International Helicopter Safety Team Safety Management System Toolkit

SYSTEM AND TASK ANALYSIS TABLE cont.
Controls
Does the organization ensure procedures are followed for safety-related operations and activities?
SMS Framework: 1.0 B) 4) f) Old – SMS Standard 4.7 B (C)
Does management periodically review supervisory and operational controls to ensure the effectiveness of the
system and task analysis process? SMS Framework 1.1 B) 2) k), 3.1.3 B) 1) and 3.1.10 A) & B) Old – SMS
Standard 6.3.3 A) and 6.7 (C)
Bottom Line Assessment
Has the organization analyzed its systems, operations and operational environment to gain an understanding of critical
design and performance factors, processes, and activities to identify hazards?
Hazard Identification
The SMS identifies hazards and develops
processes to identify and manage risks. Key elements
of hazard identification and risk management
programs are:
Proactive identification of existing and potential
hazards. This includes those hazards associated
with organizational change when the organization
is undergoing rapid growth, introducing new services,
new equipment or new personnel.
A process to prioritize risk management
A method to track identified hazards
Hazard identification is the act of identifying
any condition with the potential of causing injury
to personnel, damage to equipment or structures,
loss of material, or reduction of the ability to
perform a prescribed function. This includes any
condition contributing to the release of an unairworthy
aircraft or to the operation of aircraft in
an unsafe manner.
This can be achieved through internal reporting
mechanisms, such as flight data monitoring
programs, or through an assessment of the processes
used to perform a specific function or operation. This
involves an on-going assessment of the functions and
systems, changes to them, and the development of a
safety case to proactively manage safety. Safety
assessments are a core process in the safety management
structure, and provide a vital function in evaluating
and maintaining the system’s safety health.
Any safety concern an employee has should be
reported. Some examples include:
High workload
Rushing critical tasks
Missing checklist items
Parts issues
Inadequate tool control
Feeling fatigued
Unsafe ground movement
Improper equipment or tools
Poorly developed or outdated procedures
When an issue requires action, it must be given to
the person with the appropriate level of authority. This
maintains accountability in the system. The credibility
of the system is only maintained when the outcome of
the concern is fed back to the reporter.
The identification of a hazard provides an opportunity
to learn how to prevent accidents and incidents it
might cause. Procedures need to be in place for internal
reporting of hazards. Timely collection of information
allows the organization to react to the information.
A hazard reporting form should be simple, convenient
and available to all employees. Hazard reporting
programs include:
Feedback to the reporting person
A process for analyzing data, safety reports and
related information
Ongoing monitoring to confirm the effectiveness of
corrective action
Ongoing monitoring to identify hazardous trends
A non-punitive discipline policy for individuals who
report hazards
Provisions for anonymous reporting of hazards
32 SMS Toolkit