Simple or complex, the structure of most safety management systems cover the topics presented in the diagram. These correspond to the sources of 'system failure' contained in James Reason's 1997 'Swiss Cheese' framework.

BSMS Inc uses the schematic on the right as the base for designing or assessing the effectiveness of a safety management system. The design of such a system is tailored to suit 'local' circumstances. Assessments are converted into 'risk-weighted' scores, which are used to help develop an organizations overall 'safety culture profile'.