THE FIRST SLICE OF CHEESE: A DISCUSSION OF SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND THEIR POTENTIAL INFLUENCE(S) ON SAFETY

摘要

James Reason’s Accident Causation Model identifies organizational factors as being the first protective barrier available to the aviation industry in addressing latent conditions that may lead to hazards, incidents and accidents. Leadership (or lack of) at the organizational level can have an impact on the overall safety climate of an organization and its ability to perform that function. This paper includes a brief review of relevant leadership theory as it relates to aviation as well as organizational variables commonly used in social sciences that may contribute to varying levels of safety climate/culture in the aviation industry. A brief review of safety regulation in the United States is covered along with a discussion on leadership and other social variables that may contribute to overall organizational safety is presented. Aviation related accident case studies involving organizational factors are reviewed. A model of the effects of social factors on safety climate in aviation and directions for future research is proposed.