Safety Management Plan Implementation - Essay Example

Safety Management Plan Implementation Introduction A Safety management system is a methodical approach for managing safety and security. It includes all the necessary accountabilities, organizational structures, policies as well as procedures. According to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements, the providers of such services are liable to provide a safety management system (Iata, n.d.). However it needs to be accepted in general. The service providers include authentic training organizations which are uncovered of safety risks throughout the stipulation of their services, aircraft providers, organizations liable for designing and manufacturing the aircrafts, approved maintenance organizations, and air traffic service providers. Apart from the aforementioned authorities certified aerodromes are also included (Fhwa, n.d.). Therefore the service providers should execute and implement a Safety Management System which is acknowledged by their respective state. The functions are as follows:- The main function is to identify the safety hazards related to it. It should ensure that corrective actions necessary to sustain a satisfactory level of safety must be implemented. This is also liable to provides continuous monitoring as well as regular appraisal of the safety level that has been achieved. It should also aim to make constant improvement to the overall level of safety and security. It should also promote an improved safety and security culture all through the organization. Realizing a return on Safety Management System investment through enhanced competence and abridged operational risk. Apart from the requirements of ICAO Safety Management Systems has been also incorporated into IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Implementation Plan It is an important factor to realize that the mentioned plan must only be used as a general guiding reference only. Therefore it can be customized according to the need. Etihad, the national airlines of United Arab Emirates will be chosen as the company where the Safety Management System action plan will be established. Now in the context of the company, a safety management system will be implemented in its overall infrastructure. This will ensure more safety and securities to the passengers availing Etihad airways (Etihad Airways, n.d.). The company is also focused in providing the best Arabic hospitality to the clients (Etihad Airways, n.d.). Safety Management Implementation plan of Etihad Airways Etihad Airways has developed its own Safety Management System in context with the United Arab Emirates’ Civil Aviation Law, recommendation of ICAO, CAR Part X, GCAA CAR-OPS 1.037, Federal and Emirate statutory requirements for health and safety and also from the suggestions by Abu Dhabi Health and Safety Regulatory Framework (ADEHSRF). Most of the elements required for formulating a Safety management system have been ascertained. Moreover it has been also linked with the supervision and control of the operations of the company. In Etihad Airways the establishment of SMS also took place to counter the existing dictatorial requirement and to establish according to the new requirements of the regulatory board. The safety management service of Etihad airways covers the following aspect:- Safety of the airport Industrial safety The safety of the aircraft and also its operation. The newly established SMS of the company provides the methods to identify the perils and also offers ways to control and reduce it to an acceptable range. This will also help to determine whether the risk control tools are efficient or not. Furthermore the SMS sets the desired goals and performance levels for safety. It also seeks to develop safety culture within the organization, training and promotion system. Now the steps or the building blocks to implement SMS are suggested below. The implementation plan can be divided into 4 phases and each phase can be subdivided in few stages. The stages are elaborated below:- PHASE I Stage 1: Safety Planning and Objectives This stage is the outline of how SMS will be implemented. It also describes how the requirements will be met and that are incorporated into the work activities of the organization. Hence in order to achieve the requirements, following actions must be carried out. Identification of the safety objectives in the context of the organization. A safety policy that should state: To accomplish highest safety standard. Observation of the necessary legal obligation in order to maintain international standards. Ensuring safety must be the most important duties of the managers. To confirm that the policy is well understood and properly implemented. Allocation of time for each activity. This will be also demonstrated by a Gantt chart in the appendix. It is also important to portray a level of expectation from the SMS and the contractors indulges in the development must work accordingly. In this effective communication also needs to be carried out. It can be done through the use of websites, bulletins, and newsletters (Faa, 2010). Stage 2: Elaboration of System requirements In this step the company needs to establish an outline for system requirements. This stage must also describe the interaction among its various mechanisms. Therefore the type of requirements required for implementing the safety standards are mentioned below. a) The human power required and also the expected level of performance from them. b) Hardware requirement of the system. c) Software requirement of the system. d) Operational environment. e) It should also specify the interaction between air transport systems with the other system. Stage 3: Gap Analysis This step is to analyze the actual performance of the company to that of the potential performance. If the company do not makes use of its potential resources, the outcome can be below the level of expectation. Hence a gap analysis is essential for measuring. Gap analysis is thus defined as a tool for determining the gaps between the expected result ad the actual scenario (Cambridge Dictionaries Online, n.d.). It can be also referred to as the gap between the current state and desired state of future (Utdanacente, 2004). Gap analysis model will also help the company to implement the safety management standards in the context of the intended safety and standards (Slv, n.d.). Organizations mainly use it to certain segments of the company. Gap analysis mainly deals with two issues i.e. where the project is currently standing and where does it want to go. Figure 1 (Source: Care academy, n.d.) Gap analysis about the present level and desired level of safety: In this context the Gap analysis will be based on desired level of safety to the present state of safety. The company intends to develop a certain level of safety management to ensure security of the passengers. Stage 4: Establishment of the SMS organizational structure This section will highlight the responsibilities of the important personnel of the SMS project. Therefore the functions of the key personnel and upper management are described below:- Function of upper management:- To direct the senior managers about the implementation of SMS Providing assistance to the line managers. Maintenance of the hazard identification system. Function of the safety managers are as follows:- Responsible for development and maintenance of the safety management system. They are also responsible for getting approval of the implementation plan and also to provide the initial training. This is done by adopting the following:- Outline of the initial Safety Management Plan. Identification of the cost to be incurred for the process of planning and implementation. Formulation of the entire budget for implementing the SMS plan. Getting approval of the initial budget. Finally the plan needs to be approved by the higher authorities for proceeding to the next stage. Stage 5: Internal and external coordination plan: The fifth stage is about internal and external coordination. Internal coordination Establishment of the emergency planning team. Appointment of emergency planning coordinator. External coordination Establishment of investigation and rescue forces. Creation of emergency action plans which needs to taken during urgent situation. Timescale for Phase 1 The time scale for phase I is divided into 6 months. Therefore the deliverables within this period are underlined below:- The safety objective is to be approved by the higher authorities. Signing of the safety policy by the higher authorities or the accountable executive. Distribution of safety policy throughout the organization. Approval of the initial implementation plan and initial training. Establishment of the courses of action during the time of Emergency. PHASE II The second phase is about the risk associated with the implementation of the plan. This is also known as the risk management phase. This step is reactive in nature. In this phase, activities such as recording of the feedbacks about the impacts of hazards and risks from the gap analysis will be carried out. The functions to be carried out are as follows:- 1) Determination of the tools that will be used for recording the reactive information. 2) Determination of the system that will be used throughout the organization for the purpose of reporting. However in this context the reporting systems which will be used are confidential reporting system, mandatory reporting system and voluntary reporting system. 3) Determination of the matrix to be used. In this context the matrix should be made customized. The risk matrix must be according to the requirement in order to suit the complexity of the organization. 4) Determination of the risk management levels. The risk management levels in this context are gauged as tolerable, acceptable and intolerable. 5) Building of safety library. 6) Training of the trainers, front line personnel’s and managers. Timeline for PHASE II The time line is for 3 months. However it will also depend upon the complexity of the organization. The deliverables are:- 1. Establishment of safety reporting system and risk assessment. 2. Training of the personnel’s. PHASE III This step is also about safety risk management, but the process is proactive and predictive. The activities of this step are as follows:- 1. Determination of the interference tools that is to be used for the purpose of collecting predictive and proactive data. This includes confidential reporting, normal reporting etc. 2. Updating of hardware, software and guidelines to support the requirement of predictive intervention tools. 3. Improvement of safety performance level indicator. 4. A brief monitoring of the front line personnel’s. Timeline for PHASE III The 3rd phase will continue for 3 months but it will also depend upon the infrastructure and resources of the organization. Hence the deliverables are as follow:- Safety reporting structure for predictive and proactive process. Approval of the target by the higher authorities. PHASE IV The fourth phase is about safety promotion and to provide operational safety. The functions of this phase are as follows:- 1) Establishment of the safety requirements. 2) Measurement and monitoring of the safety levels by using safety reporting, surveys, audit, internal safety investigations accordingly. 3) Continuous improvement of the Safety management system. 4) Safety promotion by effective methods by the following ways. Communication to the employees about the changes in the organization. Influencing employees to participate in the process of hazard identification. Revision of safety and reporting policy. Timeline for PHASE IV This process will also continue for 3 months. However it is assumed that the intended tasks can be carried out with ease. Hence the deliverables are as follows:- Acknowledged safety standards are submitted to ICAO. Revised standards of the safety standards are also approved. Conclusion Safety management system is often referred to as a ‘comprehensive business management system’. It is responsible for overseeing the elements related to safety within the organization. The report was about the implementation of safety management system (SMS) in an airlines company. Therefore in this context Etihad airway, national airlines of United Arab Emirates were chosen as the organization where the Safety Management System will be established. Etihad Airways has earlier developed its own Safety Management System in context with the United Arab Emirates’ Civil Aviation Law, recommendation of ICAO, CAR Part X, and GCAA CAR-OPS 1.037. However the plan was to implement safety management in the overall infrastructure of the company, so as to ensure enhanced security. The safety management system implementation plan was divided into 4 phases and every phase had a specific timeline in order to accomplish the task with the stipulated time frame. Table of Contents Implementation Plan 2 Safety Management Implementation plan of Etihad Airways 2 PHASE I 4 PHASE II 9 PHASE III 10 PHASE IV 11 Conclusion 13 References 15 Bibliography 16 References Cambridge Dictionaries Online, No Date. Gap Analyses. [Online] Available at: < http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english/gap-analysis> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Care academy, No Date. Organizational Gap Analysis Guidelines. [Online] Available at: < http://www.careacademy.org/Care%20Academy%20Documents/orgdiv_GapAnalysisGuidelines.pdf> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Etihad Airways, No Date. Our story. [Online] Available at: < http://www.etihadairways.com/sites/etihad/in/en/aboutetihad/Pages/etihadstoryposting.aspx> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Etihad Airways, No Date. Our Vision. [Online] Available at: < http://www.etihadairways.com/sites/etihad/in/en/aboutetihad/etihadstory/pages/etihadvision.aspx> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Faa, 2010. Safety Management System. [Online] Available at: < http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms/specifics_by_aviation_industry_type/air_operators/media/sms_implementation_guide.pdf> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Fhwa, 2008. Tribal Transportation Safety Management System Implementation plan. [Online] Available at: < http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/irr/safety/documents/sms-implementation.pdf> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Iata, No Date. Safety Management System. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Slv, No Date. Gap Analysis. [Online] Available at: < http://www.slv.dk/Dokumenter/dsweb/Get/Document-9061/Model%20Gap%20Analysis.pdf> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Utdanacente, 2004. Gap Analysis. [Online] Available at: < http://www.utdanacenter.org/downloads/presentations/gapanalysis_march04.pdf> [Accessed 07 July 2012]. Bibliography Bizmanualz., 2008. ISO 22000 Standard Procedures For Food Safety Management Systems. Missouri: Bizmanualz. Florio, F. D., 2010. Airworthiness: An Introduction to Aircraft Certification. 2nd ed. Missouri: Elsevier. Franklin, M., 2006. Performance Gap Analysis: Tips, Tools, and Intelligence for Trainers. Virginia: American Society for Training and Development. Krause, S. S., 2003. Aircraft Safety: Accident Investigations, Analyses, and Applications. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Mol, T., 2003. Productive Safety Management: A Strategic, Multi-disciplinary Management System for Hazardous Industries that Ties Safety and Production Together. London: Routledge. Soekkha, H. M., 1997. Aviation Safety: Human Factors, System Engineering, Flight Operations, Economics, Strategies, Management. AH Zeist. Read More