LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The 19th Airlift Wing Safety Office is responsible for ensuring Airmen have a safe work environment at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
Though a small amount of personnel, Safety is responsible for the protection and safe mission execution of more than 6,000 Team Little Rock members.
A variety of jobs are executed by the safety office including workplace-incident investigations, risk management and educational briefs.
Safety personnel observe numerous workplace procedures and aircraft take offs to identify any hazards or execution failures. If an incident does occur, safety personnel are the first responders who preserve the site and conduct the investigation.
“Our job is to ensure the training Airmen get is accurate and effective,” said Master Sgt. James Stogner, 19th AW Safety Office superintendent.
One of the most important sections of safety is risk management. Risk management is involved with any activity on base from 5Ks to the Air and Space Show this fall. They consider potential issues, identify them and determine preventative measures.
“Risk management opens up everyone’s eyes to all the risks in any activity they are participating in on and off base,” said Chris Gill, 19th AW occupational and flight safety specialist.
Not only does safety work to keep Team Little Rock safe, they also work to help ensure animals remain protected.
A program enforced at all times is the Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard program. BASH was created to keep birds and other animals off the flightline to lower the probability of animals interfering with aircraft.
The unit regularly briefs Team Little Rock Airmen on different procedures each shop can put in place to maintain a safe work environment.
Safety personnel encourage Airmen to practice their training in their home as well as on duty to create safe habits for any form of risky activity.
“Hopefully future generations learn from our mistakes and don’t repeat them,” Gill said.