The Human Factors Components of a Safety
Management System: The US Perspective
Dr. William B. Johnson
Chief Scientific & Technical Advisor for
Human Factors in A/C Maintenance Systems
The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management:
Putting Ideas into Practice – International Conference
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Federal AviationAdministration
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Agenda
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time Permitting)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Agenda
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time Permitting)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Saf
ety
Po
licy
Ris
k M
anag
emen
t
Saf
ety
Ass
ura
nce
Saf
ety
Pro
mo
tio
n
Formal process to assess & manage
risk
CULTURE & VALUES
INTEGRATION
SAFETY SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMMANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Clearly stated
goals for SMS
Monitor and
feedback loop
Actions to
reinforce a positive
safety culture
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Pieces to the SMS
Policy
Risk Mgmt.
Assurance Promotion
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Agenda
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time Permitting)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
SMS Policy and Human Factors
Policy
• Sincere integration of HF and SMS Activity
• SMS policy, process, and plans must explicitly address HF issues
• Describe, in detail, how:• HF personnel will serve in SMS planning • The process for collecting and using HF data• How HF data will be assessed for risk• How HF performance change will be assessed• How HF will be promoted with other SMS initiatives
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Risk Management and Human Factors
Risk Management
Describe System
Describe System
Identify Hazards
Identify Hazards
Analyze Risk
Analyze Risk
Assess Risk
Assess Risk
Control Risk
Control Risk
• Establish event report system
• Include written discipline policy
• Establish event data analysis system
• Identify challenges, correct them, monitor them
• HF personnel have been promoting this for 20 years!
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Safety Assurance and Human Factors
Safety Assurance
• Let event report be the basis for assurance
• Consider LOSA for maintenance
• Implement HF Auditing system
• Incorporate HF Training into assurance loop
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Safety Promotion and Human Factors
SafetyPromotion
• Cultivate the safety culture
• Promote SMS in HF Activities
• Promote HF in SMS
• Safety is people and process oriented
• Use event reporting to promote communication up and down the company
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Agenda
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time permitting)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Selected FAA Activities
• International Survey of HF
• Completion of 2 Operator’s Manuals for HF• Maintenance• Airport Services
• Aviation Safety Action Program Support
• Action on HF Rulemaking
• Training Initiatives for Aviation Safety Inspectors
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Survey Goals and Methods
• Purpose: Assess international status of maintenance HF
• Look at: HF programs, fatigue management, error management, and training.
• Comparison: Compare by regulators, Does it make a difference if there is a rule?
• Distribution: Online survey (80 items) to 630 addresses.
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Respondent Country and Experience
54 Countries
414 Total Respondents (66% response rate)
200 Organizations (Estimated based on 66%)
Experience: 65% > 20 yrs. maintenance experience
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Responding CountriesArgentina 4Australia 19Austria 1Bahrain 1Belgium 3Bolivia 3Brazil 3Canada 36Chile 3China 3Columbia 3Cyprus 1Denmark 1Ecuador 1El Salvador 1Finland 1France 3Germany 6
Greece 10Greenland 1Guatemala 2Hong Kong 6Hungary 1Ireland 2Italy 1Japan 3Korea 2Kuwait 1Luxembourg 1Malaysia 6Malta 1Mexico 4Netherlands 2New Zealand 3Norway 12Panama 4
Peru 1Philippines 4 Poland 1Portugal 2Romania 1Singapore 12Slovenia 1South Africa 5Spain 8Sweden 4Switzerland 4Taiwan 9Thailand 1Turkey 1United Arab Emirates 3United Kingdom 29United States 160Venezuela 3
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
What type of Maintenance Organization?
Airline Maint.35.0%
Repair Stn27.3%
Manu 4.8%
GA/Biz 8.9%
Mil/Gov't8.2%
School/Trng 5.6%
Other10.1%
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Summary Findings
• Worker safety, flight safety, regulatory compliance are important motivators when implementing an HF program
• Transport Canada and EASA countries have the most robust programs.
• Strong regulations promote strong HF programs.
• Fatigue issues are perceived to be important but little action.
• When companies have programs they are similar.
• Companies record event data but do not use it enough.
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
www.hfskyway.com
2 Reference Manuals
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Selected FAA Activities
• International Survey of HF
• Completion of 2 Operator’s Manuals for HF• Maintenance• Airport Services
• Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)
• Action on HF Rulemaking
• Training Initiatives for Aviation Safety Inspectors
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
A Training Tool for FAA Inspectors (Time permitting)
Federal AviationAdministration 21 of 24
The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Human Factors Spectacles
Movie
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Agenda
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time Permitting)
23Federal AviationAdministration 23 of 24
The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
• Continued outreach & regulatory
cooperation
• Creation of Mx audit tools
• Address issues of HF on new technologies
• Multi-faceted approaches to studying
maintenance fatigue
Future Challenges (1 of 2)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
• Extending HF attention to Airport
Operations.
• Support and capitalize on voluntary
reporting system data
• Measurement of HF initiatives
Future Challenges (2 of 2)
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The Complexity of Aviation Safety Management: Putting Ideas into Practice
Hong Kong
October 16 – 17, 2007
Summary
Obligatory SMS Flow Carts
Fitting Human Factors Activities to the SMS Puzzle
Selected Current FAA Human Factors Activities
Future International Human Factors Challenges
Discussion (Time Permitting)
Thank you
