ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md.- The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Directorate for Safety participated in the last safety day given to U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School students May 27 here prior to Memorial Day weekend.
Summer marks the beginning of recorded historical increases in off-duty fatality rates from April to September, according to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/ Safety Center. CECOM Directorate for Safety's Bob McNabb, manager for CECOM's Safety Occupational and Health program, was invited as a guest speaker to give a series of safety presentations to educate Soldiers about how safety behaviors at home and work can affect mission and capability and readiness.
"Dead is dead, it can happen to you," McNabb said to students to remind them stay vigilant and remain aware of the risks in unsafe behavior. "You have to have that mindset to prevent accidents and injuries. No one is immune to human error, so act with caution." McNabb briefed Soldiers about automobile, motorcycle and on-the-job safety and developing the composite risk management skills.
This safety day is a mandatory requirement for students, according to Sergeant 1st Class Frederic Banks, 61st Ordnance Brigade operations.
"The command focus is ensuring cadre and students are aware of situational hazards to prevent accidents, primarily in automobiles and engage in safe practices at home and on the job," said Banks. "Motorcycle accidents are of great concern."
McNabb provided statistics to Soldiers regarding the use of alcohol and other vehicles involved in automobile and motorcycle crashes. The National Safety Council fact sheets listed that approximately 18 million motor vehicle crashes were reported in 2009. Of those crashes, 2.3 million were injuries and 44,000 were deaths. That's about 120 deaths per day.
According to a U.S. Army accident report, as of June 1, 2010, the Army reported 61 'Class A' accidents involving a privately-owned vehicle for fiscal year 2010; that's 16.9 percent down from last year. As a result of those accidents the Army suffered 64 fatalities.
"We can't meet our mission if our Soldiers aren't safe," said McNabb. "That's why this is so important. We need you [Soldiers] to return to duty...it's mission first, safety always." McNabb stressed the importance of every Soldier taking responsibility for observing safe practices not just at work, but at home as well.
McNabb presented a list of safety tips and informed the group about fatal factors in traffic mishaps. They include: speeding, aggressive and distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, drowsy driving, not using seatbelts and failure to yield the right of way. The NSC reported that speeding is a contributing factors in crashes that kill approximately 12,000 people every year. Speeding shortens the time a driver has to react and avoid a crash and often increases the severity of the incident.
Soldiers continued the day with a briefings covering water and boat safety, how to report sexual assault and fire safety.
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