Safety Management Systems (SMS) Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Safety Management Systems (SMS) flashcards as text
Under FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-37, airports certificated under Part 139 are required to implement an SMS by:
Answer: A phased implementation schedule based on airport category
FAA Part 139 SMS rulemaking requires phased implementation, with larger airports (Class I) required to comply before smaller certificate holders.
A 'safety case' in SMS is used to:
Answer: Provide documented evidence that a specific risk is adequately controlled
A safety case is a structured argument supported by evidence demonstrating that a risk has been reduced to an acceptable level.
When evaluating the effectiveness of a risk control after implementation, the SMS process being performed is:
Answer: Safety assurance monitoring
Verifying that implemented controls are actually working is a core safety assurance activity in the SMS cycle.
What role does the 'Safety Review Board' (SRB) or equivalent senior safety committee play in an airport SMS?
Answer: It provides strategic oversight, reviews safety performance, and approves major risk decisions
The Safety Review Board provides executive-level oversight of the SMS, reviews safety performance data, and makes high-level decisions on risk acceptance.
An airport's SMS identifies that de-icing fluid runoff poses an environmental and slip hazard. The team decides to install containment berms to capture runoff. This is an example of which control type?
Answer: Engineering or physical control
Installing physical infrastructure (berms) to contain a hazard is an engineering or physical control, which is more reliable than procedures or PPE alone.
Which SMS concept describes the point at which multiple minor failures align to produce a catastrophic accident, often illustrated by the 'Swiss cheese model'?
Answer: Accident trajectory through latent conditions
James Reason's Swiss cheese model shows that accidents occur when holes in multiple defensive layers align, allowing a hazard trajectory to pass through all defenses.
Which SMS activity would be most appropriate immediately following a significant operational change, such as the opening of a new terminal?
Answer: Conducting a post-implementation safety review to verify new risk controls are effective
A post-implementation safety review confirms that the risk controls identified during change management are working as intended after the change goes live.