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AFH 1 · Chapter 17 · Section 17.17

USAF Mishap Prevention Program-Safety Organization

Part of Emergency Management · 2 sections · ~1470 words · WAPS PFE study material

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USAF Mishap Prevention Program — Safety Office, Unit Safety Rep, Individuals, AF Safety Center

Foundation

Safety Organization Foundation
All DAF personnel will utilize comprehensive risk management principles, processes, tools, and techniques to assess and mitigate risk associated with both on- and off-duty activities.

Personal + Collective Responsibility

Personal + Collective Responsibility
An effective mishap prevention program depends on individuals:
  • Integrating mishap prevention principles at every functional level
  • Taking personal and collective responsibility for complying with and enforcing applicable safety standards

Safety Office

Safety Office
At the installation level, safety staffs, host, and tenant units implement mishap prevention programs as prescribed by:
  • DAFI 91-202
  • Applicable host tenant support agreements

Safety Staff Composition

Safety Staff Composition
The safety office staff consists of career safety professionals who are:
  • First-term and career Airmen trained in the enlisted safety career field (AFSC 1S0X1)
  • DAF civilians

When Mishaps Occur

When Mishaps Occur
When mishaps occur, the safety staff ensures all mishaps are:
  • Investigated
  • Reported

Safety Staff Function

Safety Staff Function
With the assistance of commanders, supervisors, and individuals, the host safety office staff:
  • Provides oversight of the installation safety program
  • Provides support and guidance to help eliminate unsafe acts or conditions

Unit Safety Representative

Unit Safety Representative
To ensure each unit is actively engaged in mishap prevention, commanders will:
  • Implement safety and health programs
  • Appoint a primary and alternate unit safety representative to assist them in implementing their safety programs

Unit Safety Roles

Unit Safety Roles
Roles built into unit safety programs include:
  • Procurement and proper use of personal protective equipment
  • Worker/facility compliance with applicable standards
  • Using risk management techniques to analyze work environments and job tasks for hazards
  • Developing work-center-specific job safety training outlines on safety, fire prevention, protection, and health requirements
  • Monthly spot inspections of the work areas

Individuals

Individual Vital Role
All individuals hold a vital role in preventing mishaps.

Failure to Intervene

Failure to Intervene
A failure to intervene when a potential unsafe act is identified is a failure to protect.

Individual Accountability

Individual Accountability
Every DAF member is accountable for considering:
  • Their personal safety
  • The safety of others

…when participating in on- and off-duty activities.

Individual Responsibilities

Individual Responsibilities
Individuals are responsible for:
  • Complying with all safety instructions, technical orders, job guides, and operating procedures
  • Identifying and reporting hazardous conditions that place DAF personnel or property at risk to supervision
  • Submitting the hazard using the AF Form 457

Air Force Safety Center

AF Safety Center Foundation
As a key component of the DAF Mishap Prevention Program, the Air Force Safety Center works to ensure:
  • A safe environment
  • A safety mindset for all Airmen and Guardians

Chief of Safety

Chief of Safety
The Chief of Safety, who also holds the title of Commander, Air Force Safety Center:
  • Heads the organization
  • Is located at the Pentagon with the Deputy Chief of Safety and support staff

Safety Center Composition

Safety Center Composition
The Air Force Safety Center is composed of:
  • The Vice Commander
  • 10 divisions at Kirtland Air Force Base

Specialized Agencies

Specialized Agencies
There are several agencies directly linked to the Air Force Safety Center that have specialized areas of responsibility with regard to ensuring and maintaining safety in the DAF.

USAF Mishap Prevention Program — Safety Center Divisions

Analysis and Cyberspace Operations Division

Analysis + Cyberspace Mission
Mission: Leverage information technology, in a cost effective manner, to support the safety mission for the Air and Space Forces.

AFSAS

AFSAS
The division develops and sustains the unique safety reporting system called the Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS) which:
  • Collects and maintains safety related data
  • Used by the DAF and DoD safety communities to investigate mishaps
  • Mitigate hazards for all safety disciplines

AFSAS Database

AFSAS Database
This system also provides an analysis and trending capability through its comprehensive safety database, which enables the safety center to rapidly respond to both internal and external customer requirements for mishap safety data.

Cyber Support

Cyber Support
The division also supports all cyber security, communications, and information technology systems for the entire safety center.

Aviation Safety Division

Aviation Safety Mission
The Aviation Safety Division consists of safety-trained professionals spanning the domain of flight.

Aviation Safety Functions

Aviation Safety Functions
The division:
  • Preserves warfighting capability by establishing DAF aviation safety policy
  • Promotes mishap prevention programs for all aviation assets
  • Establishes proactive safety programs
  • Oversees the aviation mishap investigative process
  • Manages collection and accuracy of flight safety data and disposition of risk-mitigating actions
  • Provides proactive and reactive engineering and operational analyses of flight safety issues

Aviation Programs Directed

Aviation Programs Directed
The division directs:
  • The Recorded Aircraft Information Program
  • The Hazardous Air Traffic Report Program
  • The Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard Program
  • The Mishap Analysis and Animation Facility

Occupational Safety Division

Occupational Safety Mission
Manages the DAF occupational safety program, including:
  • Operational safety
  • Industrial safety
  • Occupational safety
  • Sports and recreation safety
  • Traffic safety

Occupational Safety Oversight

Occupational Safety Oversight
This division has oversight responsibility for the safety risk management program efforts for the DAF mishap prevention program.

OSHA Office of Responsibility

OSHA Office of Responsibility
The division is the USAF office of responsibility for all OSHA-related guidance and processes for dealing with the Department of Labor in regard to:
  • Inspections
  • Investigations
  • Recordkeeping

Human Performance Division

Human Performance Mission
Supports the DAF safety mission to safeguard Airmen and Guardians, protect resources and preserve combat capability by addressing the number one cause of Air and Space Forces mishaps: human error.

Human Performance Composition

Human Performance Composition
The division includes experts from:
  • Medicine
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
  • Aircraft operations
  • Aircraft maintenance

Human Performance Tools

Human Performance Tools
The division administers:
  • The Air Force Combined Mishap Reduction System (AFCMRS) survey
  • Can provide commanders an Organizational Safety Assessment (OSA)

Human Factors Training

Human Factors Training
The division trains DAF safety professionals in:
  • Human factors principles
  • The DoD Human Factors Analysis and Classification System

Weapons Safety Division

Weapons Safety Mission
Establishes and defines USAF nuclear surety and safety policy for the development and operational use of all:
  • Nuclear weapons systems
  • Conventional weapons systems
  • Directed energy (DE) weapons systems

Weapons Safety Oversight

Weapons Safety Oversight
The division oversees the USAF Nuclear Weapons Surety Program, delegated from the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Weapons Safety Certifications

Weapons Safety Certifications
The division provides:
  • Nuclear, conventional and DE weapons systems safety design certification
  • Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance certification
  • USAF explosives safety standards
  • Explosive siting reviews
  • Weapons safety consultation

Training and Force Development Division

Training Mission
Serves as the foundation of excellence in ensuring the continuous professional development of all personnel assigned to safety staffs.

Training Disciplines

Training Disciplines
The education and training encompass all safety disciplines:
  • Aviation
  • Occupational
  • Weapons
  • Space and missiles

Training Reach

Training Reach
The program is delivered to approximately 2,000 students through 11 professional courses in 70 sessions, ranging from three days to seven weeks.

Personnel and Resource Division

Personnel + Resource Mission
Responsible for complex managerial services for the center including:
  • All personnel
  • Manpower
  • Program management
  • Knowledge operations
  • Facilities management
  • Planning, programming, budget, and execution

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

Staff Judge Advocate
Provides legal advice and general counsel on all aspects of Air and Space Forces mishap prevention programs and safety investigations.

Records Library

Records Library
The office maintains the Air Force Safety Center records library, ensuring efficient and timely retrieval of safety investigation reports for review and analysis.

FOIA Response

FOIA Response
It also responds to requests for safety information under:
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Congressional requests
  • Other functional requests

Public Affairs Division

Public Affairs Division
Supports the Chief of Safety's communication program by providing service members and the general public timely and accurate information.

Public Affairs Functions

Public Affairs Functions
The division:
  • Manages the center's public website and social media programs
  • Generates news releases, photos, and video products for DAF-wide distribution
  • Engages with the news media to ensure the accurate reporting of safety programs and mishap prevention efforts

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