Review of Management and Oversight issues related to Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) Training

We “should” all agree that an effective aviation Safety Management System establishes clear safety roles and responsibilities throughout the organization.

Moreover it should also be understood that we must ensure that these safety roles and responsibilities are clearly documented, (Auditable) understood, (Measurable) and practiced throughout the organization (Visible and Evidence based).

Our goal should be for individuals to both understand their own responsibilities together with an appreciation of how their individual activities may impact the safety, performance and behaviour of our colleagues within the organization as a whole.
Each business area within the organization must assume both responsibility and accountability for safety of the key elements of personal safety and organisational safety and financial safety.

Best Practice Behaviour to support our SMS

All employees should have a clear understanding of their individual safety roles and responsibilities. (This information should also appear in each job description.)

Senior Managers should ensure that safety driven behaviours are embedded into our process and procedures and managed on a continuous basis.

Each business area manager or owner shall be considered accountable for safety, and for each requirement or obligation we should have a metric which can be used for verification or measurement of the associated requirement.

The success of the SMS depends on the recognition that managers and supervisors play a significant role in the ongoing development of safety performance by promoting safety behaviour and encouraging the identification of any hazards or exposures which may exist.

Our organisational goals should include an objective of introducing an integrated management system with clearly visible set of operating procedures and processes, in particular where these may impact activities which may be considered as safety critical.

Whilst all Stakeholders, Managers, Supervisors and Employees should be clearly knowledgeable regarding the various pressures which are present to achieve the required output. We must be able to identify address and balance these issues so ensure that any safety issues are identified, acknowledges and mitigated in the best way possible.

Leadership regarding safety matters is important to ensure effective communication regarding the need to ensure a consistent approach across the business. The ability to communicate effectively is an essential attribute of a successful Safety Management System. Communications should be clear and effective in their meaning and obligations. All Safety related documentation.

Sofema Aviation Services offers online and classroom based Safety Management System training courses for aviation organisations, airports and regulators. For more information please email us at office@sassofia.com or online@sassofia.com