Accident shows need for risk management

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Carl Norman
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  A Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., airman in critical condition following a recent automobile accident brings home the seriousness behind the Air Force's 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign, officials said.

Currently, 18 people Air Force-wide have died as the service's annual safety campaign reached its halfway point. That number is up one from the 17 logged at this point in 2002, according to experts from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland AFB.

During the 2002 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign, 30 Air Force people died. And according to John Sheehan, Air Force Materiel Command ground safety chief, "If the current trend continues, the Air Force could experience as many or more fatalities this year as they did last year, and one is too many."

Sheehan said the injured Kirtland airman fits into the category of 18-25 year olds who statistically are more prone to accidents.

"They think nothing will happen to them because it hasn't happened yet," he said.

Speed, alcohol, darkness and poor judgment are primary contributors to the two- and four-wheeled vehicle accidents responsible for most of the deaths this year, Sheehan said. In fact, motorcycles account for more than half of the deaths Air Force officials have recorded so far during this campaign.

"People simply aren't taking the time to think of the risks involved in the things they're doing," Sheehan said. "We've had cars and motorcycles in this country for a long time, and people have been running into things for that same amount of time. Seems like we haven't learned much over the years, and we're paying a high price to learn the same old lessons."

To help wrestle this problem and see fewer people die in preventable accidents, Sheehan encourages people to use risk-management techniques and think about what might happen in any given situation.

"Exercising risk management in everything we do, on- and off-duty, is the key to enjoying safe activities," Sheehan said. "We do a pretty good job with on-duty mishaps and fatalities because we have more control over how people conduct business. But people need to put those same techniques into practice with off-duty activities because the off-duty stuff can kill you just as dead as the on-duty things can."

Sheehan said if people apply the six steps of risk management, they can be reasonably assured there will be no surprises.

The six steps he referred to are:

-- Identifying hazards associated with a particular activity.

-- Assessing the impact each hazard has in relation to potential loss and severity.

-- Determining controls necessary to reduce or eliminate the hazards.

-- Making decisions as to accepting, avoiding or controlling the risk.

-- Following through to make sure appropriate controls are used.

-- Monitoring the situation and adjusting as necessary to keep things under control.

Take driving a vehicle for example, he said, citing that two- and four-wheeled vehicles account for nearly 90 percent of this year's 101 Critical Days deaths. Using risk-management techniques, an individual would first consider hazards such as road conditions, traffic, impaired drivers, wildlife in the area and any unseen situations. People should also take into consideration their experience in driving in a particular kind of vehicle and conditions.

After assessing the risk and analyzing the control measures, they might want to check the weather and drive accordingly, listen to local radio stations for road conditions and travel outside peak-travel times, he said.

"Taking your time in unfamiliar areas and on gravel, slick roads and curves never hurts, either," he said.

Sheehan also suggests keeping road rage caged, not drinking and driving, being ready for wildlife since animals can dart in front of a vehicle at any time, driving defensively and being cautious on unfamiliar roads. Checking into alternate methods of traveling and taking spare parts and tools on extended trips can help travelers be prepared for the unexpected.

Everyone, including supervisors and managers, needs to continue strong interaction with their co-workers and encourage each other to emphasize safety through the remaining 101 Critical Days of Summer, in both on- and off-duty activities, Sheehan said.

"This is the time of year where more activities are happening and therefore the risk of mishaps (increases)," he said. "With increased awareness and people taking the time to think about what might happen in any given situation, we can continue minimizing our mishaps and fatalities and bring our people back home safely." (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)