How to Design a Safety Management System at an Aviation-Related Company
A safety management system's (SMS) goal is to promote a culture of safety within an aviation company. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes that top management can implement policies to create a business system that emphasizes safety. SMS design requires risk evaluation and management. The SMS program is still voluntary; however, it may become required in the future for companies involved in aviation.
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Things You'll Need
- FAA SMS framework guide from the FAA (available at faa.gov)
- Flight data
- Incident data
- Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Handbook
Instructions
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SMS Design and Process
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Describe the safety management system: Gather the documentation and information necessary to be able to evaluate the system. Only a basic-level description is needed, since the following steps will gather more pertinent information.
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Identify hazards. The FAA identifies a hazard as "an event, condition or circumstance which can lead to an unacceptable loss." Use flight and incident data and input from employees to do this.
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Analyze the safety risk. Include triggering mechanisms, likelihood of occurrence and severity of consequences when evaluating the safety risk.
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Assess the safety risk. Each risk identified must be evaluated for acceptability based on the analysis and ability of management to control the risk.
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Control the safety risk. Establish a plan with clear descriptions of the risk, requirements to mitigate and actions that can be readily applied to the working environment. Be sure the controls are documented.
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Monitor the risk continuously through operational logs such as progress sheets and flight records. Audit internal and external processes for conformity to safety risk controls. Investigate accidents and incidents for violation of controls.
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Analyze the data using the information acquired to find potential ways to improve risk controls. Evaluate the process for effectiveness.
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Assess your safely management system by searching for potential new hazards or ineffective controls.
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Take preventive or corrective action to change operational processes deemed ineffective by investigations or assessments. If necessary, return to the "Identify Hazards" stage of SMS planning. Also outline lessons learned from accidents and implement preventive measures in a timely manner.
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Implement safety assurance procedures. The resulting safety culture and continuous safety training will ensure safety for aviation-related companies and compliance with all FARs.
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Tips & Warnings
Reference the FAA website frequently as you develop or modify your company's SMS program; FAA requirement changes do occur.
Check FARs to ensure that all new operational processes conform to current regulations.
