This paper evaluates an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHMS) of an airline. Ultimately, the goal of the Safety Management System (SMS) for the airline is to prevent accidents and harm. But aviation operations will always be subject to operational hazards and their associated risks, and the SMS provides a systematic approach for reducing these risks as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) to an acceptable level by reducing their probability and/or consequence.
Therefore, the SMS is designed to be a dynamic foundation that goes beyond compliance to continually improve safety performance in practice. Still, this coordinated business approach to safety also provides significant additional benefits, including proactive management of change, operational efficiencies, and employee engagement.
However, the airline is a complex organisation with multiple management systems, dispersed operations, many technical functions, highly regulated-overlapping State jurisdiction, and is subject to multiple national regulations. Besides, there are multiple management systems supported by different departments in an airline.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS)
- 3. Evaluation of the OHSMS
- 4. Strengths of the OHSMS
- 4.1 Policy and strategy
- 4.2 Identification of ten critical risks
- 4.3 Alignment with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework
- 4.4 Risk management and tools
- 4.5. Emergency preparedness and response
- 4.6 Reporting and investigation
- 4.7 Health and wellbeing promotion
- 4.8 Engagement
- 5. Weaknesses of the OHSMS
- 6. Recommendations
Objectives and Key Themes
This document aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of an airline's Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). The evaluation considers the strengths and weaknesses of the OHSMS, with the goal of highlighting areas for improvement and identifying key recommendations for enhancing safety performance within the organization.
- Integration of OHSMS within a broader safety management framework
- Identification and mitigation of critical risks
- Alignment with industry best practices and regulations
- Importance of proactive risk management and continuous improvement
- Employee engagement and safety culture
Chapter Summaries
- Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the aviation industry and the importance of a comprehensive safety management system (SMS). It highlights the complexities of operating an airline, including the integration of multiple management systems and the need for a systematic approach to safety.
- Chapter 2: Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS): This chapter introduces the company's Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS), outlining its core policies, processes, and objectives. It emphasizes the IASMS's role in promoting both safety and business aspects of the organization through measurable operational safety performance indicators and key health and safety lead indicators.
- Chapter 3: Evaluation of the OHSMS: This chapter presents an in-depth evaluation of the airline's OHSMS, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. It examines areas such as policy and strategy, risk management, emergency preparedness, reporting, and employee engagement.
- Chapter 4: Strengths of the OHSMS: This chapter delves into the strengths of the OHSMS, focusing on aspects such as its alignment with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, the use of risk management tools, and the emphasis on health and wellbeing promotion.
Keywords
The primary focus of this work lies on aviation safety, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), Integrated Airline Safety Management Systems (IASMS), risk management, critical risk identification, safety performance, and employee engagement. The evaluation emphasizes the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to safety, aligning OHSMS with broader organizational safety initiatives, and fostering a strong safety culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of an Airline Safety Management System (SMS)?
The ultimate goal is to prevent accidents and harm by reducing operational risks to a level that is "as low as reasonably practicable" (ALARP).
What is the Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS)?
The IASMS is a coordinated business approach that integrates multiple management systems to improve safety performance, operational efficiency, and employee engagement.
How are critical risks identified in the airline's OHSMS?
The system identifies ten critical risks and aligns them with an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework to ensure proactive mitigation and monitoring.
Why is employee engagement crucial for aviation safety?
Employee engagement fosters a strong safety culture where reporting, investigation, and adherence to safety policies become part of the daily routine, reducing the likelihood of incidents.
What are the strengths of the OHSMS evaluated in this paper?
Strengths include clear policy and strategy, effective emergency preparedness, robust reporting tools, and a strong focus on health and wellbeing promotion.
What challenges do complex airline organizations face regarding safety?
Challenges include dispersed operations, overlapping state jurisdictions, multiple national regulations, and the need to manage various technical functions across different departments.
- Quote paper
- Damien Hiquet (Author), 2020, Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHMS) of an Airline in New Zealand. An Evaluation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1151304
