I have worked in the Aviation department, and in that department, the safety of the workers is of foremost importance. There are specific safety protocols that are used to control safety risks. With each passing year, the focus on workplace health and safety has increased in the occupational health sector. The safety management system is a systematic approach by which business activities are managed, and the organizational structures and procedures help prevent accidents and injuries as well as minimize the risk of accidents. Having a reliable safety management system can help aviation be a safer business for each stakeholder. Aviation involves a large number of stakeholders, such as passengers, pilots, technicians, engineers, and others. Therefore, it is essential to have a robust safety policy that shows the responsibility, commitment, accountability, and coordination between management and other departments. Having safety policies will ensure that the safety of the workers is considered beforehand and that certain risks are reviewed by the administration. The management system also ensures that potential risks and hazards are identified and that there is a plan to mitigate those hazards. The safety management system in aviation requires proper planning and communication to determine potential hazards, such as accidents and incidents, as well as ways to avoid those accidents through appropriate training and other protocols. The management of aviation also needs to monitor any new safety concerns that might hamper the normal operation of the company. Having a robust safety management system would also ensure employee loyalty to the business, smoother operations, and reputation building for the company, leading to more revenue and benefits.
The Business Case for Workplace Safety
Safety management systems must adopt safety protocols, policies, and organizational structures and also focus on the safety of direct and indirect companies and people performing functions in and around aircraft. Increasing the safety of the business will ensure that the employees’ safety is considered vital to the company. Employers in aviation and other industries who take a keen interest in the health and safety of their employees will have a reduced number of accidents, injuries, and other incidents. By doing this, the costs of medical expenses, training new people to replace injured employees, conducting accident investigations, and other legal formalities are reduced. If an employer has made an effort to increase the safety of the workers, then productivity and financial gain will increase because healthy employees and a healthy workplace would lead to more benefits in the business. Also, workplace injuries will negatively influence the business bottom line because of direct and indirect costs related to injuries and illness as a result of an unsafe workplace environment. Examples of direct costs are medical expenses, paid leave, and a decreased workforce, while indirect costs include training for replacements, repair of damaged property, and others. If the business does not consider the safety of the workers, then it is likely that there will be more accidents and injuries due to unidentified risks and hazards. Also, the revenue generated will be mostly spent on the health of sick or injured employees. Businesses are run for benefits and sustainability, and if the safety of the primary stakeholders in the company, who are employees, is not being taken into account, then the bottom line of the business will be severely impacted because the cycle of medical compensation to injured people and training new replacements will continue, leading to financial loss.
Lessons From an Unsafe Workplace
The organization I previously worked for had no safety precautions for its workers. I used to work in a construction company, and the boss was not able to adopt the safety management system because of a lack of awareness regarding the importance of safety and its impact on the business. Job safety is a serious concern in the organization as employees spend most of their daily time at work, so it is essential for the workers to know that employers consider health and safety a top priority. Also, it is in the best interest of the company to increase productivity and profitability. It is observed that some people are allergic to the new paint on the walls of the rooms and therefore get sick. The boss argued that the company repainted the office last week, so it cannot afford to repaint the whole office. Because of the sickness, there is increased reimbursement for medical bills and absenteeism, impacting the productivity of the business, so for their safety, exposure to the paint should be reduced. The company also needs to have a safety management system for the workers, with a robust safety management department, policies, and skilled and experienced professionals to handle the safety management system. The company should work towards creating a safe and secure environment for employees to have high retention and increased optimal performance.
Major Operational Hazards in Aviation
The fifth hazard involved in aviation is wake turbulence, which is a disturbance in the atmosphere that is formed at the back of the aircraft as it passes through (Gerz et al.). A hard landing is when the aircraft hits the ground at a speed higher than the average speed. It can occur because of mechanical error, the pilot’s decision, or weather (Forbes and Lederman). Flameout is another hazard related to aviation, and it occurs when there is a loss of flame in the combustion chamber of the jet engine. It occurs because of fuel starvation, compressor issues, and other mechanical failures. Loss of control is a hazard that can lead to severe accidents, and it happens when an unintended departure of an aircraft occurs from controlled flight. Pilot error is a hazard when a pilot decides on a flight or the aircraft.
Risk Identification Mitigation and Communication
The hazards are mainly caused by mechanical errors, untrained personnel, and weather issues. Risk mitigation and planning are important in the aviation industry to reduce the hazards involved. For the reduction of risks, the first step is to characterize the root causes of the risks, such as whether the danger is because of mechanical error, untrained personnel, lack of experience, poor judgment, or weather. Evaluate and identify risk-elimination strategies and tools to reduce risks. For instance, better equipment, runways, aircraft, or training and consultations for the pilots. Assess which tool and strategy to prioritize for the benefit of the company. The safety resources, policies, and plans need to be devised for the safety of the employees and the financial interests of the company. Communicate and implement the strategies with the other departments and employees. Some of the risks might be uncertain, such as weather, and thus, the pilots should be trained and experienced to cater to the unforeseen weather needs of the flights.
Work Cited
Forbes, Silke J., and Mara Lederman. “Does Vertical Integration Affect Firm Performance? Evidence from the Airline Industry.” The RAND Journal of Economics, vol. 41, no. 4, 2010, pp. 765–90.
Gerz, Thomas, et al. “Commercial Aircraft Wake Vortices.” Progress in Aerospace Sciences, vol. 38, no. 3, 2002, pp. 181–208.
Academic Master Education Team is a group of academic editors and subject specialists responsible for producing structured, research-backed essays across multiple disciplines. Each article is developed following Academic Master’s Editorial Policy and supported by credible academic references. The team ensures clarity, citation accuracy, and adherence to ethical academic writing standards
Content reviewed under Academic Master Editorial Policy.
