REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama -- As summer approaches, Redstone Arsenal commands focus on the health and safety of their team members.
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and the Missile Defense Agency hosted the 7th annual Joint Safety Awareness Day and Health Expo to promote safety awareness June 4 at the Von Braun Complex on Redstone Arsenal.
USASMDC/ARSTRAT also hosted another Safety Day for its team members stationed at Colorado Springs, Colo. on the same date.
"We have been doing this for seven years and it illustrates the great relationship we have with our MDA partners," said Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, SMDC commanding general. "We have a lot of vendors here and a lot of people who put in long hours to make this a success. Today is about you, the workforce, and we want to make sure we take care of our most important resource.
"Losing one Soldier or losing one civilian, is one too many," he continued. "In 2014, we had 6,000 civilians who were injured due to accidents. I would venture to say that nobody in here expects to go out and get into an accident. We have to make sure we don't become complacent.
"You are all vitally important to the mission," Mann added. "But you are also vitally important to your families. Between now and Labor Day is when we experience the most accidents and weather related activities. Be safe out there and remain vigilant at all times."
The purpose of the joint venue is to promote safety awareness and to minimize the risk of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by mishaps, promote proactive safety measures within the command elements in Huntsville and recognize June as National Safety Month. The day's activities focused on safety demonstrations and inspections performed by members of Redstone Arsenal, Colorado Springs and their surrounding communities.
Leaders emphasized the importance of taking time out of regular work schedules to focus on safety topics. They reinforced the importance of making safety a priority and maintaining awareness to help prevent mishaps as well as helping to develop a safety culture within the workforce.
"The health and safety of our workforce is very important to MDA leadership and we challenge all employees to make health and safety your first priority," said Brig. Gen. Kenneth E. Todorov, MDA deputy director. "Our employees are our most important resources within the Agency. This says a lot about the importance and value MDA places on employee well-being. We know that our employees will remain motivated if they if they have a safe and healthy working environment.
"Today's event is about nurturing a positive culture within our organizations," he added. "This joint effort allows us to demonstrate our dedication to our workforce by bringing in local displays to provide safety and health information and to increase awareness of various safety concepts and equipment that is available to keep you and your families safe."
The Safety Day expo highlighted SMDC's and MDA's commitments to employee safety and health by bringing in local vendors to demonstrate and promote safety awareness.
"The Expo promotes safety within the SMDC and MDA communities, not only at work but home," said Randy Joyner, SMDC Command Safety director. "It is an important element of SMDC's Summer Safety Campaign and the National Safety Month. SMDC will host a similar event at Peterson Air Force Base for command personnel and their family members on the same day. It highlights and reinforces SMDC's commitments to the safety and welfare of employees.
"The Safety Officer and POCs from organizations across the command solicit and identify safety topics that interest the work force," he added. "This collaboration with employees allows both the command and agency to bring in interesting exhibits and training that highlights important safety topics, on and off duty."
With summer approaching, Joyner emphasized the importance of being safe, not only at work, but at home as well.
"Warm weather and higher temperatures means increased outdoor recreational activities, home maintenance projects and summer travel for leisure," Joyner said. "Accidents around the home cause an increasing number of injuries to our work force. Safety awareness and risk mitigation should be their number one priority, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. Ensuring safety measures are in place on and off duty not only protects us but it also ensures the welfare of our family members. It is vital that all personnel be cognizant of their surroundings and the associated hazards to prevent accidental mishaps."
MDA and SMDC employees and family members at Redstone Arsenal got a firsthand chance to learn about local safety and health issues unique to Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. They learned about several issues confronting them both indoors and outdoors.
Exhibits and safety demonstrations in Huntsville included: Redstone Arsenal Fire Department; Redstone Arsenal Police Department; Redstone Arsenal Game Warden; Redstone Arsenal Veterinary Activity; Redstone Arsenal Substance Abuse Program; Fox Army Health Center Health and Wellness; Mr. Electric electrical safety; Army Ready and Resilient Campaign; Grainger safety equipment; Fleet Feet sporting safety equipment; Madison County Community Emergency Response Team Association; Lowes ladder and home safety; ISSI UXO and Consulting LLC unexploded ordnance safety; City of Huntsville Natatorium pool safety; Academy Sports sports safety; Alabama State Troopers; Soil Water and Air Technologies Environmental RADON safety; Bicycles Etc. bicycle safety; Briggs Chiropractic Clinic; Safe-T-Shelter storm shelters; Federal Occupational Health; Rocket Harley Davidson; Terminix pest control; SARTEC Search and Rescue Team (with dogs); North Alabama Firearms weapons safety; Community Emergency Response Team; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boating safety; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather preparedness safety; Industrial Hygiene; Alabama Department of Transportation; Huntsville Utilities; and others.
"Everyone has something they live to see, experience or love," said Bobby Taylor, SMDC Command Safety deputy director. "No matter what that may be, we practice safety each day so we can live for those things.
"Safety Day allows the SMDC and MDA safety offices a convenient way to provide tons of great safety information to our workforce families," he added. "It gives us all the opportunity to interact with each other in a relaxed environment to discuss everyday safety issues that affect us all."
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