The Meaning of Safety Management System (SMS).

The Meaning of Safety Management System (SMS)

 

The contents of this post present a unique blend of research material. I would like to share this interesting concept to understand well The Meaning of Safety Management System (SMS). So, my only purpose is to provide pilots and aviation professionals, regardless of experience levels, the clear and realistic lessons that we can learn from accidents, in turn, I know all the readers will learn ways to customize those lessons into practical techniques suitable for any flight environment, the content and organization of the Aviation Safety was inspired by the "Pillars" of the Safety Management Systems (SMS).

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through its member states has adopted ANNEX 6 which requires each member state to require the implementation of SMS by its Aviation Service providers. So, very simple, this means all states will establish a Safety Program, in order to accomplish an acceptable level of Safety in the operation of aircraft.

States shall require as part of their Safety Program, that an operator implements a Safety Managements System acceptable to the State of the Operator that, as a minimum:

1.       Identify Safety Hazards.

2.       Ensures that remedial action necessary to maintain an acceptable level of Safety is implemented.

3.       Provides for continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the Safety Level achieved.

4.       Objective to make continuous improvement to the overall level of Safety.

 To successfully achieve a Zero – Accident rate is definitely a high-minded Goal.

 A Safety Management System will clearly define of Safety accountability throughout the Operators Organization, including a direct accountability for Safety on the part of Senior Management.   

For the first time in Aviation History, Aviation managerial accountability has reached, also if your organization implements an adequate SMS fully implemented, your organization will reduced the risk hazards to stay away from incidents and accidents.

SMS can be utilized as a means of providing a formal process and structure to control the risk associated with the vast display of aviation assignments, so it is the goal of SMS to create a positive Safety Culture where contributors continually challenge the processes, the culture and the systems to identify weaknesses and where improvements can be made.

Let’s review the four pillars of Safety Management Systems:

 

Ø  Safety Policy. Clearly defined policies, procedures, and organizational structure.

Ø  Safety Risk Management. Formal System of hazard identification, risk assessment, resource allocation, and System monitoring.

Ø  Safety Assurance .Continuous quality improvement of processes and products.

Ø  Safety Promotion.   Continuous communication of Safety Values and practices that support a sound Safety Culture.

 

 

 

                                                            Systematic Safety Framework

 

 

What is a Safety Management System (SMS)?

SMS is the formal, top-down business approach to managing safety risk, which includes a systemic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures. (Order VS 8000.367)

Source: FAA web site. https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms/

My best advice to all folks working in Aviation, keep SMS implementation as a simple as you can, start simple and small with manageable implementation phases one at a time, so, that is the one important message, I want to share today in this interesting post to make your tools work for you, and remember to assign responsibility and authority to individuals tasked with the accomplishment of Safety Action, provide clear instructions to members of the organization, establish interfaces between individuals and organizations to facilitate Safety Action, establish measurements of processes and products of the system, establish organizational controls to ensure system output accomplishes the intended objective.

Through the use of Safety Management Systems (SMS), Business Aircraft Operators can proactively identify and manage risks. Never is late if you don’t have yet implementing your SMS in to your organization, implementation of Safety Management Systems is the Key. Safety is First!!