Safety Performance Indicators (or SPIs) – What are they? How do you define them? How do they help in the quest to improve safety? Discover the answers to these questions plus see examples of SPIs in our Practical Guide to SPIs.
Defining a Safety Performance Indicator
The International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) defines an SPI as a “data-based safety parameter, used for monitoring and assessing safety performance.” In non-aviation terms, you could compare SPIs to how a doctor monitors your vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. While an isolated vital sign may not mean much on its own, analyzing multiple vital signs together can paint a picture of your overall health. It’s the same with Safety Performance Indicators.
The more you’re involved with safety – and the Safety Management Systems in your operation – the more SPIs can be meaningful to you. With SPIs, organizations can nurture a performance-based safety management.
