Safety stand down of Coast Guard air stations
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Written by: CDR Glynn Smith
The following is posted on behalf of Vice Admiral Currier, Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard.
VADM J.P. Currier, Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Yesterday, ADM Papp sent an email to all hands on the loss of CG-6017. In that message he directed all air station commands to conduct a safety stand-down. This is an important tool that all units in the Coast Guard can use.
To provide clarity, safety stand-downs allot a period of time when a unit takes a break from normal operations and training to focus on safety practices. We recognize that our jobs are sometimes hazardous and it is vital that we take every opportunity to both identify and mitigate operational risk. The stand-down should be used to highlight aspects of operations and mission support that present the higher levels of risk, followed by group discussions on how those risk factors can be reduced.
A stand-down does not affect unit response to emergencies or the conduct of operational missions such as critical patrols. During a stand-down a unit ceases all non-essential activities to focus on how each member of the command can personally contribute to the conduct of safe and effective operations. The effective execution of our missions requires the involvement of all hands.
J.P. Currier, VADM
Chief of Staff
Comments
Leave a Comment
We welcome your comments on postings at all Coast Guard sites/journals. These are sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard to provide a forum to talk about our work providing maritime safety, security and stewardship for the American people to secure the homeland, save lives and property, protect the environment, and promote economic prosperity.
The information provided is for public information only and is not a distress communication channel. People in an emergency and in need of Coast Guard assistance should use VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz), dial 911, or call their nearest Coast Guard unit.
All comments submitted are moderated. The Coast Guard retains the discretion to determine which comments it will post and which it will not. We expect all contributors to be respectful. We will not post comments that contain personal attacks of any kind; refer to Coast Guard or other employees by name; contain offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups, or contain vulgar language. We will also not post comments that are spam, are clearly off topic, or that promote services or products.
The U.S. Coast Guard disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from any comments posted on this page. This forum may not be used for the submission of any claim, demand, informal or formal complaint, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice or process, or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.
If you have specific questions regarding a U.S. Coast Guard program that involves details you do not wish to share publicly please contact the program point of contact listed at http://www.uscg.mil/global/mail/
The U.S. Coast Guard will not collect or retain Personally Identifiable Information unless you voluntarily provide it to us. To view the U.S. Coast Guards Privacy Policy, please visit: http://www.uscg.mil/global/disclaim.asp
Please note: Anonymous comments have been disabled for this journal. It is preferred that you use your real name when posting a comment. WE WILL POST THE NAME YOU ENTER WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT. Also, you are welcome to use Open ID or other user technologies that may be available.
I have to say that I am not a fan of “safety standdowns” as a response to accidents. To me, these reactions seem to be more of a “see – leadership is addressing the problem” response, rather than a meaningful exercise. Safety is not a standalone issue that can compartmentalized or dealt with effectively in special meetings. Safety is operational element that needs to be designed into (tightly integrated) everyday operations and procedures. Safety becomes automatic.
I HAVE TO SECOND CHARLEY’S OPINION. AS A SPOUSE, MY HUSBAND AND I HAD THE SAME TALK LAST NIGHT. WE ARE A PART OF THE ENLISTED HH60 FAMILY AND STANDDOWNS SEEM TO NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE ENVOLVED! PRAY FOR OUR GUARDIANS OF THE SEAS!
I am so sad to hear this new’s of my deceased brother’s that were crewmen on Helicopter 6017 and their families. I was stationed at Kodiak Air Station when the helicopter HH-3F / 1473 crashed. It was such a devastating day then as it is now. During this safety stand-down I would respectfully reccomend that all Air Station’s pay particular attention to CMS maintenance cards and those who are performing them. My concern is not the professional ability of the people to perform them, but rather the pressure to have them peformed within unreasonable time restraints. I also would strongly reccomend that more than one person over see that these cards are well within over due times. Preferably E-6 or E-7 or both. I respectfully reccomend these steps because I once had sole responsibility to maintain the CMS maintenance on four HH-3F helicopter’s . That is too much pressure for one person.
Speaking for the Coast Guard Aviation Association, we all personally feel the loss of our comrades and extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the aircrew of CG-6017. Each and every one of us, active, retired or former CG feels the shock and loss.
Safety is a serious matter as previous comments attest. I fully agree that safety must be at the core of every procedure. Safety is not an add-on, it is an integral part of what we do. As a safety professional who learned my trade in Coast Guard Aviation, this is a concept that I work to get across every day.
I do disagree on the comments on Safety Standdowns. Safety standdowns CAN be a valuable tool IF they are followed up with action. Safety standdowns are valuable tools to help us focus our attention on the importance safety as part of our aviation skills. A safety standdown by itself without follow up will not accomplish the goal of reducing mishaps. A safety standdown is a step in a continuous process to keep us focused on our core aviation skills, and to remind us about the environment in which we work. When things go well we tend to get complacent, safety standdowns are a tool to bring us back to reality, but only a tool. Follow up will be the key.
Fifty years ago I was a USNR Aviation Photographer at NAS Niagara Falls who had a couple of hundred hours of airtime during a six year period – much of it in helicopters. I walked away from four crashes – and had to photograph the mangled remains of nearly a hundred young fathers who didn’t.
The Pilots who I flew with were the WWII Heroes of the South Pacific. They had spent a lot of time alone in the sky – so that they had an opportunity to think – and a lot to think about.
They had come to the realization that THEIR LIVES were dependent on the proper functioning of their Air Crewmen.
They made a Point of making sure that their Crewmen could concentrate on their job – THAT THEY WOULD BE TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVED – and NOT have to be harassed and embarrassed by Non flying Officious Officers.
Every Crewman was Taught to make a Safety Inspection of every aircraft before he got in it – AND TO REFUSE TO FLY IN IT IF IT WAS UNSAFE.
ANY CREWMAN COULD GROUND ANY AIRCRAFT. IT COULD NOT FLY AGAIN UNTIL IT HAD BEEN PERSONALLY INSPECTED BY THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINENCE OFFICER.
I personally did this four times – and all four planes were taken out of service until extensive repairs were made.
Safety should be proactive and not reactive. Engaging in a “safety stand down” to discuss and highlight aspects of operations and mission support that present the higher levels of risk is a knee jerk reaction…cart before the horse. Unit’s should already be aware of their operational needs, risks and problems. Why does it take crashing a helicopter and loosing lives? You cannot compartmentalize safety into a two hour meeting. The aviation community is small and we all suffered a great loss on 07-07-2010. Guardians, you will not be forgotten, forever in our hearts and memories. May you all Rest in Peace.
As a newly (3 yrs) retiree, I was never fond of what “appeared to be a knee jerk reactions” of having a safety stand-down. However now that I’m dealing with non A/D populace, in another public service oriented situation, let me tell you how receptive “the youth” are today. They have the capabilities of looking at situations they are put in, and appreciating the dangers. They have the capacity of learning from others previous mistakes. I once served with a JO who totaled his car, had a wicked seatbelt mark on his chest, the CO asked him to show it off at Quarters that one day, that night EVERYONE wore their seatbelts home. Seize this teachable moment.
FYI Water moccasins, are not like rattlesnakes, moccasins attack without warning, but if you are newly stationed in a part of the country that has moccasins you do not know that unless someone tells you. What regional hazard do we “just assume” people know about when they have never been to “our neck of the woods” before?
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of the brave crew members of CG6017 who lost their lives in the line of duty. As the parent of 2 who currently serve, it is heart breaking on many levels. The brave, committed, members of the USCG have been working with outdated, and subpar aircraft, watercraft and other equipment for years. In remembrance of and with respect for all those in the USCG who have lost their lives, it’s our duty as Americans, to impress upon our government the importance of providing and maintaining the necessary funds and equipment for our men and women to do their jobs providing the important service of Homeland Security.