Safety Professional’s Perception of the Relationship Between Safety Management Systems and Safety Culture

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the relationship between the elements/processes of safety management systems (SMSs) and their impact on safety culture at collegiate flight training institutions. Research questions addressed the following: different approaches to developing and implementing an SMS, different approaches to the assessment of safety culture, and the relationship between elements/processes of an SMS and a strong safety culture. A semistructured interview protocol was used. The researcher interviewed five safety professionals at U.S. collegiate flight training institutions of various sizes. Overall, the general consensus among the participants was that an SMS works best if it is implemented over time. A confidential hazard reporting system and the use of the five-step Safety Risk Management (SRM) process were viewed as important aspects to help build a strong safety culture. Other elements and processes were identified as having a strong relationship to safety culture as well. The participants revealed when their institution experienced a cultural change during SMS development. The study also provides recommendations for establishing a SMS.

Α proposed organizational structure that contributes to the efficient handling of risk in an approved training organization (ATO)

“…Also, enhanced certificate training improve pilot's competency to mitigate the risk of VMC and IMC 2 mishaps. Robertson (2016) study based on interviews of five safety professionals from five flight training institutions and found that a confidential hazard-reporting system was fundamental in building a strong safety culture, which includes the SMS implementation, the changes that being made from the hazard reporting and safety culture assessment. Also, the relationship between safety culture and SMS is circular.…”

MINDSPACE and Development of Organizational Culture in Aviation Safety Management

“…This part of a SMS deals with internal and external auditing, data collection, and performance measuring. A critical element of safety assurance is the constant inflow of objective error reporting data submitted through voluntary reporting systems (VRSs) (Robertson, 2016). Safety assurance is an important SMS function as it verifies that risks are being identified, mitigated and controlled.…”

Examining the Relationship Between Safety Management System Implementation and Safety Culture in Collegiate Flight Schools

“…However, few studies exist addressing the relationship between SMS implementation and its impact on developing a strong safety culture (McNeely, 2012). Few studies have been conducted that have attempted to identify if there is a relationship between SMS implementation and safety culture in collegiate flight schools (Robertson, 2016). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between SMS implementation and safety culture at collegiate flight schools.…”

“…Other elements of SMS that contributed were a strong training program and the SRM five-step processes. Robertson (2016) recommended that both quantitative and qualitative studies continue to examine the relationship between SMS and safety culture.…”

“…In 2016, Robertson (2016) conducted a qualitative study to investigate the relationship between SMS elements and process and safety culture in collegiate flight training institutions. The author interviewed five safety professionals at various flight training institutions around the country utilizing a semi-structured interview.…”