This paper evaluates an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHMS) of an airline. Ultimately, the goal of the Safety Management System (SMS) for the airline is to prevent accidents and harm. But aviation operations will always be subject to operational hazards and their associated risks, and the SMS provides a systematic approach for reducing these risks as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) to an acceptable level by reducing their probability and/or consequence.
Therefore, the SMS is designed to be a dynamic foundation that goes beyond compliance to continually improve safety performance in practice. Still, this coordinated business approach to safety also provides significant additional benefits, including proactive management of change, operational efficiencies, and employee engagement.
However, the airline is a complex organisation with multiple management systems, dispersed operations, many technical functions, highly regulated-overlapping State jurisdiction, and is subject to multiple national regulations. Besides, there are multiple management systems supported by different departments in an airline.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS)
3. Evaluation of the OHSMS
4. Strengths of the OHSMS
4.1 Policy and strategy
4.2 Identification of ten critical risks
4.3 Alignment with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework
4.4 Risk management and tools
4.5. Emergency preparedness and response
4.6 Reporting and investigation
4.7 Health and wellbeing promotion
4.8 Engagement
5. Weaknesses of the OHSMS
6. Recommendations
Objectives and Topics
This report evaluates the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) within an airline context, focusing on its integration with broader safety systems to ensure a holistic approach to risk management and organizational health. The central objective is to analyze how the airline coordinates operational safety with occupational health to prevent accidents and improve safety culture.
- The structure and integration of IASMS (Integrated Airline Safety Management System)
- Evaluation of OHSMS strengths and identified weaknesses
- Alignment with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) frameworks
- Critical risk identification and emergency response protocols
- The role of employee engagement and a Just Culture in system effectiveness
Excerpt from the book
4.2 Identification of ten critical risks
Through collaborative workshops and reviews, the organisation identifies ten critical risks and protocols based on industry and international best practice are developed to ensure strong controls are in place to identify gaps and ensure continuous improvement (“figure 6”).
For example, the loading of cargo into aircraft passenger cabins presents increased manual handling risks.
Here, the core elements of HSW policy came to life by stepping back looking at the problem, involving those closest to the job, assessing the risks, putting controls in place and monitoring them to ensure that they work.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the fundamental goal of the Safety Management System (SMS) in aviation to prevent harm and describes the complexity of airline organizational structures.
2. Integrated Airline Safety Management System (IASMS): Explains the adopted IASMS manual and how it systematically benefits both safety and business performance indicators.
3. Evaluation of the OHSMS: Discusses the development of the Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing Management System (HSEW) and its holistic bottom-up management approach.
4. Strengths of the OHSMS: Details the various pillars of success, including policy, risk identification, ERM alignment, and active employee engagement.
5. Weaknesses of the OHSMS: Identifies challenges such as high system complexity for frontline workers and potential conflicts between OHSMS and commercial operational requirements.
6. Recommendations: Emphasizes the need for a continuous improvement mindset and the ongoing alignment of safety cultures as the operational environment evolves.
Keywords
OHSMS, IASMS, Aviation Safety, Risk Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Occupational Health, Safety Culture, Just Culture, Emergency Preparedness, Employee Engagement, Safety Performance, Operational Hazards, Wellbeing, Continuous Improvement, HSW Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this document?
The document focuses on the evaluation and integration of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) within the complex operational environment of an airline.
What are the central themes covered?
Key themes include safety management integration, risk identification protocols, the alignment of OHS with operational safety, and the importance of employee involvement in safety systems.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to examine how an airline maintains an efficient safety management system that effectively handles both aviation-specific operational risks and general workplace health risks.
Which scientific methods or approaches are utilized?
The paper utilizes a descriptive and evaluative approach, referencing ICAO standards, ERM frameworks, and industry best practices to analyze the company's management model.
What content is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body details the IASMS structure, the specific components of the HSEW management system, the identification of ten critical risks, and the reporting/investigation models used.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as OHSMS, IASMS, Aviation Safety, Risk Management, and Safety Culture.
How does the airline manage the difference between operational and occupational safety?
The airline uses a parallel risk management approach, where operational safety is managed via the IASMS and occupational/workplace risks are tracked by the People Safety team, often using the same safety database.
What role does the 'Just Culture' play in the organization?
The organization promotes a 'Just Culture' to encourage the reporting of incidents and near-misses, facilitating the sharing of lessons learned to foster continuous improvement.
What impact does system complexity have on the workforce?
The report notes that while the OHSMS is well-elaborated, its high complexity can make it challenging for frontline workers and team leaders to fully grasp or implement effectively.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Damien Hiquet (Autor:in), 2020, Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHMS) of an Airline in New Zealand. An Evaluation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1151304
