What is a Safety Management System (SMS)?

A Safety Management System (SMS) is fundamentally defined as a systematic approach to managing safety. This encompasses a comprehensive framework that integrates safety practices into organizational operations, providing structure to identifying, evaluating, and controlling safety risks. The SMS emphasizes proactive measures rather than reactive responses, ensuring that safety is a core part of the organization's culture.

An effective SMS involves planning and implementing safety policies, setting objectives and performance standards, conducting risk assessments, and continuously monitoring and improving safety performance. This systemic approach is critical in industries such as naval operations, where safety can have significant implications for personnel and equipment.

The other options, while related to aspects of safety or operational efficiency, do not encapsulate the broader and more integrated nature of an SMS. Personal conduct rules, employee training programs, and equipment usage tracking are elements that can contribute to safety management but do not represent the comprehensive approach defined by an SMS.