“Integrated” Safety Management System (ISMS)

ISMS is a unique process led program with a clear statement of commitment and vision whose framework of accountability is adapted and led by senior management.

All Airborne employees are encouraged to be a crucial resource in this program to contribute and facilitate the organizational response to risk.

The ISMS is a continual ‘live’ evolving program of performance improvement in all areas of the organization.  This is supported by a comprehensive quality assurance system that monitors and reviews all essential policy and procedures.

 

Safety Management System (SMS)

Guiding principles of the system included the following:

Leadership and accountability.  The most critical factor in a safety system for an operation of this nature is to establish the safety culture.  The President has been appointed as the accountable executive for safety, and has provided the leadership and direction through a safety policy, a safety mission, clearly defined goals and objectives, and an aggressive indoctrination and training program in which he is personally involved.

Accountability and Responsibility.  Safety is undoubtedly the responsibility of all employees; however, only managers can implement change and corrective measures.  Responsibility and accountability is therefore assigned to management.  In addition, a Safety Group, consisting of selected managers that assist the President in the overall planning and execution of safety programs.  This group also enforces accountability amongst peer members.  It meets a minimum of every two weeks to review safety issues and outstanding action items. Employees are encouraged to be commited to the safety culture in a number of ways. This is embodied in by the TRACE program. TRACE is an acronym that stands for the following:

• I will be Trained for all tasks and equipment I use
• I will Report all unsafe conditions
• I will be Accountable for my actions at all times
• I am Committed to being safe and being part of our SMS program
• I will Encourage a safe workplace and involvement of my fellow workers

Non-Punitive Reporting Policy.  All employees are protected from punitive action through the non-punitive reporting policy. 

The organizational changes have had a positive effect in engaging management more directly in safety programs, and in reinforcing the safety culture in the company.  The other features of the system which have had a positive effect include:

• Increased safety and competency training.
• Increased safety communication initiatives, to continuously remind all employees of safety issues, and their individual responsibilities with respect to safety.
• Development of policies and procedures to ensure employees understand their responsibilities and the expectations of how they will perform their work.
• Risk assessments and risk management programs, to identify risks, and implement control measures to manage those risks.
• Safety reporting programs, and a Corrective Action Tracking system, in which all safety data is collected, action items are assigned to managers, and the Safety Group monitors follow-up action.
• Maintenance and Operations Quality Assurance programs to monitor compliance with regulations, policy, procedures, and safe work practices.