Core Elements of Aerodrome SMS - Safety Policy, Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the key elements found within the Aerodrome Safety Management System

Introduction 

In terms of compliance with the core elements of a Safety Management System (SMS, Risk management within the Aerodrome SMS is a structured and continuous process designed to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor safety risks.

• By systematically managing risks, aerodromes ensure that safety is maintained at a high level, that operations remain resilient to changes and that potential hazards are controlled before they escalate into incidents or accidents.

 >> It is essential to ensure a dynamic approach to risk management, constantly reviewing and adjusting processes as new hazards are identified or as the operational environment evolves

>> Safety training programs for all levels of staff, including operational, managerial, and senior personnel. These programs should be proportional to their responsibilities

Safety Policy

A robust Safety Policy is a foundational element of an SMS. The safety policy must be endorsed by senior management and communicated throughout the organization.

Key components include:

• Commitment to achieving the highest safety standards and continuous improvement.

• Compliance with legal requirements and best practices.

• Enforcement of safety as a priority across all levels of management and personnel.

• Integration of a Just Culture, encouraging effective safety reporting without fear of blame.

>> The policy must be endorsed by the accountable manager, identifying safety as the highest organizational priority, above commercial and operational pressures

>> The policy should reflect the commitment to continuous improvement, legal compliance, and best practices in safety standards. It must enforce safety as the primary responsibility of all managers and personnel

Risk Management

Risk management is structured around hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation. The document outlines a process for Hazard Identification that includes reactive, proactive, and predictive methods.

>> Hazard identification should be a formal process utilizing reactive, proactive, and predictive methods to gather and analyze safety data

>> It is essential to have a safety risk management process that includes analysis, assessment, and mitigation of safety risks in operations. This should be a continuous process, with regular updates to hazard identification methods

This process ensures that safety risks are:

• Identified through both operational reporting and regular reviews.

• Assessed using a formal process that considers both the likelihood of occurrence and the severity of potential hazards.

• Mitigated through control measures designed to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Safety Assurance

Safety assurance ensures that safety risks are being effectively managed. The document details a process of Safety Performance Monitoring that includes:

• Setting safety performance indicators (SPIs) and targets.

• Conducting regular safety audits, reviews, and investigations.

• Ensuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls through continuous monitoring.

Continuous improvement of the SMS is highlighted as essential, achieved through internal and external evaluations, audits, and the feedback loop from safety data.

• Safety performance monitoring through indicators and targets, with regular reviews and evaluations to measure the effectiveness of the safety controls

Safety Promotion

Address a structured communication and training strategy. The document requires:

• A comprehensive safety management system (SMS) training program for all levels of personnel, including management, to ensure they understand their roles in the SMS.

• A robust safety communication framework that ensures personnel are kept informed of safety-critical information, new procedures, and lessons learned from incidents.

>> This approach should ensure all personnel are aware of their safety responsibilities and promote a culture of safety throughout the organization.

Safety Communication

• Must flow effectively within the organization, including sharing safety-critical information and lessons learned from safety events, with mechanisms like safety bulletins, newsletters, and internal meetings.

Next Steps

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