Safety top priority at McChord

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  When Airmen think about safety, one of the many things that comes to mind is the reflective belt. 

Affectionately known as the "disco belt," wear of the reflective belt is mandatory
for active duty Airmen during hours of reduced visibility. Commanders are responsible for ensuring their members are properly equipped and wearing reflective equipment. 

However, there's a good reason for this, said Ken Heath, 62nd Airlift Wing chief of ground safety. 

"They provide us a way of having high visibility in low-light conditions for pedestrians, in traffic environments and on the flightline," he said. 

It should come as no surprise that McChord's safety office is adamant about preventative safety measures such as reflective belts since "the mission can't get accomplished without people," Mr. Heath said. "People can't do the mission if they are getting hurt
on the job." 

Another method the safety office is using to inform the McChord community about the importance of safety is education and training. 

The office has produced videos for Wingman Day and the Critical Days of Summer campaigns and visits each unit to assist supervisors with their office programs to make sure everybody is doing everything safely, Mr. Heath said. 

Trend analysis is another preemptive action the office uses. 

"We have a database that tracks all the different classes of mishaps that get reported to the Air Force Safety Center," he said. 

The most common mishaps are Class D, such as when an Airman stubs his toe and has to visit the clinic, for example. A Class C incident is something that causes an Airman to be placed on quarters or convalescent leave. 

But McChord's Airmen are commonly utilizing the safety preventative measures available to them. 

"I think our supervisors are doing a good job stressing the need to following the guidance established," Mr. Heath said. 

That includes utilizing preventative safety methods such as Operational Risk Management by refusing to take shortcuts and using technical training orders. And ORM is not just limited to work environments. 

"Operational Risk Management is something the Air Force has done well for a long time. We are familiar with the concept and our culture embraces it," said Capt. Maria Gomez-Herbert, 62nd Medical Squadron, ORM manager. "Personal Risk Management is a relatively new concept." 

PRM calls for Airmen to use safety and risk management principles in their everyday lives, she said. 

"By being conscientious in our personal decisions, understanding the hazards involved in activities we choose and planning ahead, we reduce our risk of injury and perhaps even death," Captain Gomez-Herbert said. 

If an Airman recognizes a potential safety hazard, he or she should report it to a supervisor, Mr. Heath said.