Wing's safety council receives Akima Corporation safety award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Team Malmstrom's safety council was awarded the Akima Corporation President's Annual Safety Award in Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 2. 

The safety council consists of seven members from various contracted worksites through the Akima Corporation, who work on base and whose goal is to provide a safe and efficient work environment for their team members. 

"[The safety council] acts as a means for employees to funnel their safety concerns and then the council works up solutions," said Kay Hoyt, 341st Communications Squadron Akima Corporation project manager. "Not only did our safety council step forward to promote our 'Zero Safety Culture' but also each individual on our contract, including our sub-contractors, embraced the culture. We have several work centers with 'Zero' accidents or injuries for the past six years we have been in contact." 

The safety council recorded being accident and injury free for 713 days; drove nearly 154,000 miles; and had zero discrepancies for all 15 work centers spread among six facilities during their annual safety inspection. Some of these include multi-media, official mail, publication and records management, radio and telephone maintenance, information assurance and the network control center. With more than 30 sites world-wide and 1,800 employees, the Akima Corporation singled-out Malmstrom for their safety initiatives and record. 

"[The Akima Corporation] has recognized the efforts it takes to have a successful safety program," Ms. Hoyt said. "It's not just one day; it's a day at a time all put together to make a safety record. Our company has a huge emphasis on safety and safety is number one. That's our culture too and we support it. Our folks take care of each other and when you do that, all the awards are kind of secondary." 

Joe Furr, 341st CS Akima Corporation quality, safety and environmental manager, said being singled out with one of three annual Akima Corporation President's Safety Awards is an honor. 

"Many times, 'councils' meet because they have to," Mr. Furr said. "Not this safety council; the members truly made themselves available to their co-workers and brought meaningful safety inputs to the table. Management was able to act on the council's ideas that led to achieving a 'Zero' accident workplace."