New Army tool helps identify, control risk

By Chris FrazierJuly 2, 2008

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (Army News Service, (June 30, 2008) - The newest tool in the Army's arsenal of safety products, the Ground Risk Assessment Tool, facilitates the process of identifying accident hazards and controls for a variety of ground operations and off-duty activities.

GRAT was designed to aid in mitigating risk by reinforcing the five-step composite risk management process, known as CRM, said Brig. Gen. Bill Forrester, director of Army safety and commanding general of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center. He said the new tool, coupled with CRM, is critical to making sound risk decisions at all levels of leadership.

"Using GRAT in concert with the military decision-making process will help Army leaders achieve success in their missions and make safety an integral part of their planning processes," Forrester said.

GRAT replaces the Army Management Information System -1, or ASMIS-1 Ground Tool. It consists of five parts and includes:

Aca,!Ac daily accident statistics

Aca,!Ac accident vignettes

Aca,!Ac current accident summaries

Aca,!Ac resources such as Army regulations, training circulars, field manuals and other guidance related to the mission or task;

Aca,!Ac and an automated interactive CRM worksheet that is based on user input and selection of existing hazards and controls.

It's easy-to-use information allows the user to save, e-mail or print a CRM worksheet (DA Form 7566), officials said.

USACRC Command Sgt. Maj. Tod Glidewell said GRAT is unique because it will continuously be updated with current, relevant information from units throughout the world.

"Using this tool allows leaders to save time, learn from others' mistakes and incorporate risk management throughout the military decision-making process," Glidewell said.

Glidewell believes GRAT will prove a valuable asset for leaders and Soldiers.

"The Army's mission is complex and the current operating environment challenges Soldiers with unique risks daily," Glidewell said. "Empowering Soldiers and leaders to reduce accidental loss and injury by incorporating CRM into mission planning through the use of this tool is a practice that can significantly increase combat power."

For more information about the Ground Risk Assessment Tool visit <a href="https://crc.army.mil/grat/"target=_blank>https://crc.army.mil/grat/</a>.

(Chris Frazier serves with the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center.)