Safety Management System
2 Contents 1. What is SMS? 3 2. Why was SMS developed? 3 3. What are the components of SMS? 4 4. How is SMS organized at Fraport? 5 5. How Does SMS Define Itself In Relation to Occupational Safety? 5 6. How is SMS different from Security? 6 7. What does SMS mean for airport employees? 6 8. How can I contribute to SMS? 6 9. How do I report a safety issue? 7 10. What happens to safety reports? 7 11. What would be examples of safety-relevant incidents? 8
3 1. What is SMS? SMS stands for "Safety Management System". At Fraport, SMS covers the systematic integration and networking of safety measures for the everyday operation of air traffic at Frankfurt/Main civil airport taking account of human, technical and organizational factors. SMS is concerned exclusively with the safety of flight operations. SMS incorporates company-wide accident-reduction and risk-prevention regulations based on our experience combined with thorough and comprehensive research into the causes of safety-related incidents. In addition to this, recommendations for future actions are drawn up in order to prevent accidents and safety-critical situations through the systematic identification of possible sources of danger and the evaluation of procedures and risks. 2. Why was SMS developed? Safety has always had high priority in aviation especially for airports. The ongoing growth in air passenger figures means that today s recognized high level of safety at a transport hub such as Frankfurt/Main civil airport can only be maintained by constantly reducing the number of safety-relevant incidents. In this field, increasing importance is being placed on a proactive approach to safety, i.e. recognizing potential risks and hazards in good time and thus working constantly to avoid accidents and incidents. This can only succeed with the cooperation of all companies, organizations and individuals active at the airport.
4 Comprehensive and systematic approaches to the avoidance of accidents and risks have been in operation successfully for many years in a number of industries (e.g. oil refineries). In contrast, there was in the past no obligation at an international level to implement aviation safety measures at airports. ICAO, the international civil aviation organization, turned its attention to this problem and on November 25, 2005, in the course of its efforts to create uniform standards for airports, ordered the binding introduction of a safety management system as part of the expansion of ICAO Annex 14. The ICAO requirement was incorporated into German law in the tenth Order for the amendment of the Air Transport Licensing Act (LuftVZO) dated January 5, 2007. Fraport has met these legal requirements. A safety management system was set up with effect from November 25, 2005, the necessary organizational adjustments and the appointment of a new safety manager came into place on March 1, 2007. 3. What are the components of SMS? SMS is made up of four main elements: Reporting Processes Audits Risk management The reporting system gives all persons employed at the airport the opportunity to inform SMS of safety-relevant incidents, accidents (and near misses), risk situations and acknowledged safety deficits. This allows potential hazards and risks to be recognized and suitable countermeasures to be introduced so that their impact (financial and operational) can be minimized. The Fraport department responsible for processes works in close cooperation with our quality management department to identify and document all safety-relevant airside work processes at Frankfurt Airport. These processes are then examined systematically for possible weaknesses. Where it appears suitable, recommendations for action are drawn up in conjunction with those responsible for the process, and implementation measures initiated as required. The audit procedure checks that regulations, guidelines and processes are being adhered to in order to identify strengths, weaknesses or risks within a system. For this, legal regulations and standards are compared with current work practices. If there are deviations counter-measures must be taken to correct this. Risk management is concerned with the identification and evaluation of risks. When reports/ safety comments are received, a defined risk matrix is used to determine the probability and impact/consequences of an incident and an evaluation is made of the acceptability level of the risk identified. A similar procedure is applied to risks emerging from work processes.
5 4. How is SMS organized at Fraport? Fraport appointed Mr. Bülow as safety manager (Section 45c Air Transport Licensing Act) on July 15, 2015. As Fraport s safety manager he also heads FTU-BS (Safety Management). Contact: M. Bülow Officer with responsibility for safety management FTU-BS Fraport AG 60547 Frankfurt am Main Telephone: +49 69 690-70803 Fax: +49 69 690-495 70803 E-Mail: m.buelow@fraport.de Mr. Bülow s staff are also happy to help you in safety matters. They can be contacted as follows: Telephone: +49 69 690-24444 (safety hotline) Fax: +49 69 690-58379 E-Mail: sms@fraport.de Safety committees made up of experts from a number of sectors and companies have also been set up. Committee members have the necessary experience in individual security areas to offer expert advice during an investigation of an incident, for example. The committees also act as a platform for discussion and information and draw up recommendations for preventive action. 5. How Does SMS Define Itself In Relation to Occupational Safety? SMS mainly addresses perils and processes caused by procedures, human and technical factors that might prejudice the aviation sector s safety and security at Frankfurt Airport. Occupational safety, by contrast, aims at preventing or minimizing hazards arising from the operation of aircraft, facilities or appliances that might directly affect the employees of a company. The goals of these safety standards include the avoidance of industrial accidents, the prevention of work-related health hazards and the ergonomic and humanly adequate structuring of work. In this context, consideration is given to all work areas of the airport.
6 6. How is SMS different from Security? We draw a distinction at the airport between "safety" and "security". "Safety" refers to operational safety, while "security" is used in connection with the prevention of hazards caused deliberately by third parties (e.g. terrorism), not operational risks. SMS relates exclusively to operational safety at Frankfurt Airport. 7. What does SMS mean for airport employees? SMS affects all persons employed at Frankfurt Airport. The complexity of operations at the airport means that many different companies and organizations have a part to play in flight operations. This makes it essential for all concerned to participate in Fraport s safety management system. The realization that the responsibility for the highest possible level of safety at our airport lies with every single individual is the basis for the demand for a universal philosophy of safety, both within Fraport and in cooperation with external service providers. The long-term improvements in the safety of flight operations we are aiming for can be achieved only when all employees are sufficiently aware of safety requirements and have integrated this awareness into their everyday working life. 8. How can I contribute to SMS? Each and every one of us is responsible for the safety of our airport! Keep your eyes wide open! By acting with due care and attention, each one of us can help reduce risks for him/herself and others. For example, don t just pass by objects you see lying around also known as FOD (foreign object debris) pick them up and dispose of them. Every time you dispose of a FOD you could be preventing an accident. SMS offers all airport employees the opportunity to report accidents, safety-relevant incidents and potential hazards and to submit safety-relevant ideas. These safety-related reports help us recognize existing safety problems and hazards in good time and thus minimize their impact (financial and operational). One of the greatest dangers to airport safety is that unsafe situations arise and incidents pass unnoticed because they are not reported until they cause an accident which could have serious financial and operational consequences. Tell us about your observations and conclusions! Don t just assume that someone else has already done so.
7 9. How do I report a safety issue? All employees at Frankfurt Airport both Fraport staff members and employees of external companies can make reports or comments concerning safety to SMS directly at any time. Contact: Telephone: +49 69 690-24444 (Safety Hotline) Fax: +49 69 690-58379 E-Mail: sms@fraport.de All reports received will of course be treated confidentially and will in no way be detrimental to the employee. 10. What happens to safety reports? When SMS receives a safety-related report or a safety comment it is recorded and processed. An important aspect of this processing is its qualitative classification as an SMS incident and a thorough investigation of the incident. In cases where a need for action emerges, SMS can make recommendations of a general na-ture or directed specifically at those involved in the process. Follow-up checks ensure that the safety recommendations have been implemented and that the measures taken are effective. The person who made the report is usually informed of the action taken.
8 11. What would be examples of safety-relevant incidents? The events listed below are typical examples of accidents, recognized safety deficits or potential risks which could interfere with operational safety. The list is by no means complete and is intended only as an illustration of SMS-relevant events. Foreign object debris (FOD) Incorrect presence on the runway ( runway incursion ) Damage to aircraft An aircraft fire Emergency landing Bird strike Interference with aircraft taxiing (ignoring priority rules) Taxiing errors Conditions which impede traffic, e.g. parking vehicles or equipment on protected areas Oil leaks