In 1999, Transport Canada committed to the implementation of safety
management systems in aviation organizations. Safety management systems are
methods a company can use to integrate safety throughout its organization.
They are based on the operator's in-depth knowledge of its organization and
integrate safety into policies, management and employee practices and
procedures. As each organization integrates safety into daily operations,
management and employees can continuously work to identify and overcome
potential safety hazards.
To be effective, these systems require strong commitment from all levels
of an organization, including senior management, to continually improve safety
standards.
Currently, safety is the responsibility of a safety officer who reports to
management but who is ultimately not accountable for safety performance. The
amendments require aviation organizations to appoint executives who are
accountable for safety and implementing safety management systems. These
executives would impose, implement, lead and manage new policies and be
directly accountable for the safety performance of their operations.
Currently, Transport Canada is active at the operational level with audits
and inspections of actual activities. With the introduction of safety
management systems, the focus will be at the systems level. This means that
inspectors will assess the effectiveness of safety management systems within
an organization. Therefore, safety management systems add a layer of safety
and enhance the work Transport Canada continues to do through its oversight
program of inspections and audits.
Transport Canada will continue to develop, implement, and enforce safety
standards and regulations under the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The
department has a comprehensive safety oversight program consisting of
certification, licensing, inspections, audits, education and awareness, as
well as enforcement activities to monitor compliance with Canadian safety
regulations. Within this safety oversight program, the department uses
risk-threat analysis to adjust its priorities and continuously refocuses its
resources to protect the travelling public.
Aviation organizations that have already begun implementing these systems
have had positive results. The broader implementation of safety management
systems by aviation organizations is part of an effort to reduce the already
low aircraft accident rate in Canada.
For more information on safety management systems, please visit the Civil
Aviation website at www.tc.gc.ca./CivilAviation/SMS/menu.htm.
July 2007