Hi MB
perhaps I should have qualified that, and said EH is the new kid on my block. Having done a bit more research I can see he is a prolific and widely read academic.
I try to keep my range of reference books quite narrow, the ICAO publications regarding SMS is pretty good, some academic books to stretch the mind and challenge ones biases and views are always good.
I suspect that like many aviation safety managers these days, I have to find my own personal balance between "Information pull" and "Information push", or Mr "Information Overload" becomes an unwelcome guest at the party.
Certainly EH has caused me to stop and think, and if I can turn his ETTO theory into a win for me, and a win for the organisation that I am part of - how good would that be
Thought I might create a bit of a firestorm by quoting EH who says "Safety can't be measured, it is something you do".........Blindingly simply, and absolutely the way to approach safety management.
Too often I have seen Directors/senior managers, middle managers, and the workforce at large glaze over when you start to get onto some of the abstract language and concepts that has gone with the development of aviation SMS over the last few years.
It doesn't work.
What does work, is showing an individual where they are in an organisation, what the safety expectation of them is, and what we will do to support them. I basically brief the workforce to be my spies.
If you see something you come and tell me. I'll put the mechanisms in place to do that, and then I will get those responsible for whatever area or problem it is, to deal with it...........And then we'll tell you what we've done.
And at the top of the organisation, I want you to resource me, and your company, in a reasonable measure so that we can achieve "joined up" safety.
I could draw you a picture, but briefly it is about "horizontal" communications, procedures, practices which are pan organisational, and "Vertical" communications/procedures, practices that apply to one specific area, i.e. flight operations, maintenance, admin staff etc.
I found my own answer to SMS (After 4 years of trying) and have had it in working form for about 3 years now.
Always a process of fine tuning and tweaking, but I know what to discard, and what is relevant, the CAA like it too
Enough from me, a glass of something cool crispy and white beckons...
BS