JUNE 2013 GROUND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL
achieve this! A good ramp manager will know his staff and be able to identify any weaknesses. Note I say a “good” ramp manager; unfortunately, I have met a few mediocre ones in my time. I know that, by the time you’ve
reached the exalted heights of ramp manager, you should be able to look forward to a nice warm offi ce instead of the minus temperatures and horizontal snow conditions of the apron. To a certain extent that will be true as the industry becomes driven more and more by paperwork; however, there must still be time for MBWA or Management By Walk Around. Yes, get up from the offi ce chair, put on the Hi Vis and get out there. You’re probably the only one who’s going to do it; after all, I doubt HR will show up to evaluate a ramp worker at O-dark-hundred. All the people I’ve focused on are, on the ramp, the backbone of any safety culture and, therefore, the success or failure of any SMS. Pick the right staff for the job, train them properly, treat them right and that illusive continuous improvement will come a step closer. That’s as far up the chain of
command I’m going for now. People far above this Ramp Tramp’s pay grade will be more than willing to give their advice, at a price, to the more senior members of any company.
Looking ahead
Before closing, I’d like to beg your indulgence for a little longer on the subject I started with, that of ground damage. I mentioned the forthcoming conference in Barcelona this September organised by this magazine’s publisher, Tim. I know the fi nancial restraints most companies in this industry suffer, especially on perceived “jollys” to conferences but this subject has been talked around for years, with the alphabet groups all calling for your time. It’s a problem that’s not going to go away by itself; it needs to be constantly in the forefront of everybody’s thinking in this industry. I’m not here to endorse this particular conference (although it won’t do my standing with the publisher any harm) but I do feel that properly organised and managed talking shops
SAFETY UPDATE 19
such as this can be valuable - but only if all participants are honest, not only with the audience, but themselves. The approach must be to share information, not blow the company trumpet and be “satisfi ed” with one’s company performance.
As has been said many times before, as long as there is the man/machine interface, we will never achieve the ultimate of zero accidents but we must all strive to achieve the lowest acceptable rate and, right now, we’re nowhere near it. If you attend any of the safety conferences and come away with just one idea that prevents just one serious ground damage incident, then that cost is justifi ed. Remember the old adage: “there is no such thing as a new accident, they’re all just old accidents in different places”. Share information, work together and between everybody out there we can reduce the crippling cost to the aviation industry.
Rant over and I thank you for your attention. Stay safe, Neale
Your GSE business partner GSE Services
. . . .
. . . .
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Rental and Operational leasing Ramp assistance and maintenance Fleet Management
15 000 units in 60 airports
Supply of secondhand GSE All brands
Motorized and non-motorized Full Refurbishment is possible
Over 1.000 units sold all over the world
www.gseforsale.aero
TCR is an exhibitor : Interairport October 8-11, Munich. Stand D54 Outdoors
info@tcr-group.com TCR_Ann_134x189_042013.indd 1
www.tcr-group.com 25/04/13 16:53
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