Critical Days of Summer: Stay safe in the workplace

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean Johnson
  • 341st Missile Wing Safety
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  It's difficult to look at one's workplace as a hazardous environment. Going to work in the same place each day at the same time allows one to grow comfortable with that environment.

Sitting in the same chair, typing on the same keyboard and using the same coffee-maker each day seems to be the routine. The comfortable components of the workplace become normal and benign but threats to the mission loom right around the corner. Safety in the workplace for members of Air Force Global Strike Command rests on attention to detail and vigilance.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, non-fatal injuries within the workplace are the leading cause of lost work days. Average lost work days vary due to the particular type of work being done. Malmstrom Air Force Base has a variety of workplaces and statistically, the average amount of lost work days will range from 3 to 8 days from any work-related injury. According to Wing Safety's database, the impact on Wing One from lost work days is clear. To date, this year, a total of 367 lost work days have been accumulated due to injuries. Of them, 82 are directly attributed to the job requirements of base personnel. Again, a full year's worth of work towards Malmstrom's mission has been lost by the halfway point due to injuries.

Malmstrom leadership has been diligent in providing training for workplace hazards and Personal Protective Equipment. All of that is useless if personal attention to detail is forgotten. A vast majority of injuries accrued in the workplace this year occurred when an individual was walking to and from the office. Summer conditions make this less hazardous but when winter comes and ice builds up in walkways and exterior stairs, the need for focused attention is necessary. Once an individual steps out of their vehicle and into the parking lot of their workplace they are on duty and need to exercise caution within the workplace.

Another necessary step in workplace safety is inspecting it for hazards. A few problematic areas found in annual safety inspections include: accessible entries and exits, properly mounted and accessible hand rails, and electrical hazards. The latter topic is probably the hottest right now along with broken wall outlets, frayed electrical cables and a lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters for electrical outlets near sources of water. Supervisors should take time to inspect the workplace for these hazards, remembering the importance of the safety of their subordinates. Contacting Safety with questions about what is and is not a hazard is welcomed and encouraged. The fastest way to get something important done is to go through the proper channels. Once the appropriate levels of supervision have been notified within the workplace, one should contact Wing Safety if there are any remaining questions.

Having a safe workplace is a right of every Air Force member and the responsibility of identifying workplace hazards fall on the shoulders of everyone working in that location. Whenever something seems out of place or just not quite right, raise the question. No one can be faulted for being overly cautious. In fact, caution defines our mission in regards to nuclear surety and every member of Wing One should be well-acquainted with this concept. Maintain situational awareness as Malmstrom continues to display "Excellence in All We Do."