b'52 DENSAFETYVenkataraman highlights DENs phasedsee something, say something and then do implementation as a successful strategy.something. The message to employees is, Incremental go-live dates and trainingIf you can safely remove the hazard, remove sessions allow airport users to gain athe hazard, wipe up the spill, move the fuel thorough understanding of the technologycart. Do what is needed, and then let us and its utility, she explains.know about it so we can track it from a larger, systemic perspective, Krabbenhoft explains. Revisiting and Rewarding SafetyHe also stresses open and honest Krabbenhoft notes that DEN conductscommunication. Its critical to be able to an inspection of its SMS on a three-yearsit down, talk though issues, and ask what rolling cycle, using either an internal orwe can do better.external audit to ensure that there are no holes. This commitment allows the airportGetting Buy-In to continue working through processesKrabbenhoft reports that the SMS team and procedures for ongoing improvement.spent a lot of time meeting with senior Keeping a strong risk register and followingleadership, directors, managers and up on those risks in a meaningful andsupervisors to explain what it was trying to intelligent way is another big piece of thedo and how they could help. The real key is, safety assessment, he adds.if you have a team thats big enough, sendThe airport uses commemorative coins to acknowledge employees who show a Safety promotions or bulletins are sentthem out into the field and have them spendnotable commitment to safety. out quarterly, with additional messagestime with the different groups, he advises. issued whenever a specific issue needs toTo secure system-wide buy-in,sharing and ensuring privacy. How do we be addressed. For 12 years, DEN has heldhe recommends sharing informationshare information in a way that protects an annual Safety Summit, where airportfrequently and in digestible formats.everybody, but we still get the meaningful professionals from around the industryFor example, DEN created a two-pagedata we need for our business to run gather to discuss successful safetysummary of its thick SMS Manual for allproperly? Thats one of the bigger things programs. stakeholders, complete with bullet pointswere still working through.Acknowledging safe practices on-the- of the goals and most critical aspects.One key takeaway from DENs experience spot, as they occur has proved to beKrabbenhoft also encourages othercreating an SMS Manual to serve everyone effective at DEN. Members of the Safetyairports to make it easy for end users to fileat the airport, is that it cannot be limited Team can award a Safety Award challengereports about safety concerns, and cautionsto Part 139 requirements. Invite as many coin to any worker who demonstrates aagainst performing risk assessments in apeople as you can to the table, Krabbenhoft noteworthy commitment to making thevacuum. Invite everybody to the table. Askrelates. Be very flexible and open to insight airport a safer place. Thats really helpedthe questions, he urges. from other groups, other airports, on how drive this along, Krabbenhoft reports.they best do business. And always be willing A reporting app called See Say AirportBecause safety is an airport-wideto ask the question of Why?responsibility at DEN, all employees have also figures prominently into DENs overallstop-work authority. Any time anythingI think its incumbent upon the safety program. Initially, it offered employeesfeels weird, we want them to be able toteam to help everybody across the airport a way to anonymously flag securitypause the operation and ask the necessaryask, Can we do it a little bit different? Is violations, but its use has expandedquestions, Krabbenhoft explains.there a safer way to do it? significantly over the last decade. Now, employees and passengers alike canHe describes the SMS team as aLooking ahead, officials at DEN plan use the digital tool to report anythingrobust group of employees who areto expand safety training for employees from a leaky faucet or concessions issuechampions of safety. A big part of theirand airport partners, as well as enhance to human trafficking and airfield safetyrole is talking to coworkers to developthe use of data analytics to proactively concerns. Users can include photos,and promote practices and proceduresmanage safety trends. videos and GPS location information inthat make the airport safer for everyone.The safety of our employees and text messages that are sent directly toOne of their guiding goals is to createpassengers is the top priority at DEN, airport authorities for investigation. Wevepersonal partnerships that help reduce risksays Washington. Im proud that DEN is gotten a really good response from that vs. creating well-intended systems thata leader when it comes to safety policies about 600 reports each month, reportsactually dont work for employees. and practices. We will continue to work Krabbenhoft.Krabbenhoft notes that among all ofalongside the federal government, major In general, DEN works to elevate the seethe successes, some industry-wide SMSU.S. airports and airlines to share best something, say something philosophy tochallenges remainparticularly about datapractices and improve safety standards across the industry.July | August 2025AirportImprovement.com'