Introduction
It is challenging to overestimate the significance of a Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) for every business entity. The rationale behind this statement is that an SSSP is an effective communication tool that outlines how health and safety should be managed (Site Safe, n.d.). In other words, such a document reveals hazards that can affect a business or industry, how it is possible to prevent and manage them, what reporting strategies exist, and others. This information is valuable for every company because it represents a complete guideline of how to deal with potential risks.
All the industries are subject to particular hazards, and an aviation one is not an exception. Typical risks include accidents, human errors leading to physical and psychological harm, oil price fluctuations, demand changes, and many others. Even though these issues adversely affect the industry and many stakeholders are interested in preventing them, it is impossible to achieve a zero-risk level because no people or systems can guarantee absolute safety (Cokorilo, 2020).
That is why an SSSP is essential for every aviation company, and the current document focuses on Air New Zealand. According to its official website, the company provides passenger and cargo services to millions of passengers per year (Air New Zealand, n.d.). When it comes to considering the aviation industry, most attention is typically drawn to passengers and their safety. However, the current SSSP focuses on the company’s department of cargo handlers. These professionals deal with loading, unloading, and securing aircraft luggage and cargo, and their job is associated with many potential hazards. That is why there is robust reasoning behind devoting the SSSP to this department.
The given SSSP will follow a particular structure to ensure that essential information is included. The Site Risk Assessment section will introduce potential physical and psychosocial hazards, and their probability will be presented using a risk assessment matrix. Risk inspection, reporting, and management details will be covered in the Hazard Control and Management section. A separate paragraph will explain what people visiting the site should know about occupational health and safety. Finally, corresponding sections will comment on employee training and participation in safety procedures.
Site Risk Assessment
The type of workplace results in the fact that physical and psychosocial hazards are possible. Physical risks refer to those factors that can cause physical harm to people or damages to equipment and vehicles. Many hazards can affect the cargo handling department of Air New Zealand. Firstly, a failure of a cargo crew to follow loading instructions can lead to employees’ injury and damage to luggage and airline equipment (SKYbrary, 2021).
Secondly, health and safety are endangered if cargo handlers load the baggage with a mass that exceeded allowed limits (Hlavaty & Kraus, 2017). This inefficiency can have tragic consequences, and a plane crash is among them. Thirdly, another risk refers to the fact that forbidden and dangerous items can be accepted to loading (Hlavaty & Kraus, 2017). This hazard can be directly associated with terrorist attacks that imply dramatic consequences.
Simultaneously, cargo handlers are subject to a few psychosocial hazards. Firstly, stress and conflicts are present in the aviation industry, which means that these issues can affect the department under consideration (Yarandi et al., 2020). This hazard can lead to many adverse consequences, and musculoskeletal disorders are among them. Secondly, the workload can lead to the fact that employees feel fatigued and cannot perform their job duties properly (Sarabia-LĂłpez et al., 2017). These findings demonstrate that stress and workload are essential psychosocial risks that adversely affect cargo handlers from Air New Zealand.
The information above reveals that the workplace under analysis is subject to many different risks. Thus, it is necessary to admit that some of them can be considered more significant than others. That is why Figure 1 by Chakib (2018) introduces a risk assessment matrix that can reveal whether a risk deserves attention. The grid uses a risk severity and likelihood to determine whether a risk is acceptable (green cells in the grid), unacceptable (red cells), or acceptable one that needs interventions (yellow cells). According to SKYbrary (2020), a qualitative approach to probability assessment is possible. It indicates that a risk is frequent if it can occur once or several times during operational life, while a highly improbable hazard virtually never occurs (SKYbrary, 2020). Thus, the assessment is more accurate if an experienced expert performed it.
Now, it is possible to fill in Figure 1 with the identified risks. A breach of professional instructions is in cell 4C (green) because it implies minimal damage to aircraft and minor injury to passengers, while it is unlikely to occur frequently. Increasing the allowed weight limit is found in cell 2C (red) because it can cause severe damages, while its frequency is not high. Simultaneously, cell 1D (red) brings a case of loading explosives and other dangerous events. Stress and conflicts are frequent, but their impact is minimal, meaning that this risk is in cell 5A (green). The workload is also frequent, but it can lead to minor damage or injuries, denoting that cell 5B (yellow) brings it.
Hazard Control and Management
Regular inspections are necessary to ensure that risk factors are minimized. Firstly, cargo handlers should have specific checklists that highlight what actions they should perform to complete loading, unloading, and securing baggage. These requirements should determine the order of actions, equipment use details, and others. This information denotes that all cargo handlers are responsible for following the checklists.
Secondly, there should be a specific employee in each shift, and their task will be to check whether a weight limit is met and whether dangerous and forbidden objects are not found. A shift supervisor or a specific employee should deal with this task. As for the psychosocial hazards, they can be investigated by asking cargo handlers to complete questionnaires that are designed to determine employees’ mental and working conditions.
There should be a particular process to report hazards that have already occurred. According to Jausan et al. (2017), a reporting system is crucial because it provides “managers and decision-makers with critical information on hazardous situations” (p. 96). That is why these individuals should make all the employees understand that if they have witnessed a hazard, it is necessary to report it to a responsible manager. In this case, templates can be appropriate because they structure information and can be completed within a short period of time. The template should include the date, employee’s full name, risk description, actions taken, and required actions.
In addition to that, it is necessary to comment on hazard management. Positive outcomes can be achieved if the airport agrees to use a comprehensive approach to the issue. It is reasonable to implement specific quality standards to ensure that the practice meets requirements. For example, Drljača et al. (2020) stipulate that it is appropriate to rely on the “ISO 9001: 2015 quality management system” (p. 10). If staff members are acquainted with the given document, they will know how they manage specific hazards that can emerge during cargo handling processes. This information demonstrates that all the employees bear responsibility for controlling and managing risks appropriately. However, it is worth admitting that a shift supervisor should ensure that their subordinates are aware of the applied management plan and can follow it.
Site Safety Briefing
People visiting the worksite should have the necessary knowledge to promote safety in the organization. Firstly, such individuals should become aware of what potential hazards can affect them. This information is essential because it prepares people for possible dangerous events. Secondly, these people should know what their expected actions are to manage and risks. This statement implies that even though organizations typically do their best to minimize possible risks, it is practically impossible to avoid them at all. That is why any person visiting the workplace should know the information that has been highlighted above. Thirdly, it is worth admitting that the visitors should be familiar with a risk reporting system and responsible employees. This condition is of significance because it ensures that if people discover a hazardous item or process, they know a person to whom they can direct this information. As for Air New Zealand, the visitors should know that potential risks are improper loading processes, increasing the mass allowed, terrorist attacks, stress, and workload. If a hazardous item or process is found, a person can disclose this information to a shift supervisor to help them respond to the problem.
Training Employees
Sufficient attention should be devoted to training employees to ensure that they promote the highest occupational health and safety standards. Firstly, it is necessary to make sure that the staff members are familiar with instructions and regulations. In this case, Knowles’ adult learning principles seem suitable because they maximize learning outcomes for adults who are interested in achieving knowledge and have some experience in the topic (Torrisi-Steele & Carim Jr., 2019). Once the employees gain this knowledge, the probability of avoiding or managing risks properly increases.
Secondly, it is necessary to ensure that the staff members know how to apply the obtained knowledge. This statement denotes that it is reasonable to organize training sessions for both novice and experienced workers. Such a procedure should help the staff members master skills that are required in their professional practice. For example, training sessions should demonstrate how loading and unloading requirements should be implemented, how to address a weight issue to avoid an overload, and what actions are needed in case of supposed terrorist attacks. Furthermore, managers should be trained in supervising their routine subordinates’ activities to ensure that risks are minimized.
Thirdly, it is also necessary to promote training to address psychosocial risk factors. In this case, educational sessions seem appropriate since they can improve workers’ interpersonal relationships. A suitable approach is to promote conflict resolution strategies, stress management skills, and others. If it is achieved, the workforce will have those personal qualities that are required for teamwork. Widodo et al. (2020) indicate that there is a positive connection between workplace stress and job satisfaction. That is why educational sessions are needed to teach the workers to manage psychosocial risks, which will lead to improved job performance.
Worker Participation and Representation
It is necessary to ensure that Air New Zealand should have worker participation and representation practices. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) (2015), participation denotes that employees should have clear and effective ways to raise concerns and suggest improvements regarding occupational health and safety. The reporting procedures that were discussed above are suitable for promoting worker participation.
Training and educational sessions are also applicable to disclose this information. Furthermore, representation implies that one or more workers should promote the interests of the entire workforce on health and safety matters (HSWA, 2015). Unions have the required authorities to ensure that a link between employees and management is possible, which allows staff members to affect the way of how they perform their professional duties and make it safer.
Conclusion
This Site-Specific Safety Plan has offered guidelines for the cargo handlers department in Air New Zealand. Within the organization, possible physical hazards include the violation of professional loading, unloading, and securing baggage instructions, increasing the allowed weight limit, and potential terrorist attacks. As for psychosocial risks, they are stress, conflicts, and workload. That is why inspection, reporting, and management requirements have been proposed to demonstrate how the organization can handle potential issues. Training sessions are required to improve the safety knowledge and skills among the workforce, while worker participation and representation can be ensured through the reporting procedure and unions.
References
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