Aerospace Industry: What Kind Of Safety Regulations Do Companies Need To Follow

Aerospace is one of the most advanced industries in modern times. It has helped contribute to life as we know it today. The aerospace industry was first started during World War II when aircraft manufacturers built military planes for combat missions. Aircraft manufacturing then moved into aviation, where they began to produce passenger planes that would carry people from country to country.

Although this industry has really taken off over the years, there is still a lot of research and development that needs to be done with regard to safety.

Obtain Certification And Licenses

Aircraft manufacturers must obtain an aviation license to do business in the state where they plan on operating. This is necessary because it prevents people from starting up businesses that are not qualified for this kind of work. To achieve certification, you must receive an AS9100 audit. 

This is a widely used management system in the aerospace industry. It helps to ensure that all employees have been properly trained, and have gone through background checks before being allowed to work on any project. An AS9100 audit is necessary if you plan on obtaining contracts to work for the military, commercial airlines, or any other organization that uses aerospace technology.

This audit requires an internal and external audit to assess your quality management system. It also ensures that aircraft manufacturers will follow all safety regulations and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) standards for their aircraft. 

Another reason why these licenses are important is that they show employees, customers, and investors that the business can be trusted to provide its best services.

Most importantly, without the proper certifications and qualifications, even if one wanted to help develop new planes or improve existing ones, he or she would not be allowed to do so since only companies that have obtained aviation licenses may hire engineers who can design new planes.

Comply With Regulations 

The Federal Aviation Administration also has regulations that need to be followed by manufacturers of aircraft and parts. These regulations mandated proper training on dangerous tasks like how to use hazardous chemicals, as well as safe working conditions on production floors.

The FAA ensures that manufacturers follow all regulations so that employees are protected at all times while under their employ. Aircraft manufacturing is one of the most advanced forms of engineering today because it took years of research and development before the new technology was allowed in this field of expertise.

Testing And Inspections

Aircraft manufacturers are required by law to test each plane that they build before it can be put into service. Failure to do this will result in a fine from the FAA. Also, once a plane has been built, they will need to fly it from one location to another at least three times over a period of time before it can go out onto the market.  They must do this to make sure that the plane will be safe for use and in compliance with United States standards. It is important for manufacturers to follow these procedures because they can be sued if something happens while their planes are in the air.

Combined, all of these regulations work together in order to maintain a high-quality standard in aviation technology. This ensures that when passengers get on board an airplane, they know that it has been inspected thoroughly by many different people so that the chances of anything happening during a flight are slim.

Even though there is no fool-proof way to assure safety 100% of the time, I think it’s fair to say that most would agree our current transportation system does its best at protecting people from harm.

State and Local Safety Regulations

There are no specific safety regulations that apply specifically to aerospace employees. Each state has its own rules and regulations when it comes to workplace safety, however; these vary from state to state. These rules generally cover such things as minimum wage, overtime pay rate, meal periods, etc. If an aerospace company is working on a project in one of the fifty states, they have had to abide by any applicable rules in that particular state regarding workplace standards.

National Standards

The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) was created by the U.S. Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

OSHA has several standards that apply to workplace safety, including standards that require employers to provide their employees with a place of employment free from recognized hazardous chemicals such as lead, arsenic, etc.; electrical hazards such as unguarded electric lines; work-related stress; non-ionizing radiation; infectious agents; noise levels/audible vibrations; slip, trip, fall hazards on walking/working surfaces; tools or equipment designed for use in a specific location or environment may not be used safely at a different location or environment; and scaffolding or ladders that are used improperly.

It is illegal for an employer to require an employee to work in an environment that the employee feels isn’t safe, including a situation where they feel threatened for taking action to protect their own safety. As you can see, there are many regulations put in place by both state and federal agencies on workplace safety.

These rules often overlap each other, but every effort is made on the part of all agencies involved to make sure that workers have a safe place to work and return home at the end of each day.

Workers’ Compensation

The Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) provides disability benefits and medical treatment for civilian employees injured during employment with the federal government.  This includes workers in the aerospace industry. Disabilities can arise from an accident while on duty, or because of conditions arising out of employment (NIOSH). Although there are many statutes and acts put into place by a variety of agencies to make sure that all workers have a safe place to work, unfortunately, accidents will happen.

This is why it is important for safety standards to be high and for employees to know their rights with regard to healthcare and safety on the job. If you feel your employer isn’t complying with state or federal standards, they should be reported as soon as possible.

Working in the aerospace industry carries a certain amount of responsibility because people’s lives are literally in your hands when you build planes or other forms of air transportation.

For this reason, safety is a huge concern for manufacturers and must be an issue that receives a lot of attention from all staff members involved with building planes and aircraft parts.

There have been cases in the past when companies failed to follow safety regulations, and there have been negative consequences as a result. It is important for manufacturers to understand why these rules exist, so they can work towards eliminating mistakes before they become problems.

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