the clock angle is the reference to acceptable tolerances. Everything has limits and tolerances … except current safety programs. Even though a 0.0 IPS reading is theoretically possible in helicopter balancing, it is not practical in the real world. The same goes for a safety program. Yes, there is balance equipment more precise than a Chadwick or RADS with tolerances in the millionths of IPS, but it still has a tolerance. So why don’t safety programs have tolerances?


GOALS VS. DREAMS


Don’t get me wrong; I do not condone experiencing a single injury nor a single incident of damage. Still, arbitrarily stating “zero” as a safety goal—when history and science point to the astronomical low odds of ever achieving that level—makes “zero” a dream instead of a goal. Nobody wants to get hurt, injure someone, or damage equipment. Still, it


About the author: After a 32-year career in maintaining helicopters, Scott Skola provides limited maintenance consulting services through his company, TEK Aviation LLC. He can be contacted at tekaviation@cox.net .


happens. Everyone knows that nothing in life is perfect. So why should a safety program set a goal of perfection? Just like the task of balancing, sometimes to hit the bull’s-eye we have to do a little less, or we create new problems. I’m reminded of an old cartoon drawing that depicted a fi ring squad encircling their intended victim. Except in our case the victim is an incident or accident. Safety should not be a target or even a destination, but rather a never-ending journey.


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