(a) Any person required to have an SMS under this part must have a safety policy that includes at least the following:

(1) The person's safety objectives.

(2) The person's commitment to fulfill the safety objectives.

(3) A clear statement about the provision of the necessary resources for the implementation of the SMS.

(4) A safety reporting policy that defines requirements for employee reporting of safety hazards or issues.

(5) A policy that defines unacceptable behavior and conditions for disciplinary action.

(6) An emergency response plan that provides for the safe transition from normal to emergency operations in accordance with the requirements of § 5.27.

(7) A code of ethics that is applicable to all employees, including management personnel and officers, which clarifies that safety is the organization's highest priority.

(b) The safety policy must be signed by the accountable executive described in § 5.25.

(c) The safety policy must be documented and communicated throughout the person's organization.

(d) The safety policy must be regularly reviewed by the accountable executive to ensure it remains relevant and appropriate to the person.

(a) Any person required to have an SMS under this part must define in its safety policy the accountability for safety of the following individuals:

(1) Accountable executive, as described in § 5.25.

(2) All members of management in regard to developing, implementing, and maintaining SMS processes within their area of responsibility, including, but not limited to:

(i) Hazard identification and safety risk assessment.

(ii) Assuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls.

(iii) Promoting safety as required in subpart E of this part.

(iv) Advising the accountable executive on the performance of the SMS and on any need for improvement.

(3) Employees relative to the person's safety performance.

(b) The person must identify the levels of management with the authority to make decisions regarding safety risk acceptance.

(a) Designation of the accountable executive. Any person required to have an SMS under this part must identify an accountable executive who, irrespective of other functions, satisfies the following:

(1) Is the final authority over operations authorized to be conducted under the person's certificate(s) or Letter(s) of Authorization.

(2) Controls the financial resources required for the operations to be conducted under the person's certificate(s) or Letter(s) of Authorization.

(3) Controls the human resources required for the operations authorized to be conducted under the person's certificate(s) or Letter(s) of Authorization.

(4) Retains ultimate responsibility for the safety performance of the operations conducted under the person's certificate(s) or Letter(s) of Authorization.

(b) Responsibilities of the accountable executive. The accountable executive must accomplish the following:

(1) Ensure that the SMS is properly implemented and is performing across all pertinent areas.

(2) Develop and sign the safety policy.

(3) Communicate the safety policy throughout the person's organization.

(4) Regularly review the safety policy to ensure it remains relevant and appropriate to the person.

(5) Regularly review the safety performance and direct actions necessary to address substandard safety performance in accordance with § 5.75.

(c) Designation of management personnel. The accountable executive must designate sufficient management personnel who, on behalf of the accountable executive, are responsible for the following:

(1) Coordinate implementation, maintenance, and integration of the SMS throughout the person's organization.

(2) Facilitate hazard identification and safety risk analysis.

(3) Monitor the effectiveness of safety risk controls.

(4) Ensure safety promotion throughout the person's organization as required in subpart E of this part.

(5) Regularly report to the accountable executive on the performance of the SMS and on any need for improvement.

Where emergency response procedures are necessary, any person required to have an SMS under this part must develop, and the accountable executive must approve as part of the safety policy, an emergency response plan that addresses at least the following:

(a) Delegation of emergency authority throughout the person's organization.

(b) Assignment of employee responsibilities during the emergency.

(c) Coordination of the emergency response plans with the emergency response plans of other organizations it must interface with during the provision of its services.