Safety Management Systems – 673 Subpart C
As previously noted, FTA has adopted SMS as the basis for improving safety across the public transportation industry. In compliance with the National Safety Program, National Public Transportation Safety Plan, and 49 CFR Part 673, PBT is adopting SMS as the basis for directing and managing safety and risk at our agency. PBT has always viewed safety as a core business function. All levels of management and employees are accountable for appropriately identifying and effectively managing risk in all activities and operations in order to deliver improvements in safety and reduce risk to the lowest practical level during service delivery.
SMS is comprised of four basic components - SMP, SRM, SA, and SP. The SMP and SP are the enablers that provide structure and supporting activities that make SRM and SA possible and sustainable. The SRM and SA are the processes and activities for effectively managing safety as presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Safety Management Systems
Safety Promotion (Communication and Training)
Safety Risk Management (Identify, Assess, and Mitigate)
Safety Assurance (Measure, Monitor, and Evaluate)
Safety Management Policy (Leadership, Commitment, and Accountability)
Implementing SMS at PBT will be a major undertaking over the next several years. This ASP is the first step to putting in place a systematic approach to managing our agency's risk. PBT has already taken several steps to implement SMS, such as developing this initial ASP and designating a CSO. During the first year of implementation, PBT will identify SMS roles and responsibilities and key stakeholder groups, identify key staff to support implementation, and ensure the identified staff receive SMS training. PBT will also develop a plan for implementing SMS, inform stakeholders about the ASP, and discuss our progress toward implementation with the Pine Bluff City Council and our agency's planning partners.
