Safety and its costs
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Safety management is commonly understood as applying a set of principles, framework, processes and measures to prevent accidents, injuries and other adverse consequences that may be caused during flights. It is that function which exists to assist operators in better discharging their responsibilities for operational system design and implementation through either the prediction of problems before errors occur or the identification and correction of system’s issues by professional analysis of safety occurrences.
Safety management implies a systematic approach to managing safety.
COSTS OF SAFETY
Safety comes at a price. All companies have limited resources to devote to safety, and must deal continually with the conflicting goals of safety versus productivity, efficiency, or customer service objectives, which ultimately determine profitability.
Financial health in any business will be influenced not only by good management and internal efficiency, but by the external economic environment.
A stated commitment to safety is necessary but not sufficient to enable safety improvements. The commitment must be supported by appropriate resourcing - of technology and equipment, training and expertise, policies and systems that promote operational safety.
The commitment to safety should be consistent and visible regardless of any financial pressures facing the organisation, whether internally or externally generated.
On the other hand, in commercial aviation, the accident causes are normally due to the haste to put the flight on time, decreasing flight safety.