SMS triggers

 SMS triggers

By OffRoadPilots

Safety management system (SMS) triggers are conditions

or events that triggers or activates responses within

the safety management system framework of an airport or

airline. SMS is a systematic approach to managing

safety and implemented in industries where safety is

critical, such as aviation, healthcare, construction,

and manufacturing.

Triggers events or

circumstances that

prompt the

organization to

assess potential

risks, review safety

procedures, and take

corrective actions

to prevent accidents

or incidents.

Triggers very

diverse and comes in

different shapes and

forms.

Incident reports of accidents, near misses, or

incidents serve as triggers, prompting an organization

to investigate the root causes and implement corrective

measures.

Safety data analysis of safety data, including trends

and patterns, can reveal potential issues or areas of

concern that may trigger a proactive safety response.Audits and inspections findings trigger corrective

actions to address identified deficiencies and enhance

safety protocols.

Regulatory changes or changes to standards serve as

triggers, requiring organizations to update their

safety procedures to remain compliant. Airport

standards changed not long ago, and triggered a new way

for airports and airlines to do airside business.

Equipment failures or malfunctions of critical

equipment trigger a review of maintenance practices and

operational processes.

Employee reports regarding safety concerns,

observations, or occurrences triggers investigation for

special cause variations and root cause analyses for

continuous safety improvement.

Environmental changes in the external environment, such

as weather conditions or natural disasters, trigger a

review of the safety management system and its

processes.

Training and competency gaps in employee training or

competency trigger review and possible additional

training programs.

The goal of identifying and responding to triggers

within an SMS is to achieve continuous improvements in

safety performance and mitigate risks, without changing

processes that works. It involves a systematic and

proactive approach to managing safety rather than a

reactive one, allowing airports and airlines to

mitigate hazards before they escalate into events.Conventional wisdom is that SMS triggers must have a negative impact on operations. When airports and airlines take a negative approach to their SMS, their

responses are reactive to events, which also include

their proactive processes. An incident is required for

a reactive process to be triggered, and an observation

is required for a proactive process to be triggered.

Any time an action is required to be initiated by an

incident or observation the active process becomes a

reactive process.

An observation refers to the act of closely and

deliberately watching or perceiving something to gain

information. It involves using the senses, such as

sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell, to gather data

about a particular phenomenon, event, or object.

Observations are fundamental components of conducting

analyses and research to assess potential impact of

known hazards.

Observations can be qualitative, involving descriptions

and characteristics, or quantitative, involving

measurements and numerical data. Observations provide

the foundation for testing, theories, and gaining a

better understanding of the impact a hazard may have on

airport or airline operations.

When an SMS goal is to prevent hazards from becoming

incidents, then hazard discovery is a proactive

approach to safety. However, known hazards are just the

top of the iceberg of hazards, with several other

unknown hazards hidden in the observation process.

While it is true that this approach to hazard

management has great values to aviation SMS, it is alsoa false sense of safety that they have mitigated all

operational hazards by active hazard identification.

Hazards that often are not considered hazards, are

taxiway and taxilane markings. Pilots are trained to

follow and obey the marked taxilane without deviation,

and they assume that that by following the lane all

taxi hazards are avoided. This is not always the fact.

When special cause variations are present, following a

taxilane is a live hazard. There are several

occurrences where an aircraft has crashed into an

obstacle by following a taxilane.

A proactive approach to safety is to take observe for

special cause variations and take this into account.

There is a

difference between

common cause

variation and

special cause

variations. Common

cause variations are

integrated into the

processes, and they

are necessary for

processes to

function as

intended. On the other hand, special cause variations

are by nature not a hazard, but they are integrated in

abnormal airline and airport operations. Special cause

variations are integrated into operations, but they are

not integrated into the processes for processes to

function as intended.

Identifying special cause variations become available

to an SMS enterprise by data, information, knowledge,

and comprehension.

Data refers to information related to the potential

hazards, risks, and safe usage of processes. This data

is crucial for ensuring safety of individuals, as well

as for regulatory compliance. Safety data typically

includes details about the chemical composition,

physical properties, toxicity, flammability,

reactivity, and other relevant characteristics of a

substance, but with the implementation of the safety

management system in aviation, it became applicable to

processes.

One common form of safety data is Material Safety Data

Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS). These

documents provide comprehensive information about a

chemical product and are often required by regulations

and standards. They are intended to be used by workers,

emergency responders, and others who may be exposed to

or handle the substance.

In various industries, safety data is a key component

of risk assessment and management. It helps

organizations identify and mitigate potential hazards

associated with their products or processes, thereby

promoting a safer working environment, and protecting

the well-being of equipment, individuals, and the

environment.

Safety Data Sheets are made available by an SMS

enterprise in the forms of Airside Operations Plans,

and Aircraft Operations Plans. These plans are designed

and developed specific as applicable to each airportand airline. These types of plans describe special

cause variations. Example of an airside operations plan

is an airport Plan of Construction Operations, which is

non-standard operations at airports. This plan contains

deviations from standard airside General Operations,

Aerodrome Data, Physical Characteristics, Obstacle

Management, Visual Aids, Marking and Lighting of

Objects, Aerodrome Lighting System Design and

Operations, and Aerodrome Maintenance.

Information generally refers to data that is organized

and processed to have meaning or value. It is a concept

that encompasses knowledge, facts, and data that are

communicated and understood. Information is typically

used to convey meaning, make decisions, and solve

problems.

In a more technical sense, information can be seen as a

reduction in uncertainty. When data is processed and

organized in a way that reduces ambiguity or

uncertainty, it becomes information. This

transformation involves giving data context, relevance,

and purpose, which allows it to be interpreted and used

by individuals or systems.

There are various forms of information, including

textual, numerical, visual, and auditory, among others.

The field of information theory provides a mathematical

framework for studying the quantification, storage, and

communication of information.

In everyday language, the term information is often

used to refer to facts or knowledge about a particular

subject. In the context of technology and

communication, information can be transmitted throughvarious channels, such as books, websites, speeches,

and digital media.

Knowledge refers to

information,

understanding, or

skills that a person

acquires through

experience,

education, or

learning. It

involves awareness

and familiarity with

facts, concepts,

skills, and truths about the world. Knowledge can be acquired through various means, including personal

experiences, formal education, observation,

communication, and interaction with the environment.

Knowledge must be preserved for the next generation.

There are different types of knowledge.

Explicit knowledge is knowledge that can be easily

articulated and documented. It is often found in books,

articles, databases, and other formalized sources.

Tacit knowledge is more implicit and difficult to

express in words. It is often rooted in personal

experience, skills, and intuition. Tacit knowledge is

commonly gained through practical, hands-on activities.

In addition to learning new skills, recurrent training

of airport personnel and flight crew is about improving

current knowledge and skills.

Procedural knowledge is about how to do something. It

involves knowing the steps and processes required to

perform a specific task or achieve a particular goal.

Declarative knowledge is knowledge about facts and

information. It involves understanding what something

is, how it works, or the relationships between

different pieces of information.

Knowledge is dynamic and can be built upon, revised,

and expanded over time. It serves as the foundation for

problem-solving, decision-making, and overall cognitive

processes. Additionally, the application of knowledge

often leads to the development of skills and expertise

in specific areas.

Comprehension refers to the ability to understand or

grasp the meaning of something. It involves the mental

process of interpreting and making sense of

information, whether it be written or spoken language,

visual stimuli, or any other form of communication.

Comprehension is not just about recognizing words or

symbols, it also involves understanding the context,

connecting ideas, connecting systems, and extracting

meaning from the information presented.

Comprehension skills are crucial in various aspects of

life, including education, communication, problem-

solving, and decision-making. Strong comprehension

skills allow individuals to process information

effectively, make informed judgments, and engage with

the world around them in a meaningful way.

Aviation SMS requires triggers to activate processes.

An easy and effortless tool to research SMS triggers is

to access published research and accredited opinions

online.

Distinguishing between facts and opinions is crucial

for critical thinking and informed decision-making, and

selection of SMS triggers.

Facts can be

objectively

verified. They are

based on evidence

and can be proven

true or false

through observation

or reliable sources.

Facts are historical

data and are not

influenced by

personal beliefs or

emotions.

Facts are specific and concrete. They provide details

that can be corroborated and are not open to

interpretation.

Opinions are subjective and reflect personal beliefs,

feelings, or preferences. They cannot be objectively

proven or disproven.

Opinions often involve expressions of value, taste, or

personal judgment.Opinions can vary from person to person and are open to interpretation. Different individuals may hold

different opinions on the same issue.

Both facts and opinions are invaluable tools for an SMS

enterprise to establish and apply SMS triggers.

A safety management system is based on a safety policy,

which is a vision of the forward path they are taking.

When moving forward on the path into the future the

unknown lays ahead and opinions are required to design

and develop processes. An example is a cockpit

checklist, and the flight crew is required to check and

complete 25 items. An opinion may be that a checklist

should follow the flow of the cockpit layout, while a

fact is that all items are still included without a

cockpit flow. Another example are the scheduled airport

inspections. An airside maintainer is required to check

180 runway edge lights, and the opinion is that the

lights should be checked in sequency from one runway

end to the other end before moving over to the other

side of edge lights and the other runway. A fact is

that all 180 lights are still included in the check if

all lights are randomly selected and checked.

Remember, in some cases, there can be a gray area where

information might have elements of both fact and

opinion. Developing critical thinking skills and being

mindful of the context can help navigating these

situations more effectively.

The foundation for SMS triggers is abnormal airport

operations or abnormal flight operations. Special

airport operations, such as plan of construction

operations triggers special fight operations forairlines. SMS triggers identified by the airport

operator are then added to flight operations as SMS

triggers. These triggers are temporary in nature as

long as the construction is ongoing, and when there are

changes with progress updates from the airport

operator.

When applying SMS triggers an SMS enterprise are using

a positive approach to SMS, as opposed to a negative

approach were hazards and incidents must occur for an

SMS reaction.

Applying SMS trigger is a new approach to safety and

different what the aviation industry expects today.

SMS triggers does not change the current approach to

SMS, and the fact that there will always be hazards and

risks, so proactive management is needed to identify

and control these threats to safety before they lead to

mishaps. What has changed is to apply known special

cause variations, also known as abnormal operations as

their proactive approach to safety.

The common safety process is accomplished in five

steps. A safety issue or concern is raised, a hazard is

identified, or an incident or accident happens. The

concern or event is reported or brought to the

attention of management. The event, hazard, or issue is

analyzed to determine its cause or source. Corrective

action, control or mitigation is developed and

implemented, and the corrective action is evaluated to

make sure it is effective.

If the safety issue is resolved, the action can be

documented, and the safety enhancement maintained. Ifthe problem or issue is not resolved, it should be re-

analyzed until it is resolved.

SMS triggers are identified airport or airline events

creating abnormal operations. Airports classify their

runways and taxiway by Aircraft Group Number (AGN),

which is based on aircraft wingspan. AGN are published

in the aeronautical publication to provide a simple

method for interrelating the numerous technical

specifications concerning the aerodrome and the

characteristics of the critical aircraft for which the

aerodrome is provided.

When there are

changes to airport

operations, such as

construction, the

AGN may change. This

is a special cause

variation and is not

a hazard since

runways and taxiways

maintain support for

their critical

aircraft. The

special cause

variation may require the airline to operate a

different type of aircraft during time of construction

to accommodate for the temporary change in the AGN.

A hazard is any source or situation that has the

potential to cause harm, damage, or adverse effects to

people, property, the environment, or any other aspect

of life. Hazards can take various forms, including

physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, andpsychosocial factors. They are often associated with specific activities, processes, substances, or conditions that pose a risk to health, safety, or well-being.

Understanding and managing hazards is crucial in

various fields, such as workplace safety, environmental

protection, and public health. The goal is to identify,

assess, and control hazards to prevent accidents,

injuries, or negative impacts. Hazard analysis is a

common practice in risk assessment, helping to

determine the likelihood and severity of potential harm

and implementing measures to mitigate or eliminate

those risks.

Everything is not a hazard, and a change in aircraft

type, or runway does not render aircraft or runway

unsuitable for continued operations.

An SMS trigger is a new obstacle under an approach but

is below the approach surface and does not change

anything on the approach. This could be a temporary

crane hanging powerlines, or road construction adjacent

to the airport. This information is published in the

aeronautical information for airlines to add to their

SMS triggers. It is not a hazard, since the obstacle is

below the approach, but it is abnormal operations

because the first thing a pilot see when breaking out

at 200FT is a crane below the aircraft.

Another SMS trigger are changes to declared distances

for any reason. It could be construction. Declared

distances would change for any reason to maintain

airport operations during scheduled or unscheduled

events. They could change because of an incident on adifferent runway, it could be because of airside

maintenance, it could be because of snow removal or for

any other reasons.

An operational sound SMS requires SMS triggers to be

established when abnormal operations take place. During

hours of abnormal operations, data is collected,

analysed, and documented. Data points are entered for

analysis by a statistical process control (SPC) method

identifying if abnormal operations processes are in

control or out of control processes.

The same SMS trigger principle is also used for normal

operations and data collection for operations without

special cause variations. It is more important for an

SMS enterprise, both airports and airlines, to learn

why things go right than it is to know why things go

wrong.

OffRoadPilots