Dr. Baron performs extensive work in his core specializations of Human Factors (HF), Safety Management Systems (SMS), Crew Resource Management (CRM), and Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). He consults with, and provides training to, hundreds of aviation organizations on a worldwide basis. Projects range from short workshops all the way up to, and including, full safety program implementation at some of the largest airlines and aircraft manufacturers in the world. He also works with various civil aviation authorities and accident investigation bureaus to improve safety at the very highest levels of the aviation system.
Project Examples
Dr. Baron worked with a Caribbean airline (400+ employees) as its primary safety instructor and consultant for a continuous four year period. He was responsible for teaching CRM courses to the airline's pilots and flight attendants as well as human factors courses to its maintenance engineers.
Dr. Baron developed and implemented Cessna Aircraft's human factors training program for 2300+ employees. This was a six month project that was conducted on a highly collaborative basis with Cessna safety personnel. The consulting engagement included development of customized training media, train-the-trainer courses, and assessment methods. He received excellent feedback on this major project and Cessna Aircraft has been cited as having a world class human factors training program for its employees (cited in Aviation Maintenance Magazine, January 2009).
Dr. Baron continues to work with various airlines, airports and aircraft maintenance facilities in the implementation of their SMS. These are not "one shot training courses." Rather, these are organizations that are working diligently to implement a functional SMS with the assistance of a properly trained and experienced consultant. Some of these SMS consulting engagements have been ongoing for a few years to ensure that the organizations are successfully implementing their SMS based on the Four Phase approach.
Safety Management Systems (special mention)
Dr. Baron began teaching and consulting in SMS in 2006, long before SMS became a buzzword in the United States. Today, it seems like everybody is (or wants to be) an SMS expert. Sadly, this has led to poor guidance, and ultimately, much frustration for organizations attempting to implement a functional SMS.
SMS is not something that should be attempted by someone without the proper qualifications and experience. An analogy would be: Yes, you could have a nurse remove your gall bladder but you'd probably have much better results if you had a trained surgeon remove it! The same applies to SMS.
Dr. Baron did not jump on the SMS bandwagon; instead, he has developed a foundation of academic and practical experience that has been time tested. He has a Ph.D in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (the things safety culture and SMS are built on), has conducted dissertation research on safety climate at an aircraft maintenance facility, and works globally (in the trenches) as an aviation safety consultant, implementing SMS and acting as a cultural change agent in some of the most challenging parts of the world.