Safety Risk Management
We implement the safety management system (SMS) in accordance with the safety management policy to ensure that the SMS functions smoothly.
Safety Information Gathering and Dissemination
Information Gathering
In collecting information related to safety, we collect and analyze not only manifest but also latent information, identify hazards, and take preventive measures to prevent recurrence of aviation accidents and other incidents that may affect safe operations, as well as preventive measures.
Safety-related information is collected from a wide range of sources, including reports from various departments regarding unsafe incidents, flight data analysis programs, as well as crew fatigue risk management programs and alcohol-related risk management programs, and used to prevent the occurrence of unsafe incidents. Since FY2021, we established a management policy on crew fatigue risk and made efforts to gather further information.
Fatigue Risk Management Program
In order to contribute to the improvement of flight safety and quality, we gather data to manage fatigue-related risks among pilots and cabin crew and take appropriate corrective action based on the gathered data.
（Fatigue Risk Management Policy）
It is recognized that fatigue risk of flight crew and cabin crew is an inevitable hazard that exists during an operation, and the company shall endeavor to effectively manage and reduce fatigue risk of flight crew and cabin crew to improve flight safety. JAL's fatigue risk management applies to all operations conducted by the company and is implemented through continuous, data-driven risk management based on scientific insight and performance. Fatigue risk management consists of stakeholders exercising the following responsibilities (Shared Responsibility).
Dissemination to the Employees
The collected information is disseminated to JAL Group employees in internal documents to prevent the recurrence of unsafe events and to raise safety awareness.
The main media for sharing safety information are as follows:
- Corporate Safety, an internal document providing the JAL Group's internal safety policy
- “Safety” webpage of JAL’s website
- ”Safety” webpage of our intranet
- Safety magazine ”FLIGHT SAFETY”
Safety Risk Management
The JAL Group manages safety risks through the following step-by-step process, establishes measures to ensure safety, and deals with accidents and events appropriately.
Identify hazard
Utilizing gathered information on unsafe conditions and unsafe events, we identify hazards and real or hidden risk factors with the potential to cause or contribute to an aircraft accident or serious incident. All safety events within the JAL Group are managed and shared in a common JAL Group database (JSD).
We have established an environment that facilitates and encourages reports from staff on unsafe behavior they have experienced or unsafe conditions they have found, and the resulting events (safety events).
Assess risk for Identification of the main risks
We determine the severity of consequences and the probability of occurrence, assess the acceptability of the risk level and examine the need to take action. In addition to risk assessment by departments where risks have emerged, the Corporate Safety and Security Division assesses hazards within the Group using Event Risk Classification (ERC) to detect potential risks as early as possible.
■ Risk assessment by Event Risk Classification (ERC)
Events are assessed from the viewpoint of the likelihood of hazardous events and the effectiveness of current control mechanisms (safety barriers) in order to strengthen proactive prevention of accidents. We also monitor the trend of concentration and frequency of events by scoring the risks and plotting them in each field for a certain period of time. When the cumulative score exceeds the threshold, we identify the safety issue and take mitigation measures, as necessary.
Establish measures
Each department establishes and implements measures to eliminate each hazard so that high priority risks are reduced to a tolerable level.
■ Causal analysis by Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS)
In order to reduce human error, we analyze not only unsafe behavior but also a wide range of factors such as procedures, working environments and organizational impacts, and take measures against underlying risk factors. We also statistically analyze the identified factors and address potential organizational issues to proactively prevent.
Monitor and review
Monitor the implementation of measures and evaluate their effectiveness. If the risk level is determined not to be acceptable, additional measures are established and implemented to ensure that the safety management system functions effectively.
Examples of risks identified by ERC and mitigation measures
Case 1 Falling Baggage Open
Case 2 Animals on Runway Open
Case 3 Falling Baggage Open
Case 4 Caught in Seat Open
Case 5 Trash Can Burst out Open
Emergency Response
Procedures for aircraft accidents, serious incidents and affairs are documented in the Aircraft Accident Handling Manual. In the event of an accident or a serious incident, an aircraft accident investigation committee or a serious incident review meeting is organized and causal investigation and review of countermeasures are conducted.
Procedures for other than aircraft accident, serious incidents and affairs are documented in the Risk Management Manual.
Disaster Measures
As natural disasters have become more frequent and severe, affecting social and economic activities including everyday life, it has become imperative for transport business operators to improve their preparedness for disasters to reduce and prevent the spread of damage, maintain business activities, and resume operations as quickly as possible. Under these circumstances, the JAL Group has established the JAL Group Disaster Handling Regulations and has built a framework to prevent and reduce damage by strengthening preparedness.