A source from Aviation Safety Networks – recorded aviation accidents from 1942 to 2021 with airliner accidents ranging from 8 to 99, and fatalities range from 59 to 2389. Corp jet accidents ranging from zero to 13 and fatalities ranging from zero to 78 were recorded. Hijacking accidents ranging from zero to 86 and fatalities ranging from zero to 268 were recorded. These statistics clearly show that the magnitude of loss of life and asset were significant, and are evident that the aviation safety is a high hazard or high-risk level if not properly managed to reduce risk to As-Low-As-Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). Safety Experts are thus required to carry out safety studies and reviews for both life and fire safety, technical and process safety, and environmental safety at conception, design, procurement, installation, and maintenance stages of aviation assets. We focus more on the life and fire safety compliance aspects as they apply to the aviation sector in this context. A structured framework consisting of sets of processes, and tools for management of safety systems and programs are inevitable for aviation industry.
Life and fire safety are generally applied for protection of life, asset, environment and ensuring business continuity. However, special hazards and variation in the use of facilities brings about various protection options, and design philosophy. A mining site differs from a marine, offshore and aviation facility in use, nature of hazards, and safety strategy. The ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) lays out a baseline framework for safety, and risk management, yet there are needs for special hazard safety strategy.
AVIATION SAFETY CODES: Special nature hazards and risks are identified, and managed from the conception through the various stages of aviation product or facility lifecycle. NFPA 409 ‘Standard on Aircraft Hangars’ ensures protection of life and property by making provisions for proper construction and fire protection of hangars for storage, maintenance, and management of aircrafts. NFPA 418 ‘Standard for Heliports’ establishes fire safety benchmarks for operations of heliports, rooftops hangars to ensure protection of life, property, and helicopters. Unmanned aircraft systems ensure drone systems implementation, deployment, and use for public safety are met by means of NFPA 2400 Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations.
ROLE OF RISK CONSULTANTS: The Expert services are carried out by discipline consultants. These include Audits, Risk Assessments, Conception, Preliminary and Detailed Engineering in the development of an aviation facility or product.
William Nwaogu, Technical Advisor
SAFETY CONSULTANTS & SOLUTION PROVIDERS LIMITED.
