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Keeping Safety in Sight

BG Bill Wolf

It’s time again to welcome a new year, and many Soldiers, civilians, and Families are away
on holiday vacations, anticipating visits with loved ones and friends, or, for some, preparing
for another rotation to theater. During these hectic days, every minute counts, but we can’t
let our guard down when it comes to safety.

It’s a well-known fact that off-duty vehicle crashes claim more of our Soldiers every year
than any other type of accident, and our FY10 trends were no exception. During the year,
we experienced an increase in privately owned vehicle (POV) deaths overall, due in large
part to a 31-percent jump in motorcycle fatalities. In real terms, our 2010 POV statistics
represent 114 Soldiers lost to their formations and Families. This fact is particularly
heartbreaking when considering that the majority of these accidents were preventable.
Indiscipline, whether speed, failure to wear seat belts and personal protective equipment, or
driving under the influence of alcohol (and sometimes all three), was cited as a primary
factor in many of these deaths.

As important as POV accident reduction is, however,

we can’t lose sight of the often subtle hazards that There’s no such thing as a mundane
mission or just another day off. Safety is
inevitably claim a few Soldiers annually. It’s hard to a full-time responsibility, and it’s a
believe we closed FY10 with more sports fatalities leader’s job to protect the Soldiers who
than all of FY09. We also saw an increase in fatal are entrusted to him or her.
pedestrian accidents during the year, the last occurring
when a Soldier was killed while walking in the roadway after a night of drinking. And among
other accidents, we lost nine Soldiers to drowning, three to falls, and two to privately owned
weapon discharges.

Such uncommon accidents are happening in theater as well. We experienced a tragic

accident midway through FY10 when a Soldier who was installing flooring in a dining facility
suffered fatal burns after the glue he was working with caught fire. Additionally, four
Soldiers died from crush injuries during the year, with two pinned between tactical vehicles,
one killed when a rolling gate malfunctioned and fell on top of him, and one fatally pinned
under a panel from a radar system he was tearing down.

Mouse over image to magnify

In our Army, a loss is a loss, no matter how it
happens. While we will continue to work hard through
leader and Family engagement to permanently
reduce POV and vehicle accidents, we must consider
just as seriously the other hazards that can take our
Soldiers out of the fight. There’s no such thing as a
mundane mission or just another day off. Safety is a
full-time responsibility, and it’s a leader’s job to
protect the Soldiers who are entrusted to him or her.

SPC Thomas Spencer, Detachment 221,
122nd Engineer Battalion, South Carolina
Army National Guard, checks his mirror
before driving during disaster response
How to Lead
There are several ways that commanders can remain
vigilant in our fight against all accidents, even those
that seem the most unlikely. First, always listen to
what your Soldiers are saying. The most valuable

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training exercises in Beaufort County, SC.

eyes and ears you have are the Soldiers who work
(U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt Dan Heaton.)
side by side every day and the noncommissioned
officers who lead them. If someone is taking
unnecessary risks, it’s almost certain somebody else knows. Never underestimate the
creativity of your Soldiers, either; they just might have a solution for your most frustrating
safety problems. Take an interest in everything your Soldiers are doing, and foster a culture
where communication flows freely and composite risk management is the first block
checked before a team heads out on a mission or the unit leaves for the weekend.

Another vital resource for leaders is the Army Readiness Assessment Program. No matter
how hard they try, commanders are often unaware of every hazard their Soldiers face.
Through the Army Readiness Assessment Program’s anonymous and confidential surveys
and follow-up briefings, commanders can get a true sense of their Soldiers’ concerns and
their unit’s safety climate. The program continues to receive overwhelmingly positive
feedback from commanders and has become a highly trusted and valuable tool for our
Army’s leaders.

Finally, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the

expertise of the safety professionals within your
command. All of our Army’s safety personnel—
civilians, aviation safety officers, and additional duty
safety officers—have been trained to help reduce risk
and fight accidents. They also have access to the most
up-to-date safety information, including preliminary
loss reports and daily accident statistics that break
down current fatality data by category and duty status. Their knowledge is power for both
you and your Soldiers.
Take an interest in everything your
Soldiers are doing, and foster a culture
where communication flows freely and
composite risk management is the first
block checked before a team heads out
on a mission or the unit leaves for the
weekend.

Often, when it comes to safety, the devil truly is in the details. Look out for the subtle
hazards, and remember that no risk is ever too small to merit consideration.

Army Safe is Army Strong!

Editor’s Note: The statistics quoted in this article may change in the coming months due to
late reporting. A comprehensive review of FY10 Army safety performance will be featured in
the January 2011 issue of Knowledge Magazine at https://safety.army.mil.

BG BILL WOLF is Director of Army Safety and Commanding

General, U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center. He holds a
B.S. in general engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and an
M.S. in general administration from Central Michigan University.
Wolf is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College and U.S. Army War College.

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