In a bold fusion of military precision and civilian safety, Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) has launched its latest initiative – the Operation Zero Mils to Safety campaign. Named after the artillery term milliradians, this program aims to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of accidents.
Safety Specialist Scott Fenstermacher provided the key remarks at the campaign’s kickoff event at Post Theater during a Feb. 1 town hall meeting, stressing the importance connecting with Soldiers and the workforce across the installation and educating them on the program for it to succeed.
Afterwards, YPG Commander Col. John Nelson stepped forward, pen in hand, and became the first to sign the banner. He was followed by Yuma Test Center Commander Lt. Col. Shane Dering.
“Safety is never going to be perfect, but you can always keep striving for it,” said Fenstermacher, one of the driving forces behind the campaign. “There is always room for improvement.”
From that moment on, safety wasn’t just a word; it was a shared responsibility etched in ink on that banner, visible to anyone who works at the proving ground.
At its core, the safety campaign serves as a pledge to ensure a safer testing environment. Just as artillery teams calculate firing data to precisely hit their mark, Fenstermacher explained that everyone on base must make pay attention to the details that often escape notice.
“Every base does some type of zero target theme, but what fits better here at YPG then using an artillery term to create a culture of safety?” Fenstermacher asked.
Director of Safety Michael Demcko explained that the safety campaign is also unique in that it is intended to be a year-round campaign, and instead of replacing other safety topics, it will be enhancing them in a new light.
Also making it different is that it is directly tied to the 12 monthly safety awareness modules that everyone must complete as part of their annual training and the senior leader’s monthly safety board meeting.
“It ties in directly to those action prevention measures,” Demcko said. “One for each month.”
Now that the safety campaign has officially begun, posters will be put up in workplaces and the banner will be taken around to all the shops on post to be signed by everyone who works there.
“Safety is a mission enhancer,” Fenstermacher said. “That is the great thing about this campaign. It gives us a voice to get all this information out.”
By signing the banner, workers actively endorse the campaign and acknowledge they are participating in it.
Many incidents are the result of not recognizing the hazard or complacency, as workers get focused on a task or lose track of what is happening around them.
Fenstermacher said the safety campaign can help alleviate that and keeps everyone up to date by tapping into real-world experiences of the workforce.
Throughout the year, Fenstermacher and his colleagues from the safety office will venture into the field, closely observing personnel in action and actively listening to their concerns.
Beyond assessing task performances, he also wants to know what challenges they face and how he can help them.
“I hope to eventually get invitations from all the shops to come by. Give me five or 10 minutes during your normal safety briefings to talk,” Fenstermacher stated. “I think this is a program everyone can use.”
These informal gatherings are more than just coffee breaks; they’re knowledge-sharing hubs where trends and patterns that have been observed since the campaign banner was signed can be shared.
Fenstermacher doesn’t stop at identifying problems; he also provides resources, solutions, and a roadmap for improvement. To empower front-line supervisors, OSHA-aligned checklists have been developed.
These checklists help them assess safety practices, pinpoint gaps, and take corrective action.
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