HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Air Base Group will observe Safe and Sound Week here Aug. 17 to 21.
Safe and Sound Week is a national campaign held annually in August that recognizes workplace safety and health programs and provides resources and activities to keep workers safe and informed.
“Safety starts at the top and trickles down,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan King, occupational safety technician. “A program is only as good as the people. If leaders and supervisors prioritize a safe work center and proactive participation, personnel will follow. Everyone plays a part.”
Work centers with safety and health programs prevent and reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, improve regulatory compliance, reduce costs, engage workers, enhance social responsibility goals and increase productivity.
“Morale improves when everyone is doing the job safely,” said King. “If an employee is injured and others need to pick up their duties, there is more stress and morale goes down.”
This year’s campaign focuses on three pillars: management and leadership, worker participation and finding and fixing hazards.
- Management and leadership focuses on promoting health and safety among top-level managers. When leaders focus on and support health and safety actions, personnel know it’s vital to mission success.
- Worker participation is important because they are often the first to recognize potential hazards associated with their jobs. When they are involved in finding solutions, they feel invested in the program.
- Finding and fixing hazards encourages a proactive approach to addressing hazards before they cause illness or injury. By adopting a systematic approach, organizations can avoid serious mistakes before they occur.
“Safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Shaun Bassett, occupational safety manager. “Take time to talk about it. Even ten minutes a week can make a difference.”
Hanscom AFB personnel can find additional information on the Safey SharePoint site.