Members of the 18th Wing Ground Safety team pose for a group photo after winning the Pacific Air Forces Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety Category 2 on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 7, 2013. The team provides a safety program to more than 25,000 people and protects $6 billion worth of resources. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Charles Sirion, 18th Wing Safety superintendent, takes a photo of a sink hole during a safety inspection around Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 7, 2013. The ground safety team won the Pacific Air Forces Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety Category 2 for their safety programs and initiatives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)
Lorie Bellamy, 18th Wing ground safety manager, fills out a hazard report on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 7, 2013. The ground safety team has six members who provide a safety program to more than 25,000 people and protect $6 billion worth of resources. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Nixon, 18th Wing Safety NCO in charge of mishap investigations, briefs a safety class on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 7, 2013. The ground safety team won the Pacific Air Forces Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety Category 2 for their safety programs and initiatives in 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)
by Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady
18 Wing Public Affairs
2/7/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Wing Ground Safety team was recently recognized by Pacific Air Forces headquarters for their safety programs and initiatives in 2012.
They won the PACAF Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety Category 2.
"We have a great team of dedicated ground safety personnel," said Lorie Bellamy, 18th Wing ground safety manager. "In spite of manning shortages, they effectively managed ground safety programs and provided a constant safety presence throughout the wing."
The ground safety team has six dedicated safety professionals who delivered a top-notch safety program for more than 25,000 people and $6 billion worth of resources.
Their Critical Days of Summer Campaign brought traffic safety presentations from the states to more than 1,800 members around the base. The campaign resulted in a 38 percent decrease in reportable mishaps with no Class A mishaps, meaning $2,000,000 or more in direct mishap costs with a fatality or permanent total disability; or B mishaps, meaning from $500,000 to less than $2,000,000 in direct mishap costs with a permanent partial disability.
Through safe preparation and recovery, the team was also able to minimized damages with zero injuries from three typhoons during a 30-day period.
