PPE and situational awareness key to staying safe outdoors

  • Published
  • By 66th Air Base Group Safety Office
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  With warmer weather finally here, an increased number of people will be outside running or riding bicycles, skateboards and motorcycles. As a reminder to everyone, the Safety Office encourages the use of proper protective equipment to perform these activities safely.

While jogging outdoors, use pathways or sidewalks. If no sidewalks are available, personnel are encouraged to run against the traffic flow. During low light conditions, at night or during inclement weather such as fog, rain or sleet, wear clothing or accessories containing retro-reflective properties visible from the front and back for all outdoor activities.

"Several pedestrians have complained recently of vehicles not stopping to yield to pedestrians or of excessive speed," said Galen Williams, 66th Air Base Group Safety director. "Vehicles must yield to pedestrians when entering any crosswalk on base - the speed limit in these areas is only 15 miles per hour."

Additionally, bicyclists and their passengers, scooter riders, skateboarders and those on roller blades or roller skates must wear a properly fitted helmet with a secure head strap fastened while performing these activities on base.

"Approved helmets are those that meet the American National Standards Institute or Snell Memorial Foundation standards," said Williams. "Additionally, per AFI 91-207, ensure bicycles are equipped with a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red reflector or light clearly visible from the rear from 300 feet."

Motorized scooters must have headlights turned on at all times when operating on Hanscom, he also said.

Williams reminds personnel with the exception of hearing aids, the use of portable headphones, earphones, cellular phones, iPods or other listening and entertainment devices, including those with single ear-pieces or non-ear-bud external speakers, while walking, jogging, running, bicycling, skating or skateboarding on roadways is prohibited on the installation for the sake of ensuring good situational awareness.

"Portable devices impair recognition of emergency signals, alarms, announcements, approaching vehicles and verbal warnings," he said. "It is highly recommended they not be used on jogging paths or outdoor tracks as well, for the same reasons. Help us keep Team Hanscom members safe."

For further information contact the Safety Office at 781-225-5584.