Risk management, clear thinking key to safe summer

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Carl Norman
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  Losing 66 Air Force people to private motor vehicle and seven to nontraffic-related accidents in 2003 prompted officials to carry out the most aggressive 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign in recent history.

Air Force commanders are sending the word out to their people: Be safe!

In a letter to Air Force Materiel Command units, Gen. Gregory S. Martin, AFMC commander, said everyone, regardless of rank, age, sex or position, must be more aware of increased safety during the upcoming season when outdoor and recreational accidents tend to rise.

"This is the time when we need to place extra emphasis on good decision making and taking the responsibility for the personal well-being of our families and ourselves," General Martin said. "We must make safety awareness a part of our everyday lives -- on and off duty."

People must make sure they and their families use seat belts, helmets, lifejackets and other protective equipment, the general said. Also, emphasizing alcohol awareness and its effect on Airmen in a recreational setting, he said using designated drivers and not drinking and driving is a paramount need.

The 101 Critical Days campaign begins Memorial Day and goes through Labor Day. It is the time when carelessness and fun-loving times sometimes takes control over careful thinking and gets people hurt or killed, said Col. Craig Wolfenbarger, AFMC safety director.

"People simply aren't taking the time to think of the risks involved in the things they're doing,” the colonel 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."

People should use risk-management techniques and think about what might happen in any given situation and what their reaction might be, said John Sheehan, AFMC ground safety chief.

“We do a pretty good job with on-duty mishaps and fatalities because we have more control over how people conduct business,” Mr. Sheehan said. “But people need to put those same ideals into practice with off-duty activities because the off-duty stuff can kill you just as dead as the on-duty things can."

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

The six steps he referred to are:

-- Identifying hazards associated with a particular activity.

-- Assessing the effect 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.

Mr. Sheehan said that vehicle accidents accounted for 80 percent of deaths during the 2003 campaign. He also suggests keeping road rage caged; not drinking and driving; driving defensively and being cautious on unfamiliar roads.

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

"This is the time of year where more activities are happening and therefore the risk of (accidents) happening increase," 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 (accidents) and bring our people back home safely." (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)