P2 - I may not have been clear - I was advocating an independent safety director reporting to the CEO with the budget and resources required NOT safety officers subordinate to directors of ops and maintenance.
dhc2widow - your GAP example relates to reporting of misconduct. That is not what ASAP or any of theother equivalent schemes are aimed at. If it is a case of misconduct then most national aviation authorities have a means of such reporting. However as you are aware, reporting to TCCA, for example, does not always results in a comprehensive investigation or enforcement if required. But that is a failure in regulation not reporting.