Introduction to Safety Management Systems (SMS) for airport operators

Original publisher: [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, [2007]. OCLC Number: (OCoLC)316525020 Subject: Airplanes -- Piloting -- United States -- Safety measures -- Management. Excerpt: ... February 28, 2007 AC 150 / 5200-37 CHAPTER 3: SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT ( SRM ) 3.1. General. SRM is a fundamental component of SMS. To be truly effective a SMS must have a formal risk assessment program that identifies and documents hazards on the airport. An SMS: • determines associated risk ( s ) • identifies the severity and probability of the occurring risk ( s ) • develops mitigation strategies as appropriate • applies, tracks, and monitors the mitigation strategy • assesses and modifies strategies as necessary A hazard is a condition, object or activity with the potential for causing damage, loss, or injury. A risk is the chance of loss or injury measured in terms of severity and probability. 3.2. SRM Background Information. SRM is a systematic, explicit, and comprehensive approach for managing safety risk at all levels throughout the airport. A comprehensive SMS using SRM will develop layers of safety built upon the measures taken to mitigate risk. These layers are examples of implemented protective measures such as vehicle driver's training programs, marking and lighting standards and reflective vests. An unsafe event can occur when gaps occur in the system's protective layers. These gaps are not static and may appear unexpectedly. In order for an incident or accident to take place there is normally a succession of gaps in a system that will line up and enable an event to occur. 3.3. The Five Phases of SRM. There are five phases to the SRM Process: Phase 1. Describe the system Phase 2. Identify the hazards Phase 3. Determine the risk Phase 4. Assess and analyze the risk Phase 5. Treat the risk ( i.e., mitigate, monitor and track ) Phase 1: Describe the system. When considering the environment of the airport system, consid...