In our continuing ACSF Safety Spotlight series we look at the remarkable safety transformation journey with Luke Yosca, Vice President-Safety at CSI Aviation and other safety professionals.
Each article will feature information that helps guide your safety management program preparation and implementation. Join us as we uncover the strategies and insights that led to extraordinary achievements in safety leadership and program development.
ARTICLE 2: INITIATING CULTURAL SHIFT
Cultural Shift: Strategies for Safety Integration
In this article we discover the strategies used to create a cultural shift towards safety in the aviation industry. Learn about key initiatives, the challenges faced and overcome, success stories, and the crucial role of collaboration and communication in achieving safety excellence.
In the dynamic environment of aviation safety, establishing a robust safety program is not just a regulatory requirement but a cornerstone of operational excellence. In addition to creating the protocol and procedures of a Safety Management Systems (SMS) changing the culture of the organization to a Safety-First mindset plays a hugely critical role in the implementation.
Safety aviation consultant Keith Cianfrani (MAS, CISM, CFI) of Aviation Safety Consultants, LLC, explains that organizations must “look at Safety Promotion (to) include training, communication and other actions to create a positive safety culture within all levels of the workforce. It assesses climate, evaluates training and observes communication. It re-emphasizes the “top-down bottom-up” safety module.”
Key initiatives implemented to initiate a cultural shift towards safety
It starts with all new hires receiving initial safety training. During quarterly management meetings, the first hour of the first day is dedicated to safety. We also provide monthly safety messages and more. It’s all about constant communication, reinforcement, and maintaining regular contact.
Addressing Employee Resistance and Skepticism During Transformation
There will always be a certain part of any organization that is skeptical of safety or thinks that something like a hazard report can be punitive and this is why we promote a “Just Culture” environment. Even some management elements are hesitant to let the internal audit program audit their areas. It’s a slow shift that really is results driven.
Success Stories Highlighting the Positive Impact of Cultural Shifts on Safety Performance
Early on we were awarded a new contract. It was a bit short notice and there were a lot of moving parts. I was able to introduce the concept of “management of change” to the organization and it was a great tool to identify and mitigate risk, as well as prove to the FAA that we had all our ducks in a row for this new operation. It was well received by all around and was a key element in the opening of a new base and a new type of contract for the company.
Challenges Faced While Fostering a Safety-First Mindset
While getting company-wide participation is the most likely challenge in any organization, as the culture change starts to take hold, there are often unexpected challenges that unfold. For example, there’s often a small group of employees who misuse “safety” as an excuse to cancel flights or reject missions. This can be a very frustrating aspect of the cultural shift.
Ensuring Continuous Improvement and Reinforcement of Safety Culture
I am a big fan of trend analysis. Even in our smaller organization there are always a few Hazard reports or Audit findings that can be linked together to show a trend that needs to be corrected. Putting out to the organization the identification of that trend as well as the corrective actions are a great way to validate the importance of Safety and to strive for continuous improvement.
The Role of Collaboration and Communication in Driving Cultural Change
The Medical side of the company was already familiar with the idea of continual improvement, Hazard Identification and similar due to their NAAMTA certification. Taking some of their requirements as well as the way their Event Review Committees are run was a great collaboration to ensure the SMS implementation didn’t interfere with their certifications.
Lessons Learned for Aviation Safety Professionals
The cultural shift and drive are akin to the phrase “how do you eat an elephant”…. but the elephant is infinitely large. The biggest hurdle is the initial implementation. Getting to a point where you won’t have to continually re-enforce the safety culture isn’t going to happen. Incorporate safety into your regular schedule of events and stay consistent.
ACSF will continue our Safety Spotlight series as we delve deeper into the strategies and challenges of changing safety culture and achieving FAA SMS Part 5 compliance in record time. If you would like further information about ACSF or our programs, please contact us.
