Safety…
Image: Safety
Safety means preventing injury to people or damage to aircraft, vehicles or infrastructure due to human error or technical failure
and Security
Image: Security
Security means preventing criminal acts deliberately committed at an airport. Security procedures are designed to prevent illegal penetration of the aviation system.
afety Management System
Image: ZRH Safety Management System cycle
Zurich Airport’s Safety Management System is a systematic, comprehensive process for managing safety risks. The aim of the SMS is to identify and as far as possible minimise events, incidents or accidents in the operational zones of Zurich Airport. This is achieved by following standardised operational and safety processes.
These are documented in the airport manual (N.B. this manual is only available in German). The SMS comprises four main elements: safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, monitoring safety and promoting safety.
Human Factors at Zurich Airport
Image: Factors affecting the work processes
Accidents in operational zones are almost always due to human error and failure to comply with operational procedures and rules. There are many factors affecting the way employees go about their work. Many airport staff work shifts, which regularly causes problems.
These can be due to inadequate communication when shifts change, but fatigue can also be a problem, leading to impaired performance and falling asleep for a moment. All employees are responsible for ensuring that they go about their work as safely as possible. This can mean refusing tasks that put their own safety or that of the airport at risk.