What Are the Implications of Introducing a Safety Management System within an EASA Part 145 Organisation?

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the changes which will be applicable following the introduction of EU regulation 2021/1963.

Introduction

According to EASA the main change introduced in the regulation is the required implementation of a Safety Management System for maintenance organisations will require the following:

» To implement hazard identification, risk management, and safety assurance processes.
» The designation of a safety manager.

To support the safety management system processes, several organisation requirements have been changed including:

» The safety policy,
» Internal occurrence reporting,
» Competence of staff,
» Compliance monitoring (replacing quality assurance).

Safety risk and compliance monitoring management are considered part of the organisation’s overall management system.

» To verify that the maintenance organisations have a management system, the regulation also introduces requirements for the competent authority.

o This should enable the CA to verify and continuously monitor the effectiveness of the organisations’ management system and associated safety performance management.

Note: It is considered that SMS is a concept that may need to mature over multiple years.

Therefore, it is not anticipated that organisations will have a fully operational and effective SMS in the first oversight cycle or at the end of the transition period.

However, the minimum level to retain the Part-145 certificate is that the organisation can show that the system and procedures are ‘present’ and ‘suitable’.

What will the CA expect to see as Part of an Effective SMS?

Reference the following Sofema Document - EASA Compliant Safety Management System Oversight Preparation Checklist.

Specific Training Requirements - EASA Safety Training Considerations?

Consider the following related to the provision of a Safety Management System Training

» Safety training refers to dedicated training to support safety management policies and processes, including human factors training. (Note: the main purpose of the safety training programme is to ensure that personnel at all levels of the organisation maintain their competency to fulfill their safety roles.
» Safety training should, in particular, consider the safety knowledge derived from hazard identification and risk management processes, and support the fostering of a positive safety culture. (Note: safety management training means specific training for the staff involved in safety management functions in accordance with point 145.A.30(ca) or 145.A.200(a)(3).)
» AMC2 145.A.30(e) Personnel requirements. Considering AMC1 145.A.30(c);(ca) Personnel requirements. Considering changes to the Human Factors Training which will now be called Initial Human Factors Safety Training.