International Helicopter Safety Team Safety Management System Toolkit

Safety Principles
Always operate in the safest manner practicable.
Never take unnecessary risks.
Familiarity and prolonged exposure without a
mishap leads to a loss of appreciation of risk.
Safe does not mean risk free.
Everyone is responsible for the identification and
management of risk.
A culture of open reporting of all safety hazards in
which management will not initiate disciplinary
action against any personnel, who in good faith,
due to unintentional conduct, disclose a hazard or
safety incident.
Organization Structure &
Safety Responsibilities
The organization’s structure is described in the
Operations Manual. The organization’s top manager
is responsible for the following safety accountabilities:
Conducting all operations in the safest
manner practicable.
Developing long-term safety objectives, including
the establishment of safety policies and practices.
Implementing management systems that will establish
and maintain safe work practices.
Identifying a Chief Safety Officer to provide
policies and procedures oversight and safety
program rigor. This person is responsible for
the following:
The chief pilot is responsible for the
following safety accountabilities:
Ensuring all flight operations personnel understand
and comply with applicable regulatory requirements,
standards and the organization’s safety policies
and procedures.
Identification and development of resources to
achieve safe flight operations.
Observing and controlling safety systems by monitoring
and supervising aircrews.
Measuring aircrew performance compliance with
organizational goals, objectives and regulatory
requirements.
Reviewing standards and the practices of organization
personnel as they impact flight safety.
The chief of maintenance is responsible for:
Ensuring all flight maintenance personnel
understand applicable regulatory requirements,
standards, and organization safety policies
and procedures.
Identification and development of resources to
achieve safe maintenance operations.
Observing and controlling safety systems by monitoring
and supervising maintenance personnel.
Measuring maintenance personnel performance
compliance with organizational goals, objectives
and regulatory requirements.
Maintaining and reporting all safety related
data, including the minutes of safety meetings.
Providing information on hazard and risk analysis.
Defining and establishing a procedure for
risk management.
Conducting incident and accident investigations.
Preparing and presenting audit reports and
remedial actions.
Reviewing standards and the practices of maintenance
personnel as they impact flight safety.
Compliance with Standards
All personnel have the duty to comply with
approved standards including organization policy
and procedures, aircraft manufacturer’s operating
procedures, and limitations, and government regulations.
Research shows that once you start deviating
from the rules, you are almost twice as likely to
commit an error with serious consequences.
Breaking the rules usually does not result in an
accident; however, it always results in greater risk for
the operation, and the organization supports the
principle of, “NEVER take unnecessary risks.”
86 SMS Toolkit