An effective Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) provides the industry with a key driver to manage the various organisational elements, which when managed effectively can support the prevention of incidents and accidents.

The crux of implementing an effective safety management system (SMS) is not just in defining it, but also in effectively implementing it. This really is the major challenge – ask yourself how your organisation measures the effectiveness of your SMS.

The Accountable Manager (AM) of the organization is ultimately responsible and accountable for Safety. The AM MUST understand the risk of not having an effective SMS in place for his organization. The key to a job well done is to see the SMS not merely as a compliance-driven requirement but as an opportunity to drive improvement both in terms of Safety and also in terms of organisational effectiveness which can save significant expenditure in the long run.

Driven by ICAO, SMS implementation provides an approach that encourages proactive behavior to identify potential precursors - this can support the development of barriers to inhibit potential exposures. A correctly managed SMS can create safety awareness among all stakeholders of our aviation system, which should translate into improved safety and efficiency.

 

Major challenges in various jurisdictions include the following:

a) Liability in law related to the “knowns” within the SMS acceptance of the term As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP);

b) The skill set of the Safety Manager is of critical importance. Note that an effective SM is not a figurehead – his job requires the ability to be able to manage SMS Data Champion Safety Studies throughout the business and to lead the process for hazard analysis and mitigation proposal;

c) Driving an effective data collection process throughout the business – it is essential to gather not just known data, but also to encourage the reporting of new data which is provided voluntarily;

d) Developing a working Hazard Identification – Risk Assessment – Mitigation Recommendation – Performance Assessment follow-up process is very necessary;

e) Developing best practice SMS Culture behavior which creates awareness regarding safety compliance and potential exposure;

f) Developing an in-company database which contains information regarding exposure and recommended mitigation – the Risk Register should be included in this process;

g) Managing the SMS implementation programme most strongly and effectively. Ensuring that a Just Culture and a non-punitive, fully transparent hazard reporting & occurrence Organisational System is established;

h) A safety awareness program must be implemented with a specific focus on SMS and its components. Training should be available to all persons related to their roles and responsibilities. Training has to be managed at an individual level and made recurrent.

 

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