NORFOLK, Va. –
Naval corporate commands can now expect Naval Safety Command (NAVSAFECOM) assurance teams to evaluate their risk management and self-improvement practices.
Although the visits may conjure visions of safety inspections with safety representatives present, this is not the case.
Assurance teams do not conduct safety reviews, but risk assessments with key command leaders for one week. You only hear the word “safety” once, said Capt. Brian Turney, Gold Team Leader for NAVSAFECOM’s Insurance Directorate.
“We start discussions with the commands by saying the only time you’re going to hear the word ‘safety’ is when we say we’re here from the Naval Safety Command,” Turney said. “Risk and self-improvement are the main topics of discussion.”
Insurance teams have conducted 11 assessments since June. The evaluated commands value the feedback provided and understand that the evaluations help them improve, said David Bussel, director of NAVSAFECOM’s Assurance Directorate.
“Assessment measures whether the behaviors of self-awareness, self-esteem, self-improvement and continuous learning are instilled within the command,” Bussel explained. “If such behavior exists, the command is likely to be ‘operate safely’ and ‘operate safely’ as they correctly identify and communicate risks and consider the risk at an appropriate level.”
So what do “safe to use” and “safe to operate” mean? That’s the question that commands have posed to NAVSAFECOM verification teams.
“Throughout this first year of evaluation, we will also play an educational role to explain the new concepts of the recently updated Safety Management System (SMS),” said Capt. John Bub, Blue Team Leader, NAVSAFECOM’s Assurance Directorate. “We understand that it’s a learning process and how to better evaluate and improve yourself.”
For example, insurance teams explain that “safe to use” and “safe to work” are keys to the SMS, which encourages a focus on safety and thinking that includes self-assessment and self-correction to manage risk and maintain accountability. SMS relies on four key capabilities: safe place, safe people, safe property and material, and safe processes and procedures (4P).
But the terms “safe to use” and “safe to operate” are not the same thing, which is important to understand, Bub said.
“They’re completely different aspects, and who owns those aspects can be different,” Bub said. “But they don’t work in isolation and are completely dependent on the other.”
“Safe to use” is designed safety for places, assets and materials, people and processes and procedures. It is design definingpolicy, design, management of resources and expectations that determine safety risk envelope for the hazardous activity or activities for the given work environment.
On the other hand, “working safely” means performing a task within the intended safety framework. When unanticipated or unanticipated safety risks occur outside of a confirmed safety incident, and the military benefit (operationally defined objective) of taking the risk outweighs the cost of exposure to the risk, commands should apply operational risk management principles to control the risk.
NAVSAFECOM conducts three levels of evaluation for Echelons II through V commands:
- Tier I: The Insurance Directorate ensures Echelon II-III risk tolerance, as well as safety and risk management systems and policies to ensure the safe operation and safe operation of the naval enterprise by identifying, communicating and addressing risks at the appropriate time. level.
- Tier II: Aviation, Shore, Afloat, and Expeditionary Directorates certification and inspection teams focus on inspection and certification processes to support the Navy’s Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) milestones. Units include carrier strike groups (CSGs) and surface training groups (ATGs).
- Echelon III: Multidisciplinary teams from aviation, shore, surface, and expeditionary directorates focus on day-to-day unit-level (Echelons IV and V) standards and compliance during local area assessments.
Although Tier II and III evaluations are not announced, NAVSAFECOM’s Insurance Directorate, which conducts Tier I evaluations, notifies commands eight weeks in advance, requesting data and documentation no later than four weeks prior to the evaluation. The 8 weeks’ notice also ensures that the commands have directors on hand, such as directors.
During the assessment week, Tier I assurance teams conduct interviews, review records, and observe battle rhythm and decision events.
After the assurance assessment week, NAVSAFECOM provides the unit commander with an assessment with a brief and subsequent written report with a “grade” corresponding to risk control effectiveness levels and risk details. The evaluated command, in turn, submits a response report to its reporting parent within 30 days outlining corrective actions.
NAVSAFECOM is not the primary recipient of the response report, but rather copied because the risk picture belongs to the commander, said Nate Elder, deputy director of NAVSAFECOM’s insurance directorate.
“The role of the assessment team is not to assess individual risk decisions because that is the role of the commander,” Elder said. “Our teams check with the commander that HR processes are in place to provide a complete risk picture when the commander needs to make an integrated risk decision. We are a third party that looks and sees how well the system is working and helps highlight where improvements can be made.