As our MEC Safety, Health & Security Committee continues their robust review of reports submitted through the Inflight Safety Action Program (ISAP), the number of reports submitted on mask issues suggests there may be some misunderstanding on the appropriate reporting venue for Mask compliance issues.
To provide clarity, mask compliance issues should not be reported via ISAP.
ISAP is a confidential, non-punitive system that supports the reporting of safety concerns that is voluntary in nature. ISAP reports can include equipment issues, inadvertent errors, and proactive identification of potential safety concerns.
In fact, our ISAP program is so much more than simply a reporting system; it is an essential part of our robust safety culture. It is for this reason that we use ISAP any time we find a safety concern in our work environment, concerns about issues that present challenges to regulatory compliance or errors all with the intent to produce a safer aviation environment for all. An essential part of this reporting is that accepted reports fall under the protective provisions of the ISAP program and, as such, cannot be released to United management for other enforcement actions. For this reason, we ask that you refrain from submitting mask compliance concerns through ISAP.
In terms of mask compliance issues, the company has a dedicated channel through IOR reporting. By submitting mask compliance issues via IOR, United management has the ability to use that information to seek action and to follow-up in those instances where we have encountered individuals who have knowingly failed to comply with Federal law as it pertains to mask compliance. It is for this reason that we encourage you to submit mask compliance issues through the channels dedicated by United management to ensure there is a follow-up on the reported concerns.