NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville wins SECNAV FY01 Award for Achievement in Safety Ashore
By Susan Brink, NAVAIR Depot Jax Public Affairs Specialist

Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (NAVAIR Depot Jax) has been awarded the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) FY01 Award for Achievement in Safety Ashore. The Honorable Gordon R. England, SECNAV, made this announcement on May 31, 2002. In this announcement England stated, “This award recognizes exceptional examples of safety and occupational health program improvements that are possible with senior leadership’s commitment and example. Top-down emphasis on safety establishes a command culture that promotes operational excellence through effective risk management processes and hazard recognition/correction. The worth of proper training, and command emphasis on proactive and innovative safety programs and incentives, is unquestionable.”

NAVAIR Depot Jax continues to ensure safety is a fundamental part of its everyday business. In FY01 the Depot reported that total mishaps were down 13%, lost workday mishaps were down 4%, days lost to injuries were down 14%, back injuries were down 42%, and days lost due to back injuries alone were down 29%. The Depot’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Director, Chris Williamson stated, “Our substantial reductions in mishaps are clear indicators that the process of mishap reduction has become ingrained in the corporate culture and occurs in concert with changes in workload and plant configuration. This is truly a hallmark of an effective and integrated OSH program. We work together on a daily basis but in different ways to realize the goal of a safe and healthful workplace.”

The Depot runs several OSH programs concurrently to achieve the awarded outcomes. Not only do they run a superb mishap program, they received a successful Explosives Safety Inspection (ESI) in February 2001, an outstanding rating from an Ordnance Handling Safety Assist Team (OHSAT) visit in October 2000. The OSH program is further enhanced by its ergonomic program, which was recognized in 2000 winning the CNO Individual Award for Achievement in Safety Ashore. Together these programs work to prevent injuries and further improve work efficiency throughout the Depot.

In addition to winning this award, the Depot recently won the 2001 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award proving that NAVAIR Depot Jax is truly dedicated to safety. This makes the third consecutive year for the Depot to win the CNO Aviation Safety Award and the first time to win the prestigious SECNAV Award for Achievement in Safety Ashore.

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