Team,
 Colonel Thomas H. Magness, IV Commander, Los Angeles District I just want to congratulate everyone for making FY08 one of our best years yet. I’m sure you all remember the long hours, early into the morning, getting those last contracts out, and so do I. It’s been an incredible fiscal year, with more than $1 billion in projects, and plenty of hard work ahead of us. Everyone’s tenacious efforts to ensure we finished out the year on a high note are outstanding. With so much to do in the coming year, I just wanted to make sure everyone keeps safety at the forefront of their minds. Over the last year, our contractor folks worked more than 5 million hours, with only 17 cases involving accidents for the year; 10 of which resulted in missed work. They exceeded the USACE Headquarters Safety Office Standards by two-thirds! Although two-thirds above the standard seems great, our goal in the Mighty Los Angeles District is to be accident free. The standard here should be no accidents. Safety first. With the building of miles of fence along our border, as well as the numerous civil and military projects throughout our four-state district, the possibility of injury due to poor safety is elevated. Let us be mindful of our surroundings in the office, at project sites, on our way to work, and in our overall daily lives. Remember: Safety starts with me. Stay safe, stay alive. September was National Preparedness Month, and as we get ready to move into November, we prepare to participate in the Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history. This is a great opportunity for all of us to get in the mindset of “safety first” as we move into 2009. I really encourage you to take a look at the ‘Ready Army’ story in the Safety Section of October’s NewsCastle. Preparing fosters prevention. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. Safety is all of our responsibility. If you see someone on your team being unsafe, square them away. Always be mindful of your surroundings, for yourself and your team. Thanks again for all your hard work and effort in making the Mighty Los Angeles District a success, but more so, for making it safer every day. Hooah! COL M | 
