“Integrated” Safety Management System (ISMS)

ISMS is a unique process led program with a clear statement of commitment and vision whose framework of accountability is adapted and led by senior management.

All Airborne employees are encouraged to be a crucial resource in this program to contribute and facilitate the organizational response to risk.

The ISMS is a continual ‘live’ evolving program of performance improvement in all areas of the organization.  This is supported by a comprehensive quality assurance system that monitors and reviews all essential policy and procedures.

 

Safety Management System (SMS)

Over the past 18 months Airborne Energy Solutions has been very active in the implementation of a Safety Management System, which will meet Transport Canada standards for a Type 705 (Scheduled Airline) operation.  This initiative has been taken to meet certain requirements attached to the Ministerial Exemption for the Russian Mi-26 helicopter.  The Company worked closely with Transport Canada during the implementation process, in part to ensure that the system would meet Transport Canada expectations, and to afford Transport Canada access to observe closely the implementation challenges and subsequent actions in a company of this size. 

A full-time SMS Coordinator was assigned to the project, and the system is now fully implemented.  Transport Canada has begun the assessment process, and will continue that process over the next 6 to 8 months using a phased approach.  The Company has made a number of presentations on the system to both Transport Canada and to industry, and responses to date have been very positive.

Guiding principles of the system were first established to provide a framework for system design:  These principles included the following:

Leadership and accountability.  The most critical factor in a safety system for an operation of this nature is to establish the safety culture.  The President has been appointed as the accountable executive for safety, and has provided the leadership and direction through a safety policy, a safety mission, clearly defined goals and objectives, and an aggressive indoctrination and training program in which he is personally involved.

Accountability and Responsibility.  Safety is undoubtedly the responsibility of all employees; however, only managers can implement change and corrective measures.  Responsibility and accountability is therefore assigned to management.  In addition, a Safety Group, consisting of all managers and some senior supervisors, assists the President in the overall planning and execution of safety programs.  This group also enforces accountability amongst peer members.  It meets a minimum of every two weeks to review safety issues and outstanding action items.

Non-Punitive Reporting Policy.  All employees are protected from punitive action through the non-punitive reporting policy. 

The organizational changes have had a positive effect in engaging management more directly in safety programs, and in reinforcing the safety culture in the company.  The other features of the system which have had a positive effect include:

• Increased safety and competency training.
• Increased safety communication initiatives, to continuously remind all employees of safety issues, and their individual responsibilities with respect to safety.
• Development of policies and procedures to ensure employees understand their responsibilities and the expectations of how they will perform their work.
• Risk assessments and risk management programs, to identify risks, and implement control measures to manage those risks.
• Safety reporting programs, and a Corrective Action Tracking system, in which all safety data is collected, action items are assigned to managers, and the Safety Group monitors follow-up action.
• Maintenance and Operations Quality Assurance programs to monitor compliance with regulations, policy, procedures, and safe work practices.

The are a number of other features in the system, all of which contribute to a heightened awareness by both management and employees of their collective responsibility to take an active role in maintaining a safe work environment.  Management, employees and clients have enthusiastically embraced the SMS initiatives over the past 18 months, and we are confident that the time and resources expended have already proven to be well worthwhile.  Going forward, the SMS Coordinator and the Safety Officer will work together to ensure that the goals and objectives of the Safety Management System are met and sustained ad infinitum.