Med-Trans Corporation (MTC) Safety Management System (SMS)

The MTC SMS is designed to systematically integrate Safety and Occupational Health (S&OH) requirements - (OSHA), Risk Management (RM) practices and principles, and proactive accident/incident prevention methodologies across the entire spectrum of MTC operations to include flight operations; dispatch/flight following; maintenance and inspection; aircraft safety; ground handling and servicing; medical services; and training. End-state is a comprehensive and effective SMS that addresses regulatory and compliance requirements while providing guidance and tools that facilitate a safe and healthful work environment for MTC employees, associates, and customers.

The MTC SMS was established by directive of the MTC President and CEO and is managed by the MTC Safety Director. The effectiveness of the MTC SMS is directly attributable to resourcing and the involvement, advocacy, and active participation of all MTC Senior Leadership, Managers, employees, and associates. The MTC SMS was developed consistent with the requirements outlined in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Safety Management Manual (Doc 9859-AN/460) and AC 120-92, Introduction to Safety Management Systems for Air Operators. However, the MTC SMS also considers aspects of AC 120-59A, Air Carrier Internal Evaluation Programs; AC 120-66B, Aviation Safety Analysis Programs (ASAP); AC 120-79, Developing and Implementing a Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System; and AC 120-82, Flight Operational Quality Assurance. The MTC SMS also achieves some transferability regarding ISO 9001:2000, Quality Management System; AS 9001, Aerospace Basic Quality System Standard; ISO 14001, Environmental Quality Management System; and OHSAS 18001, International Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series in terms of meeting certain aspects of the aforementioned literature. Additionally, the MTC SMS is in compliance with applicable Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory requirements and meets or exceeds the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) standards and has achieved laudable comments during accreditation evaluations of participating programs.

The MTC SMS is centric to four essential core elements, which are Policy, Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. The following paragraphs provide a brief synopsis of these elements:

Policy. MTC Senior Management is directly involved in the establishment, implementation, resourcing, and continuous improvement of the MTC SMS. The MTC safety policy, procedures and controls are outlined in our Safety Manual, which includes philosophy, responsibilities, program elements, accident/incident procedures, etc…. Additionally, safety is interwoven throughout the MTC General Operations Manual (GOM), Policies and Procedures Manual, Training Manual, and Maintenance Manual. We at MTC operate on the principle that all aspects of our operations are interdependent and establishing standardized procedures and training to those standards are indispensable for ensuring effective and safe operations.

Risk Management (RM). The MTC SMS is compliance-based in terms of meeting regulatory requirements and guidelines. However, a critical aspect of the overall MTC SMS is the ability to evaluate total systems, specific operations, and individual tasks to identify and remediate inherent risk. RM is the primary tool utilized by MTC managers and personnel to mitigate hazards and reduce risks to their lowest possible level. The MTC RM process is a cyclic, dynamic, and systematic process of identifying hazards, assessing their risk in terms of probability and severity, developing targeted and practical control measures, implementing those controls, and supervising and evaluating their effectiveness.

Safety Assurance. MTC Senior Management is actively involved in the continuous assessment and improvement of the MTC SMS. We conduct both internal and external surveys/audits of all base operations to ensure compliance with established MTC, FAA, OSHA, and EPA, regulatory requirements/standards. Likewise, we mirror where applicable those Best Safety Practices and guidelines established by the NFPA, ANSI, CAMTS, and other relevant institutions and associated literature. We collect and analyze information to identify systemic issues/trends, track deficiencies and corrective actions, and continuously monitor the operational environment for potential hazards. Hazard remediation measures are prioritized based on assigned Risk Assessment Codes and corrective actions directed and tracked by Senior Management. The importance of measuring the success of the MTC SMS cannot be overstated. We collect and analyze data in order to gauge the internal safety climate and to identify trends and leading indicators of safety-related challenges. Correspondingly, we adapt as necessary by formulating prevention strategies, the success of which are measured through lagging indicators such as recurring reports, survey and audit results, and incident and accident rates. As an example, MTC underwent a comprehensive external audit by a former Principal Operations Inspector (POI) of all Bases/Programs in 2007 that validated our compliance and provided focus areas for improvement.

Safety Promotion. We at MTC recognize the importance of establishing a viable safety culture. We believe in whole life safety. We believe that safety is a core value and character attribute that must be embraced by the individual and permeate the entire corporate body. The MTC President and CEO has created a climate that facilitates achieving our desired culture by emphasizing safety as the fundamental underpinnings for everything we do, providing clearly communicated directives, and empowering employees at every level to take personal responsibility for the success of the MTC SMS. Our published core values are:

Safety as the number one priority! We believe in safe operations at every level of our endeavors.
World-class care for our patients- We believe in providing excellent medical care and the maximum possible comfort to patients and their families and loved ones.
We believe we need to caring for others as well as our Med-Trans family more than anything.

SMS Highlights

Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) Program: MTC developed and implemented a comprehensive HAZCOM Program to address the risks associated with Hazardous Materials/Substances (HAZMAT) in the workplace/work area. The HAZCOM Program elements include such things as access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), HAZMAT Container/National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Labeling, HAZCOM/HAZMAT Training, etc… The MTC MSDS Online Tool, which is utilized by our Site Safety Officers (SSO) and Maintenance Technicians to digitally manage their Base/Program HAZCOM Programs. The MTC MSDS Online Tool is cutting edge web-based technology and is accessible to all MTC employees.

MTC Safety SharePoint Site: The Safety SharePoint Site is a repository of safety-related guidance, tools, and reference materials for use by all MTC Base/Program Site Safety Officers (SSOs), Managers, and employees. There are a number of folders and sub-folders that contain such things as the MTC Safety Manual and Appendices, Reporting Procedures and Forms, Inspection Checklists, OSHA, and other components of the MTC SMS. The Safety SharePoint Site and SMS are based the on the principle of continuous quality improvement in that the MTC SMS is dynamic and will continue to evolve as additional SMS elements are developed and Best Safety Practices or innovations are identified in the HEMS, Commercial, or International aviation communities. SharePoint Sites are likewise available for Maintenance and Operations providing functional area centric compliance-based information that is continuously updated and accessible to all MTC employees such as the MTC General Operations, Training, Maintenance, and Policies and Procedures Manuals. The MTC Intranet also provides for such things as web-based recurring reports, automated Operational Control Forms, and a myriad of additional tools that are designed to enhance the overall standardization and operational safety of the organization.

MTC Safety Learning Management System (LMS): The MTC Safety LMS is a web-based tool, which will allow MTC to fulfill our OSHA, EPA, and FAA compliance and safety-related training requirements. The MTC Safety LMS will include a repository of compliance-based and safety-related courses to include Bloodborne Pathogens, HAZCOM/HAZMAT, Personal Protective Equipment, etc… The Site is accessible 24-7 by any MTC employee that has access to the internet. We will be able to assign specific curriculum to individuals, track completions, test comprehension, and document the training. We will also be able to house our existing training that is functional area specific, document completions, and develop MTC centric training using the state-of-the-art LMS software.

MTC Hands-On Training: A significant safety-related control measure and Best Safety Practice (BSP) that defines MTC as an industry leader is our internal hands-on training program. We exceed industry standards and FAA regulatory requirements by providing quarterly hands-on training to all pilots. Likewise, every employee receives initial hire safety-related training and job-specific training related to our internal policies and procedures and the aircraft we operate. Additionally, we go beyond compliance-based safety by providing initial and refresher CRM/AMRM training and empowering our crewmembers through our “MTC Three (3) To Go - One (1) To Say No Policy” or restated - three can go, but it only takes one to say no to be actively involved in the safe outcome of every mission, every day.

Safety & Technology: We have also leveraged technology to enhance safety in terms of implementing a Night Vision Goggle (NVG) program that will be 100% complete by January 2009. Additionally, a portion of our existing fleet and all of the recently purchased MTC aircraft include Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) and Traffic and Collision Alert Devices (TCAD) as part of the standard configuration.

Way-Ahead: MTC has been extremely successful in terms of enjoying accident/incident free operations over time by managing risk and ensuring that safety is the “watchword’ in everything we do. MTC Senior Leadership and Management will continue to enhance our already well-established and successful safety-minded organization and are committed through advocacy, technology, innovation, and grass-roots participation (enculturation) to continue to be an industry leader in safety.

Larry C. Bugg is the MTC Safety Director and is a Safety Professional with 30-years of aviation experience. Larry’s education includes a BS in Professional Aeronautics with a concentration in Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), a Masters of Aviation Business Administration Degree from ERAU, and a Masters of Industrial Technology and Safety Management from Texas A & M University. He is a World Safety Organization Certified Safety Executive (WSO-CSE), a Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO) – General Industry, and an OSHA Outreach Trainer – General Industry.

If you have questions regarding the MTC SMS, please contact the MTC Safety Director via email: bugglarry@med-trans.net