Sabers meet summer with safety challenge Published June 29, 2011 By Staff Reports 52nd Fighter Wing Safety SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Historically, summer shows an increase in mishaps. Long ago, Air Force leaders realized there is an increase in activity during the summer months as well as an increase to the exposures of risks associated with these activities. This period falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day and has been coined the 101 Critical Days of Summer. This year, the 52nd Fighter Wing safety office challenges Sabers to participate in the summer safety campaign. By reducing mishaps, the wing preserves assets and maintains a mission-ready force. Safety Challenge The goal is to reduce the potential for mishaps by approaching summer activities using common sense. In the safety world, the term is risk management. Common sense is great, but risk management takes it a step further. In its simplest form, risk management can be used in seconds when getting ready to participate in any summer activity. It is simply asking, "What is the worst thing that could happen from participation in this activity?" If someone takes any action to reduce risks, he or she has performed risk management. By performing risk management, you are effectively decreasing the potential for a mishap. Each squadron can compete for a grand prize of a one-day pass and a free squadron picnic. The winning squadron earns a 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety Trophy, which will be moved around each year as new squadrons win. There will also be small awards given out to top performers throughout the campaign. All events must be communicated to the safety office to receive credit. The office will also randomly monitor events. To make the competition fair, the safety office will serve as the officiating element. Scoring System If the competing squadron size is more than 175 people, there will be no change to the way points are awarded. If the squadron is from 65 to 175 people, add 15 percent of points earned to the total. Squadrons with less than 65 people can add 25 percent. Safety Challenge Events Submit an AFN safety commercial. Each unit can submit an AFN commercial idea to get approved to be aired on AFN. Each submission is worth 100 points. If AFN approves it to be aired, then that unit will receive 500 additional points. A maximum of three submissions are permitted per unit. All ideas must be routed through the wing safety office prior to being routed to AFN. 100 points if submitted; 500 points if aired; maximum of three submissions Submit a safety article for the base e-paper. Each safety article written will receive 25 points. An additional 10 points will be awarded if the article runs in the paper. Please ensure that the article is 200 to 500 words. Run each submission through the safety office prior to submitting it to public affairs. 25 points if submitted; 10 points if published; maximum of 200 points Conduct a seatbelt survey. Use a clipboard and a piece of paper to mark down how many people were not compliant with seatbelt laws. Only two teams can be out at one time, and be sure to wear reflective belt or vest. Five bonus points will be given for weekend surveys. Coordinate with safety prior to the start of the weekend by sending an e-mail to 52fw.seg@spangdahlem.af.mil. Members must inspect at least 100 vehicles or 30 minutes, whichever is sooner. 15 points; 5 bonus points; maximum 3 per week Conduct a reflective belt survey. The wear of reflective belts is mandatory while in uniform during reduced visibility and hours of darkness. Identify and inform persons not wearing belts they are required to wear it by base regulations. This is an integrity item, so be honest. Each survey conducted is worth 10 points. Send an email to 52fw.seg@spangdahlem.af.mil stating you have completed this survey. 10 points; unlimited maximum Conduct a FOD walk. Set up an appointment with Master Sgt. Matthew LaNew, 52nd Fighter Wing safety office at 452-6223 to conduct FOD walks. Please call to coordinate at least 24 hours prior, so arrangements can be made to provide escorts if needed. To earn the 25 points, a minimum of five participants is required. 25 points - 5 points per person; 400 points maximum Conduct a safety meeting at a unit other than the briefer's. The same person who performed a briefing cannot brief again. This will give other Airmen a chance to participate and talk about safety. Examples of meetings that they can brief at are Top 3, 5/6 or the first term Airman center. Airmen can also come on the radio and share a safety story. Coordinate with safety and the appropriate agency before conducting the briefs. 25 points per briefing; 400 points maximum Conduct a commander's call safety briefing. If a commander decides to conduct a commander's call, volunteers can speak about any safety related topic for a minimum of 15 minutes. This can be conducted once a month. 50 points per brief; 150 points maximum Draw or create a computer-generated safety poster. Only one poster can be submitted per person. However, in the spirit of teamwork, it is okay for an artist to create a poster that someone else can submit. Submit posters to the safety office for approval, and after it has received the "green light," display it in the squadron for others to see. 10 points per poster; 200 points maximum Hand out safety messages at the gate each Friday. This is a one-time event for each unit. The first unit to call ground safety at 452-7233 no earlier than Monday morning will be selected to do the handouts for that week. The handouts should have a safety message on it, and must be created by the organization and approved by the safety office for an accuracy check. Handouts should be small note-card size, and there should be a maximum of 200 handouts. 200 points maximum Organize a base or unit safety event. This can be accomplished in several ways. Examples include host a motorcycle rally that focuses on safety, or conduct an event that teaches or trains people on how to properly and safely perform an activity, job or sport. An event held at the base level is 100 points per event, and a unit level event is 50 points. 100 points for wing-level event; 50 points for unit-level event; 200 points maximum Submit a safety article to USAFE Air Scoop. Each safety article written will receive 100 points. An additional 150 points will be awarded if the article is published in the Air Scoop. Run each submission through the safety office prior to submitting it to the editors at Air Scoop. 100 points if submitted; 150 points if published; 500 points maximum Unit Deductions Units can lose points for not following general safety rules. These items are not negotiable and are at the discretion of wing safety. If a unit misses a safety briefing hosted by wing safety, it will be a 25 point deduction. For a late mishap report, 10 points will be deducted. For traffic accidents, points will be deducted based on the unit's population. Bonus Points During random spot inspections conducted by wing safety, if an individual or activity is "Caught in the Act" of doing the right thing with regards to safety, five bonus points will be added to that unit. There is no limit to how many bonus points can be awarded.