Safe to say—humor intended—most folks perceive safety as “ways to protect a person, place, or thing from physical harm.” To that perception of safety, I add “emotional harm, and economic harm”—caused by the physical harm or by a non-physical, stand-alone event, e.g., violating a regulation.
To maximize physical, emotional, and economic safety at the lowest cost, apply the science of system safety.
System Safety
The science of system safety started in the 1940s. In 1969, after nearly three decades of evolution, it was codified in MIL-STD-882 Department of Defense Standard Practice, System Safety. MIL-STD-882 remains the benchmark for civilian organizations and the Department of Defense.
I interpret the definition of system safety in MIL-STD-882 as:
Using engineering and business management methods to find and rank hazards, define and rate the risk of each hazard, and develop continuous improvement tools to minimize or eliminate the hazards and risks.
Organizations apply system safety to their operations by creating and implementing a Safety Management System (SMS).
SMS methods nearly equal accepted total quality management methods, but an SMS maximizes safety.
Safety Management System Benefits
A Safety Management System (SMS) reduces costs, increases safety, and improves compliance with global standards and regulations by identifying, minimizing, and continuously managing hazards, risks, and tribal knowledge.
Advisory Circular AC 120-92a*
Air Carriers operating under 14 CFR 121 are required to implement an SMS by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Some Repair Stations operating under 14 CFR 145 are voluntarily implementing an SMS.
Advisory Circular AC 120-92a Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers describes the scope and detail of an FAA-acceptable SMS.
*AC 120-92a is a valuable resource for safety-sensitive, non-aviation operations.