Summer is here; so is National Safety Month

Preventable mishaps result in injuries, illnesses and fatalities that impact our readiness, which is why the Army observes National Safety Month annually throughout the month of June.

Transatlantic Division leaders, supervisors and employees at all levels can make a difference by becoming personally involved and fostering a positive safety and occupational health culture that enables our workforce to effectively manage personal risk. Mishaps are prevented by focusing on the fundamentals: Engagements, training, discipline and setting and following standards.

Fostering a positive safety and occupational health culture enables Soldiers, Army Civilians and family members to effectively manage their personal risk. Leaders can prevent mishaps by focusing on the fundamentals: Leader engagements, leader development, training, discipline and standards.

Sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC), National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injuries, illnesses, equipment damage and death while on duty, off duty, driving our nation’s roads and highways, and in the comfort of our homes and communities. This year, the Army and NSC are partnering to highlight four areas to help mitigate risk:

• Preparedness: The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has illustrated the need for continuous emergency preparedness at both the installation and personal level.
• Driving: Motor vehicle mishaps are the number one killer of Soldiers on duty AND the lead cause of mishaps across the Army. A majority of fatal private motor vehicle mishaps involving Soldiers occur over the weekend, between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
• Ergonomics: Evaluate your tasks and workplaces to address and identify hazards.
• Employee Engagement: Personnel engagement is a critical factor in building a positive safety culture at every level of the Army. An engaged workforce is the key to preventing injuries, illness and mishaps across the Army. Everyone can prevent injuries, illnesses and mishaps that impact readiness.

The Army’s readiness posture, modernization efforts and enduring duty to protect the safety, health and welfare of its people is critical to mission success and personnel resiliency. Safety is not only a top priority, but also an enduring commitment to the health of the force. That is why the Corps of Engineers Safety and Occupational Health Management System (CESOHMS) was introduced across the Enterprise. CESOHMS is a systematic way of approaching Safety and Occupational Health. It’s designed to work from the “bottom up” because individual employees are the most familiar with their work and the hazards associated within their occupational specialty.

Actions all employees can take to make the work environment safer and healthier by:

• Actively participating in Safety and Occupational Health activities
• Participating in the annual update and review of their Position Hazard Analysis (PHA) to identify required training, common hazards, and remedial actions taken
• Ensuring all occupational health/medical surveillance requirements in the PHA are completed in the required timeframe
• Participating in /providing feedback for all required emergency action drills
• Ensuring recognized hazards are reported and documented to ensure corrective actions are initiated
• Immediately reporting all accidents and near-miss incidents
• Using the risk management system to protect people, equipment and facilities
• Wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Taking all safety-related training needed to perform position duties
• Leading/participating in safety and occupational health meetings

Every USACE employee has the right – and the responsibility—to report, any alleged unsafe or unhealthy work place conditions or practices to a supervisor or safety office without any fear of reprisal.

For more information, visit the Army Safety Center website.