posted by Christopher Howell on Nov 13, 2019 6:01:00 AM

What Is Safety Training and Education?

Aviation safety training and education is an essential building block for safety culture. Safety culture is understandably important for aviation service providers that are investing in aviation safety management systems (SMS). Without a healthy safety culture, the SMS will never deliver the expected results and moneys will be wasted.

Accountable executives and safety teams must consider whether poor performance of their aviation SMS is a result of lack of training, or a deeper, more sinister safety culture issue.

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

Why Safety Promotion Component Is the Overlooked Pillar in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 4, 2019 5:03:00 AM

What Is Safety Promotion Component of 4 Pillars?

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) have been required by most aviation service providers since the November 2006 ICAO mandate. To add structure to SMS implementations and to educate safety professionals, ICAO provides SMS implementation guidance in the form of a Safety Management Manual (SMM), now in the fourth edition.

In the SMM, aviation SMS implementation requirements are logically grouped under four components (also known as four pillars):

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

How to Use Safety Surveys to Improve Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Oct 9, 2019 2:12:00 PM

Safety Survey Benefits Run Deep

Surveys seem a bit old-fashioned. That’s probably because they are.

Surveys have been around and popular for years. There are many uses for safety surveys besides getting the opinions of the workforce. Surveys are also useful for

  • Promoting the aviation safety management system (SMS);
  • Teaching employees about processes or procedures;
  • Confirming management's suspicions about employee behaviors.
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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

How to Engage Difficult Employees in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Sep 23, 2019 6:00:00 AM

Reporting Safety Hazards Is Not Enough?

For most aviation service providers, the simple act of getting employees to report potential safety hazards is a constant challenge.

Expectations of the majority of employees are:

  • Showing up to work (on-time in some cultures);
  • Collecting the paycheck (on-time is preferable); and
  • Expecting employers to provide a safe workplace.
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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

Site content provided by Northwest Data Solutions is meant for informational purposes only. Opinions presented here are not provided by any civil aviation authority or standards body.

 

 

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