Carlisle Barracks recognized for safety excellence

The Garrison at Carlisle Barracks added a new Army Safety Excellence Award Streamer to its command flag in front of staff and employees during a ceremony today inn Upton Hall.

The award acknowledges the organization's emphatic accident prevention efforts during fiscal year 2017.The Army Safety Excellence Streamer is presented to organizations that have met prescribed eligibility criteria identified in Army Regulation (AR) 385-10.The requirements include:

Completing 12 consecutive months without experiencing a Soldier or unit at-fault Class A or Class B accident (fatality, total disability, or partial disability);

One hundred percent completion of Risk Management training; and

Completing the Army Readiness Assessment Program (ARAP). The ARAP is a Web-based program that provides battalion equivalent and above commanders with data on their organization's readiness posture by assessing its safety climate and culture.

"Earning the Army's Safety Excellence Streamer was truly a team effort," said Lt. Col. Sally Hannan, Garrison Commander. "It demonstrates the organization's commitment to providing a safe work environment for our Soldiers, Civilians, and Families."

While recognizing it is a unit award, Hannan did single out the USAG safety manager for his dedication and work with the staff to create a safe environment to live and work.

USAG Carlisle Barracks has a combined workforce of Soldiers, Department of the Army (DA) Civilians, and contractor employees. The organization is responsible for base operations at Carlisle Barracks and supporting various programs at Letterkenny Army Depot and Fort Indiantown Gap.The workforce covers three distinct geographical locations and logged approximately 653,310 work hours without a major accident or injury.

"This award recognizes the remarkable engagement and dedication to duty of the Garrison in creating a positive safety culture," said Chad Betoney, USAG Carlisle Barrack Safety Manager. Betoney said the award demonstrates the organization's desire for continuous process improvement and willingness to enhance the overall safety climate.

The Garrison made significant safety achievements over the past year. The Garrison Commander reestablished the Garrison Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Council (SOHAC) to discuss pertinent safety issues and prioritize action items based on potential risk to the workforce. The Garrison also fully integrated a documented risk management process for organizational events, training exercises, non-routine operations, and recreational activities.With these measures in place, the Garrison realized a 27% reduction in total reportable accident cases, an 83% decrease in lost workday cases, and mandatory implementation of accident reporting through the automated ReportIt system.

The Safety Excellence Streamer will be displayed on the command flag for one year after which the Garrison will have to qualify for the distinction again to continue display.