Aviation safety executives are moving away from manual safety systems in favour of connected digital platforms that provide instant visibility into workplace hazards, according to discussions at a recent industry forum.
EcoOnline, a safety and sustainability software company, hosted the virtual aviation forum in November with participants from Etihad Airways, FlySafair, ASL Airlines and London Luton Airport. The sessions focused on managing risks from airside disruptions to cyberattacks.
“Even a small error in aviation can have major consequences. We don’t get the luxury of ‘we’ll deal with it later’ — the response has to be instant, coordinated, and traceable from minute one,” said Eric Bodenstein, manager of aviation safety at FlySafair.
According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, accident and incident rates are at their lowest level in a decade. However, ongoing challenges with worker fatigue, manual handling and chemical exposure continue to require attention across the sector.
Chemical management moves digital
British Airways Engineering and London Stansted Airport are among the organizations using digital systems to manage chemical risks. London Stansted, which employs more than 12,000 workers and handles over 500 chemical materials, uses EcoOnline’s COSHH Management software to track substances including jet fuel, hydraulic oils, cleaning agents and de-icing fluids.
The software allows safety teams to conduct risk assessments and maintain audit readiness across multiple departments.
Injury rates decline with improved reporting
Menzies Aviation, a ground-handling company, has seen personal injury rates drop nearly 60 per cent since 2022 after implementing EcoOnline EHS software, according to the company.
At Liverpool John Lennon Airport, QR-code functionality for incident reporting has increased real-time reporting among frontline workers.
Emergency response systems digitized
Airlines including Vueling and ASL Aviation Holdings are digitizing emergency response plans using EcoOnline’s D4H crisis management solution.
“Using D4H has completely transformed the way we manage emergencies. With an intuitive interface, it allows us to carry out complex tasks in chaotic environments in an agile, organised manner,” said Laura Díaz Fernández, emergency response manager at Vueling.
Robin Blanford, senior vice-president of product at EcoOnline, said the aviation sector is moving from compliance-based safety routines to proactive systems that provide real-time alerting and connected visibility.
EcoOnline provides environment, health and safety software to more than 11,000 businesses globally.
