Logistic support battalion puts safety first

Published March 1, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Nicole Dykstra
72nd Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Safety comes first, whether a unit is serving in support of overseas contingency operations or stationed stateside. One motor pool has found a winning recipe for an accident-free maintenance shop, staying safe at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

As of Feb. 28, the motor pool of the 1st Logistic Support Battalion, 322nd Regiment, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, has operated 1,143 days without a lost-time accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Authority defines a lost-time accident as any work-related accident resulting in an injury or illness that causes an individual to miss work.

"This unit makes my job easy because everyone is very safety-minded," said Capt. Mark Remy, brigade safety manager. "Talking to the Soldiers in the motor pool, it is very obvious they have a great attitude about safety - this is why they've been able to go so long without a lost-time accident."

The 1-322nd is responsible for servicing and repairing all tactical vehicles used by mobilizing units on the joint base, a task that keeps vehicles moving in and out of the maintenance bay on a regular basis. While safety is an essential consideration for any Soldier, it is especially important in a motor pool, where Soldiers spend their days servicing heavy vehicles with potentially dangerous machinery.

"A robust safety program can go a long way to instill safe practices," said Remy.

The centerpiece of the motor pool's safety program is its monthly safety stand down. For half a day once a month, all vehicle maintenance stops and the Soldiers gather together to talk about a variety of topics ranging from workplace application of Composite Risk Management to distractions while driving to safe practices at home. The material is presented in an open forum to encourage discussion, said Staff Sgt. Richard Yusko, the battalion safety NCO in charge.

"It is too easy to assume a young Soldier knows about CRM just because I know about it," said Yusko. "We have people here with a lot of different experiences from a lot of different units, so we have to get everyone in line if we're going to be successful."

Outside agencies are invited to participate in the safety stand downs and share their civilian safety practices whenever possible. One month the fire department gave a demonstration on the proper use of a fire extinguisher, an important skill to master for both work and home accidents, said Yusko. Another month, the New Jersey State Police raised awareness of impaired driving by allowing Soldiers to try to operate golf carts while wearing "drunk goggles." Equipment manufacturers have also given cost-free, specialized training sessions for specific pieces of machinery allowing Soldiers to become proficient in using the equipment the way it was designed to be used.

"We really try to keep the safety stand downs interesting," said Yusko. "It's more effective than repeating the same information the same way over and over."

The commitment to safety does not end at the safety stand down. It is hard to find a corner of the maintenance bay that doesn't include some sort of diagram or safety reminder. In addition, the Soldiers in the motor pool, with the support of the battalion maintenance officer and the brigade safety manager, have instituted a number of changes aimed at creating an accident-free facility. Improvements include securing eye and ear protection for visitors, painting the bay floor with slip-resistant paint, replacing an inefficient ventilation system and arranging for a swap-out of old steel-toed boots for new ones.

A big improvement has been made in the labeling and storing of hazardous materials, said Chief Warrant Officer Mark Jensen, battalion maintenance officer.

"We now have a strong hazard communication program," said Jensen. "It's important that everyone has the proper knowledge and training when handling hazardous materials. Our storage system makes it very easy to understand the specific hazards of a product."

All hazardous chemicals used in the maintenance shop are kept in a bright yellow, clearly-marked locker. Inside, sprays, gels and liquids are kept neatly organized to prevent leaks or cross-contamination. Each item is marked with a large black number that corresponds to a section in the motor pool's Material Safety Data Sheet. Included are any instructions or restrictions pertaining to that chemical. This way, Soldiers know what precautions they need to take or what the proper procedure would be if the chemical were involved in an accident, said Yusko.

The Soldiers of the motor pool have worked hard to ensure safe-minded thinking has become part of their routine, not an afterthought. Yusko and the other motor pool NCOs conduct daily visual inspections of the facility, something that has become so habitual that he never has to remind anyone to do it, he said.

The Soldiers ensure all tools have been properly stored, the fire extinguishers are not blocked and no piece of machinery has been left on at the end of the day. They check parked vehicles for drip pans and chock blocks and make certain there are no fluids left in open containers.

Before the work week is over, the Soldiers read over the preliminary loss reports from the Combat Readiness Center website and hold a safety brief, said Jensen.

Of course, no matter how strident a safety program is, no one is perfect. When Yusko or another NCO in the motor pool notices a safety violation, he or she issues an on-the-spot correction and explains why the action or situation was unsafe. While workplace safety is especially important in a motor pool, Yusko doesn't believe in making an example out of anyone.

"Depending on how serious the violation is, I might get everyone together to discuss it, but the focus is on maintaining a safe environment, not getting someone in trouble," he said. "Everyone needs to feel comfortable in their workplace, and safety is a huge part of that."

Remy echoed his sentiments.

"Our command group has made very clear that they want to be made aware of any safety violations within the brigade - not for punishment, but as an opportunity to learn from them," he said. "If Soldiers know they can talk to their leaders honestly about safety, it prevents problems from being swept under the rug out of fear."

A respect for safety has enormous tangible benefits. A safe workplace means productive employees, and productive employees accomplish the mission.

"The bottom line is preserving combat strength," said Remy. "You can never overlook safety."

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Logistic support battalion puts safety first