The U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Installation Safety Office continues its culture of safety, earning its 13th consecutive Safety Excellence Streamer Award.
The Streamer is awarded by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) based in Fort Liberty, N.C.
In a memorandum sent to USAG Headquarters at YPG, acting IMCOM Director Col. Christopher Ward stated, “This award recognized the extraordinary efforts and dedication to duty of the Garrison in creating a positive safety culture. Your accomplishment of competing sixteen years without a Class A or B accident, 100% completion of Risk Management training for Garrison Soldiers and Civilians; and completing the Army Readiness Assessment Program Survey demonstrates safety excellence.”
The YPG Garrison installation has not experienced a Class A or B accident in over 16 years which has made the Installation Safety Office eligible for the award the last 14 years.
“It’s unprecedented in the Army. Nobody has that,” remarked USAG YPG Garrison Manager Kenneth Musselwhite. “This has to be the best safety program and the best safety officer and office that the installation management command has.”
Leading that office is USAG YPG Director of Installation Safety Ron Van Why who credits his staff and the Army’s Safety Management System which empowers directorate leaders be responsible for their employee’s safety. This allows the leaders to implement tailored safety programs based off Occupational Safety and Health Administration and U.S. Army requirements with the help and guidance of the Installation Safety Office.
“Having the buy-in and support from the directors as well as management, we have a total team here, and it’s been great,” remarked Van Why.
He goes on to say that safety is not just about avoiding accidents – it’s educating the workforce, keeping up on safety training and making safe decisions.
Senior Safety Specialist Mike Morris said, “Everything we do, we do it from start to finish to make sure our personnel are safe. We do our inspections, our spot checks, you name it.” Adding, “We are very thorough with it.”
Because of that thoroughness and safety knowledge, Van Why is trusted to conduct Organizational Inspection Program inspections at other installations.
“I have been chosen to go around to all of IMCOM and Readiness and inspect their programs to make sure they are up to our standards.”
Deputy Garrison Manager Dan Carter said the trust that Van Why has earned speaks volumes.
“He goes on to these inspections. It’s the only directorate that has someone from the Garrison that goes on these inspections, so that just proves to us even more that we have the best safety program in the Army. I would even go as far as saying possibly the Department of Defense.”
The memorandum from Ward closed by saying, “Your efforts to accomplish the mission and education the YPG community with effective safety and risk management programs are quality of first-class organizations. A job well done in taking care of Soldiers, Civilians and Families!”
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