Improving airside safety risk management at airports
Identifying human and organisational factors behind persistent airside safety risks to strengthen airport safety management.
The Challenge
Despite several safety interventions at a major European airport, residual safety risks persisted in airside operations. The task was to understand the deeper, systemic human and organisational factors that influenced behaviours, beyond simply looking at operational practices.
The Outcome
The investigation revealed that human and organisational factors are the primary drivers of residual safety risks in airside operations. Leadership practices were found to need better alignment with safety protocols to cultivate a stronger safety culture. The study also pointed out that proactive risk mitigation should focus on leading indicators, such as near-misses and safety audits, rather than solely on past incidents. Based on these insights, the recommendations involve strengthening leadership commitment to safety, enhancing staff involvement in decision-making, and implementing proactive safety measures using leading indicators to prevent incidents before they escalate.
ISO certified
