Fall Protection Focus weeks aim to reduce injuries Published May 10, 2017 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Air Force Occupational Safety and the 66th Air Base Group Safety Office here will recognize Fall Protection Focus weeks May 8 through 19 to increase awareness of fall hazards and prevent fall-related mishaps. The Fall Protection Focus initiative is in partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's campaign, "National Safety Stand-Down." “Each year the Air Force experiences hundreds of fall mishaps that result in thousands of lost hours as well as injuries and deaths,” said Shawn Rice, safety manager of the 66th Air Base Group Safety Office. "Supervisors are encouraged to focus on fall hazards and reinforce fall prevention." According to the Air Force Safety Center, in the past five fiscal years, 2012 through 2016, the Air Force has had more than 6,700 Air Force injuries from nearly 3,500 falls. This has resulted in 42,000 lost workdays and 13 fatalities. These injuries not only relate to falls from heights, Rice noted, but they include falls from the same level such as those caused by wet floors, obstacles on a walkway or uneven sidewalks. Earlier this month, base safety hosted a fall hazard class for members of the Hanscom workforce. “As part of this year’s annual fall protection campaign, the Safety Office held a one-day Fall Hazard Awareness course earlier this month for members of the Hanscom workforce,” Rice said. “The course provided fall protection concepts to 30 employees to help them understand the risks associated with their jobs and ways to prevent falls.” Throughout the two-week Fall Protection Focus, base safety officials will remind Hanscom personnel that using fall protection equipment is imperative. “The Safety Office will draw attention to fall prevention next week by visiting workplaces and focusing their attention on hazards associated with walking, working surfaces and the condition of ladders used in the workplace,” Rice said. According to Air Force Safety Center officials, supervisors are responsible for ensuring Airmen are trained in accordance with AFI 91-203, Air Force Consolidated Safety Instruction. “It’s incumbent upon every Airman, supervisor, and senior leader to ensure our workforce is aware of all mishap prevention requirements, have the proper equipment to prevent falls, and know how to use that equipment properly,” said Bill Parsons, the chief of Air Force Occupational Safety, in an Air Force Safety Center Public Affairs release. For those who have noticed a problem and are unable to correct it with the resources available, or for further information on Fall Protection Focus weeks, contact the Safety Office at 781-225-5584 or visit http://www.afsec.af.mil/occupationalsafetydivision/fallprotection.asp. For more safety information, visit the Team Hanscom Safety Office site at https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/24169/default.aspx.