In order to define a Safety Management System (SMS) we should first know what that is safety.
The concept of operational safety, within the aviation domain, can be defined as “the state in which the possibility of harm to people, infrastructure, equipment or aircraft is reduced and maintained at or below an acceptable level, through the continuous process of hazard identification and risk management”.
The number of technical and human resources involved in maintaining the operational safety of an airport is enormous, but they are essential to airport operations.
Starting from that definition, it could be said that an SMS is a systematic approach to the management of operational safety, which include the organisational structure, lines of responsibility, necessary policies and procedures.
But where does this invention come from? The highest-level applicable regulations that mention SMS begin with ICAO (Annex 14 Aerodromes, Annex 19 Safety Management, Doc 9774 Aerodrome Certification Manual and Doc 9859 Safety Management Manual), to then be adapted to the regulations of each country. In the case of Spain, Royal Decree 862/2009 for verified aerodromes and EU Regulation No 139/2014 for certified aerodromes. Likewise, AESA has a General Technical Instruction for the development of the Safety Management System.
Operational safety management demands the integration of reactive, proactive, and predictive safety data capture systems, a judicious combination of reactive, proactive, and predictive mitigation strategies, and the development of reactive, proactive, and predictive mitigation methods.
For this, Every airport has drawn up a manual for its implemented SMS.. This manual is specific to each aerodrome and outlines the processes involved in Safety Management. The manual details the procedures and modules that make up each SMS (Safety Management System), defines the organisational structure as well as the responsibilities of each role, with the Safety Management System Manager (SMSM) being the figure responsible for its maintenance. It also defines the committees focused on safety, their attendees and their frequency, and includes coordination with the self-protection plan and its respective committees.
Procedures or modules of an OHSMS
–PGS-01 Risk Management In the daily operation of an airport, there are various hazards capable of compromising Operational Safety. Therefore, it is important to have identified these hazards and their associated risks.
Once the risks have been identified, their implication for Operational Safety is analysed, and based on this, measures to eliminate or mitigate them are studied, establishing those responsible for them. Once implemented, their effectiveness is monitored.
-PGS-02 External Suppliers: This specific procedure for security in external services and supplies, which establishes the responsibilities, functions, and method to follow for controlling those aspects of external suppliers that may affect operational security.
The achievement of the airport's Operational Safety objectives depends on all persons who may affect operations in the movement area, which can include airport operator personnel and personnel from external providers.
-PGS-03 Operational safety indicators: Indicators are a tool for evaluating the level of Operational Safety of airport activities to which they are associated, in relation to an agreed benchmark. But what are indicators for? To measure historical evolution, compare with other periods, locations or situations, have alarms that alert to any anomaly, or to have control over the achievement of objectives.
As an example, some indicators could be, LVP Activations, Training, NSP Infringements, FOD on Runway, Runway Incursions, etc.
-PGS-04 Treatment of Accidents/Incidents: Define the method for communicating, collecting, and processing data pertaining to airport incidents that occur on the airside of the airport or affect Operational Safety, in order to: evaluate the level of Operational Safety with which activities are carried out in the movement area, identify the causes and factors contributing to airport incidents, determine the risks arising from airport procedures, equipment, and environment, determine actions and measures to prevent the recurrence of airport incidents, analyse the effectiveness of Operational Safety measures in the movement area, and analyse the operational impact of incidents.
-PGS-05 Document Management The purpose of this procedure is to describe the routines established at the airport for the preparation, review, approval, distribution, control, and dissemination of the SMS documentation in order to ensure the identification, traceability, transparency, and handling of documentation that allows for the provision of documentary evidence of Safety Management, to any interested party, when appropriate.
-PGS-06 Internal Supervision: Supervisions are a proactive tool for Operational Safety, so that problems that may arise are detected before they impact airport operation safety. This does not apply to AESA supervisions.
-PGS-07 Training Describe the courses that staff should undertake, referring to the SMS.
-PGS-08 Communications: Communications are the means that allow the development, promotion, and communication of the Operational Safety Culture among all Airport employees. To control hazards, it is essential to know them. And therefore, for them to be reported in order to prevent accidents/incidents. Encourage staff collaboration and establish the necessary communication channels. This applies to all personnel (internal and external).
-PGS-09 Operational Safety Programme: One of the fundamental premises of the SMS is the continuous improvement of the Safety Levels achieved at the Airport. To this end, annual Safety objectives are set, which are set out in the Airport Safety Programme.
Broadly speaking, with the foregoing, it can be concluded that the number of people involved in the maintenance of operational safety is enormous and that only with the help of an SMS and the continuous collaboration and involvement of all those affected can the highest standards in operational safety and its continuous improvement be achieved.
