International Helicopter Safety Team Safety Management System Toolkit

CHAPTER 3:
GUIDELINES TO SMS IMPLEMENTATION
Integrating a cohesive SMS can be done in incremental steps. This allows the
organization to become acquainted with the requirements and results before
proceeding to the next step.
SMS Implementation Process
0
1
Orientation &
Commitment
2
Planning &
Organization
3
Reactive
Processes
4
Proactive
Processes
Continuous
Improvement
Safety Management Systems – Flight Standards
Federal Aviation Administration
Courtesy of Don Arendt, PhD, FAA SMS Program Manager
Developing an SMS
This toolkit is a compilation of best practices
and solutions. Various SMS toolkits from throughout
the industry were reviewed. Contributions
came from small, medium and large helicopter
operators as well as airlines, industry groups and
government agencies.
The intent of this document is to assist organizations
in achieving their desired safety performance
objectives while allowing them flexibility to reach
that outcome. This is commonly known as a
“performance based approach” and encourages
organizations to choose the solution best suited to
their needs and ensures they meet performance
objectives. The toolkit helps the organization determine
their level of compliance and develop an
action plan to include the necessary components.
What Does It Take to Implement an SMS?
Management initiatives are not always successful,
and each time a new idea is introduced, people will ask
whether this is a worthwhile initiative. Having a good
idea does not guarantee success. Many good ideas
have failed in practice because one or more of three
critical elements were missing, including commitment,
cognizance and competence. These three C’s of leadership
will determine whether safety management achieves
its goals and leads to a pervasive safety culture.
1. Commitment: In the face of operational and
commercial pressures managers need to make
safety management tools effective.
2. Cognizance: Leaders need to understand the
nature and principles of managing safety.
3. Competence: Safety management policies
and procedures must be applied throughout
the organization.
SMS Toolkit 73