Team Holloman takes safety seriously

  • Published
  • By Maj. Kathy Bienfang
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Members of Team Holloman took full advantage of the Wing Safety Day here Sept. 28 with workshops, driving tests, briefings and hands-on training.
 
These two-way communication programs generated inputs from throughout the wing to help Airmen better understand safety issues at Holloman. The Safety Office teamed up with members from all over Holloman to sift through the information and identify five major safety areas which needed improvement. 

Those areas were: 1) Consider instituting driving training. Options for consideration include defensive driving, wet road and defensive motorcycle driving programs; 2) Work on implementing or improving off-duty Operational Risk Management programs. It makes no sense to apply ORM at work and then turn around and ignore it during high-risk activities off-base; 3) Continue to stress and improve driving under the influence prevention strategies and programs. Suggestions include re-invigorating the 572-RIDE program, publicizing DUI punishments and, with this, making sure that punishments are equitable across all ranks; 4) Continue to stress suicide awareness and make sure that people understand the proactive measures necessary to keep fellow Airmen alive; and 5) Address Traffic Safety Council concerns. Issues include crosswalk and intersection safety, as well as ensuring speed limits are appropriate across base. 

Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander, is studying the current operations tempo at Holloman and is making a concerted effort to "manage this to success" by watching out for Airmen.

In addition, Colonel Harrigian is working with the 44th Fighter Group to find ways to ensure ORM practices are applied to the way traditional Reservists are scheduled into their respective unit programs. The commander's intent is to give consideration to where these people live and what it takes to travel to Holloman and then back home again following a drill weekend or duty period. 

One of the highlights of this year's Wing Safety Day was a workshop where Airmen were "commander for the day," and were allowed to watch as they discussed various common safety scenarios and developed solutions. 

"We received great feedback on the piece (Public Affairs) put together on the young Airman who lost control of his motorcycle and subsequently crashed," said Lt. Col. Robert Teschner, 49th FW, Chief of Safety. "Real-world stories resonate well with our Airmen and I'd like to do more of these in the future." 

Other fictitious mishap scenarios like the motorcycle generated great discussion among Airmen at the unit level, which achieved the desired impact the commander had hoped. Colonel Teschner said he expects to continue this practice of discussing scenarios during future safety days. 

Holloman conducts its safety day much different from other bases in the Air Force by using realistic training to help Airmen and civilians better understand the dangers associated with areas such as outdoor activities, operating motor vehicles or everyday tasks. 

One of the more unique features of safety day occurred on a make-shift driving course. About 350 volunteers took part in a one-hour course called "The Danger of Texting While Driving and The Danger of Driving While Impaired." These special go-cart-sized cars were rigged to simulate reduced capability so Airmen could experience this without really drinking or texting while driving. Everyone enjoyed the course with many people acknowledging they learned important lessons about what they thought they could handle versus what actually happened while driving "impaired." 

Colonel Teschner said Holloman will benefit from safety day with a full after-action report that will address the problems various groups identified and propose a plan for solving them within a specific time period. He said the important thing about this process is the feedback generated at the unit level which has reached the commander and is being acted upon appropriately. 

"Safety Day is not just a day to reflect -- it is a day where we work together to come up with new ways to increase the safety across the base," said Colonel Harrigian. "I'm really proud of Team Holloman for taking safety day seriously and figuring out ways to make the wing safer, and thereby stronger. There is always room to improve our safety methods and the training we do today could save someone's life in the future or down range."