National Airport Safety Week has just begun and each day we will be bringing you a story on a different theme. We care about the health and safety of the entire airport community, and that’s why we feel it’s important to make you aware of the importance of ensuring consistent aviation safety – for you, your colleagues and our travellers.   

What is a SMS?   

A Safety Management System (commonly known as SMS) helps companies identify safety risks before they occur or escalate. It is a documented management system that helps us to identify and manage risks that may arise in our daily work and to make the right safety decisions.   

A SMS system is rigorously regulated by national (Canadian Aviation Regulations – TP-312) and international (ICAO – Annexes 14 and 19) standards. 

What is the employee’s role in SMS?    

We all have a role to play in identifying risks and minimising hazards. Correcting them strengthens the system in place and ensures that safety objectives are met.   

Have you ever heard of the Swiss cheese rule?   

It is an accident causation model that analyses the safety mechanisms put in place to prevent incidents or accidents. Each safety mechanism is identified by a slice of the cheese. The flaws in the mechanism are represented by the holes in the cheese. If all the flaws activate at the same time, the incident or accident occurs. 

In an airport environment, safety is everyone’s business!