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AFRC HQs risk management and the Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Maj Gen Martin Mazick
ROBINS AFB, Ga --  As we finish the first two thirds of the 2010 Critical Days of Summer Campaign let's take a moment and reflect on where we want be. At the endow week eight the Air Force had lost five airmen. At  the same point in last year's campaign the Air Force had already lost 11 members and in the 2008 campaign we had suffered nine fatalities. While this summer is looking like one of the safest in our history, we know we can do better. Four of the five members we lost were killed in off-duty PMV mishaps. The leading cause of fatal mishaps during the Critical Days of Summer continues to be off-duty motor vehicle mishaps followed by water sports and drowning.

Historically off-duty fatal mishaps tend to climb as the summer progresses. Air Force members must understand the importance of smart risk management both on-duty and off-duty and now is the best time to look at late summer plans and avoid risk. When we do that we become good wingmen for our families, our co-workers, and our friends. In our supervisor safety courses we stress using risk management tools for vacations, for TDYs, for off post duties and when we look at our work spaces-any time you change your environment, your work habits or your standard operating procedures. We ask our supervisors to ensure their people are ready to go on a TDY, a deployment or a vacation-the basic preparation is much the same and a good supervisor is always a good wingman.

A valuable tool that is based on ORM principles that you can use to manage risk during summer vacation is driving is called TRiPS. TRiPS is an on-line, automated risk-assessment tool. You use it before going on leave or TDY, especially when driving long distances. A typical TRiPS session takes less than 10 minutes. You input information about your travel plans and driving habits. TRiPS presents your overall risk assessment, a map of your route, links to state highway and weather conditions and examples of mishaps. It's an equally good ten minutes to spend with your family teaching them about road hazards. You can access trips through the Air force Safety Center Portal Website or by registering at the following address: https://crcapps2.crc.army.mil/TRiPS/af/login.aspx.

As one of your Wingman I want to ensure that we are looking at risk management across the board and using it 24/7, 365 days a year. Enjoy the rest of the summer and be safe!

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