SECNAV Announces 2012 Safety Award Winners

By Mass Communication Specialist Alexandra Snyder, Defense Media Activity - Pentagon Bureau

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Nineteen commands and installations received the 2012 Department of the Navy (DoN) Safety Excellence Award for their safety programs at the U.S. Navy Memorial, July 11 in Washington.

The Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics Vice Adm. Philip Cullom, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics Lt. Gen. Frank Panter  and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Safety Paul Hanley were on hand to congratulate the winners.

Recipients were awarded a citation, plaque and the Secretary of the Navy's (SECNAV) safety flag, which they are entitled to fly for a year.

 "We must change the way we approach safety because it makes us better warfighters. We must be able to safely operate on ships, aircraft, and ashore, because doing so will make us a more effective fighting force," said Work.

"Our people are our priority. Keeping our Sailors, Marines and civilians safe is of utmost importance because it ensures we are able to keep doing what the Navy and the Marine Corps have always done, which is to innovate and adapt," said Work.

The awards were accepted by representatives from the commands, including command leadership, safety officers and safety petty officers who held the title or collateral duty during the period cited.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) received the Large Deck Combatant Safety Excellence award for having no 'Class A, B or C' mishaps, zero 'Class A or B' operational injuries to personnel, zero 'Class A or B off-duty mishaps, including automobile and motorcycle mishaps and zero significant discrepancies in the annual Commander Naval Air Force Safety and Occupational Health Management Evaluation.

"Just about every aspect of the carrier is an inherently dangerous place to work," said Cmdr. Scott Springer, safety officer aboard the Reagan. "Without the proper policies and procedures in place, there would be no way to combat those dangers, and with so many evolutions going on at the same time, it's important to have full crew buy-in to those precautionary policies."

"You saved lives and property and prevented accidents. On behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, I thank you and offer congratulations for your accomplishments," Work said.

Established in 2002 by former SECNAV Gordon R. England, the Safety Excellence Awards are designed to promote safe practices throughout the Department of the Navy and personally recognize those commands that have integrated an awareness of safety in everyday operations, reducing loss in man-hours, material damage, among other factors that may decrease Navy assets.