2013 Safety Office of the Year

by By Rita Hess, Staff Writer

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- 2013 Safety Office of the Year

436 Air Wing
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

Lt Col Jason Mills, Chief, 436 AW Safety at Dover AFB, says every Safety Office at every base works hard. But he is obviously proud of what his folks accomplished in 2013 that garnered them the 2013 Safety Office of the Year award.

"We do what's expected," he explained, "but we also make a proactive effort to get safety messages out rather than sitting in the background and responding to events. That's where I think we excelled. The staff did a tremendous job of creating events that effectively pass along safety messages. For example, on Super Bowl weekend, we had an alcohol awareness event where Airmen put on beer goggles and attempted to drive a tricycle through an obstacle course. Events like that are meaningful and they work."

Lt Col Mills also credits partners on base and off. "The Delaware Department of Transportation and Office of Highway Safety, our Reserve partners, and others provide information and resources that help make events more impactful than individual efforts."

TSgt Janusz Jaworek (Ground Safety) agrees. "We worked with partners when possible to conduct safety briefings and sendoffs. We partnered with AT&T and organized training to address distracted driving. AT&T brought in a simulator to show what it's like to text while driving. That high-tech hands-on experience was meaningful because Airmen felt like they were actually driving and texting."

Beyond doing what is expected, SSgt Ashley Smith (Ground Safety) says the Wing went above and beyond to expand on existing programs. "When I got here, for example, the Supervisor Safety Training wasn't being taught as often as it should have been. I saw that and I revitalized the program. This year we taught it on a monthly basis. It's important because it gives new supervisors the tools they need to keep the work environment safe."

MSgt John Willard, Flight Safety NCO, thinks one key to the Safety Office's success is the kind of passion SSgt Smith displayed--to see something that needs done and care enough to do it.

"Regulations and programs are similar base to base, but we built teams of people who had a passion to make things better. On the flight safety side, using BASH as an example, we coordinate with our CE, pest management folks, tower controllers, airfield management, our contractor--even legal. We bring teams of people together who have a passion for what they do."

MSgt Willard cited motorcycle safety as another example. "Losing someone on two wheels is harder to accept than a combat loss because it's preventable. People who are passionate about something like motorcycle safety emerge quickly, and we capitalize on it. They want to make a difference, so we plan events that let them. The good outcomes are because of them and their individual passions."

Lt Col Mills says MSgt Willard is, in fact, one of those people. "His passion is evident as he counsels and coaches riders. He received the 2012 AMC Rider Coach of the Year award, and we received the AMC Distinguished Motorcycle Safety Award multiple consecutive years from AMC. That shows the program maintains its excellence, which speaks to the people that put together motorcycle safety events. We had a professional racing team come talk to riders about safe equipment, managing through fatigue, and riding in different weather environments. MSgt Willard and the motorcycle safety reps make sure riders inside our base are trained and knowledgeable about safe riding practices."

On the Flight Safety side, Capt Aaron Klang reiterated that partners on and off base, as well as passionate individuals, make a difference at Dover. "We have a high volume of general aviation traffic around the base, which sometimes got closer to our aircraft than we prefer. We amped up our midair collision avoidance (MACA) program in the community, and we worked with Airfield Management, Air Traffic Control, squadron aircrews, and civilian pilots to mitigate that risk." Capt Klang says individuals spent time on weekends going to local airports to spread the word with pamphlets and presentations about MACA. "Individuals motivated enough to do that made us stand out," he said.

Ms. Lorie Bellamy, Ground Safety Manger, returned to Dover in mid-October after an overseas assignment, bringing some expertise back with her. "I was here a long time, gone for five years, and then came back," she explains. "On returning, I was concerned with manning issues and thought I might come back and find some broken programs. I was so wrong. The folks here have done a phenomenal job of keeping programs afloat. I'm simply helping fine tune their already solid programs." Lt Col Mills says Ms. Bellamy has suggested modifications that made the Dover Safety Office even more effective. "People share things that are working in other places. We adopt what's appropriate while carrying our own practices forward."

Safety folks from Dover also take their knowledge elsewhere. Lt Col Mills noted that Maj Bert King and Capt Dan Morgan (Flight Safety), who are currently deployed, are carrying their expertise with them while working in their deployed offices. "Their primary mission is not safety, but once you have learned to look at things with a safety mindset you are able to influence the process to execute challenging missions in a safe manner."

Absent the day of the interview was Mr. Ernest Natividad, Weapons Safety Manager, but LtCol Mills praised him and his weapons safety experts.

"Companies and agencies clamming in Delaware Bay occasionally dig up WW I and II munitions. The DoD and my Weapons Safety Officer are responsible for monitoring the safe destruction of these items. Last year, we worked with the Army to manage recovery and demolition of four mustard chemical rounds at a cost of roughly $2 million dollars."

Mr. Natividad also worked with community partners to organize a unique training event. "An old elementary school was going to be demolished," explained Lt Col Mills, "and he worked with state and local folks to conduct breeching practice. Rather than passing on the opportunity, Mr. Natividad worked with the appropriate agencies and ensured safety measures were in place to allow the training to occur with no injuries."

The BASH program at the 436 AW is another example of effective partnerships. While every base has such a program, Dover AFB faces some monumental challenges.

Birdstrike Control Wildlife Management contractor, Mr. Dave Curtiss, explains. "We are in the middle of the Atlantic flyway, the main bird migration corridor on the East Coast. Canada geese and snow geese funnel east of the Appalachian Mountains and either winter nearby or farther south, but the gull population is a constant threat because of the base's proximity to Delaware Bay. We are also surrounded by agricultural fields and nearby wildlife refuges, which provide additional habitats for migrating waterfowl."

Curtiss works with landowners to gain access to private property over an approximate five-mile radius around base, striking a balance between scaring away birds and not interfering with waterfowl hunters. Dover AFB also uses a bird radar detection system provided by the Air Force Safety Center that allows for an expanded capability to identify and track bird activity.

"Our BASH program is successful because of communication and cooperation between landowners, Airfield Management, CE, the tower, FAA--everyone working together," says Mr. Curtiss.

The 436 AW Safety Office works closely with the 512 AW Safety Office. MSgt Kevin Casquarelli from the Reserve 512 AW tells of a joint effort implementing a little-known regulation for working on aircraft in snow and ice. "It took mishaps while performing those procedures down to zero. A recent, unrelated trend analysis revealed we went a whole year with no military people involved in a lost time injury that was aircraft related, which was phenomenal."

MSgt Casquarelli says the motorcycle safety program on base has been invaluable to Reservists but adds that the Alive at 25 defensive driving course has helped most at reducing mishaps on the 512 side. "We have over 150 people trained, and we've only been doing it about a year."

Lt Col Mills also praised the Alive at 25 effort, saying, "It takes longer to teach, but the reception from Airmen is great. We don't know how many accidents we've prevented, but we believe the course is saving lives." The base's primary instructor, who was also absent the day of the interview, Mr. Tim Hahn (Ground Safety), was recognized by the National Safety Council as the 2013 Alive at 25 Air Force Instructor of the Year. "He has trained nearly 3,000 people since the inception of this course and, to his knowledge, has yet to have a student be involved in an alcohol related driving mishap. That's a huge success for both him and the Air Force!"

In closing, Lt Col Mills reiterated the importance of teamwork. "Our success is because of the team concept, whether working with each other, with our Reserve counterpart, with the State of Delaware, or with our base leadership. We let Airmen know that we care about them, and our efforts are worth it if we save even one person or prevent one mishap."