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Shaw's focus on safety today, everyday

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Williams
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Be safe. 

That is the message of Safety Day today at Shaw. Throughout the day, there are briefings for Shaw personnel and each squadron will conduct in-house safety instruction. 

“Safety Day is where we focus on operational risk management, mishaps and safety,” said Airman 1st Class Amanda Forest, 20th Fighter Wing ground safety apprentice. “We want personnel to be more safe and careful (in their duty sections).” 

The three briefings today, at 10 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. at the base theater, will feature Officer Tre Lundquist of the Public Safety Coalition. 

Officer Lundquist, a former U.S. Marine, Florida state corrections officer and highway patrolman, will present information that could help prevent those in attendance from being a crime victim. He is considered to be among the top authorities in the fields of criminal and gang activity and has been conducting crime prevention seminars around the country for 13 years. 

There is also a class A mishap briefing for pilots at 2 p.m. in the community center and an ORM briefing for supervisors in building 1122 in the Ground Safety conference room. 

Each squadron will also conduct in-house training to promote safety in their duty sections, Airman Forest said. The idea is to make sure everyone in the workcenter does not become complacent with day-to-day tasks. We want them to identify possible hazards and review current procedures along with ORM. We want them to be as safe as possible in their duties. 

Another area of concern for Shaw is motorcycle safety. 

With warmer weather and numerous rallies to attend this spring and summer, riders need to be aware of the dangers. 

Because of the additional dangers of riding a motorcycle, and the fact that Shaw has lost one rider every year over the last four years, there is a mandatory briefing for all Shaw motorcycle riders today at 3 p.m. in the community center. 

“Operating a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than operating a four wheeled motor vehicle. You have less protection,” said Master Sgt. Mark Nurrenbern, CENTAF Force Protection, who will be giving the briefing. 

With a lot of people thinking about purchasing a motorcycle or getting back into riding now that the weather is warmer, he hopes everyone will come with an open mind. 

“Hopefully they will walk away with some tips and get themselves and their motorcycles ready for some great summer riding,” Sgt. Nurrenbern said. 

“With the 101 Critical Days of Summer beginning next week, we need to keep safety in mind in everything we do,” said Col. Michael Beale, 20th Fighter Wing vice commander. “I encourage everyone, regardless of rank, to look around their duty sections for any hazards and make the appropriate changes. We need to look out for each other -- if someone is doing something that is unsafe, stop them. It takes everyone to make a safe workplace. 

“We can’t leave safety at work,” he said. “We had two serious car accidents last week that landed two people in the hospital and, unfortunately, a mother who was notified that her son had died. We need to do better.”