Motorcycle Training Update I HFACS and Data Analysis I AED in the Workplace I Top 5 Explosives Concerns
DECISIONS

Commander, Naval Safety Center RDML Christopher J. Murray

Deputy Commander Col Glen Butler, USMC

Command Master Chief CMDCM(AW/SW) Paul Kingsbury

Director, Shore Safety Programs Jonathan Wilson

Department Head, Media and Public Affairs Maggie Menzies

EDITORIAL STAFF

Head, Media Division Derek Nelson

Editor Evelyn Odango 

Art Director Allan Amen

Graphics and Design John W. Williams

Webmaster Darlene Savage

Social Media Manager Christopher Jones

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Commander, Naval Safety Center

Attn: Decisions

375 A Street

Norfolk, VA 23511-4399

Telephone: 757-444-3520, ext. 7220 (DSN 564-3520) / Fax: 757-444-6791

General email: safe-decisions@navy.mil

Editor’s email: evelyn.odango@navy.mil 

Shore Mishap Line: 444-3520, ext. 7840/7145

Shore safety email (USN): safe-code40@navy.mil

Shore safety email (USMC): safe-ground@navy.mil

OSH safety email: safe-oshfdbk@navy.mil

ABOUT DECISIONS

Decisions (ISSN 2167-2431 / ISSN: 2167-244X) is published twice yearly (springsummer and fall-winter). The editorial content of this magazine is edited and 

approved by the Naval Safety Center Public Affairs Office. Decisions is an 

authorized publication distributed to safety managers located at shore-based 

commands, deployed with aircraft squadrons and carrier groups, and DoD 

agencies. Contents and opinions expressed are not necessarily the official views 

of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Navy and do not 

imply endorsement thereof. Unless otherwise noted, photos and artwork are for 

illustrative purposes only. Reference to commercial products or links to non-DoD 

resources do not imply Department of the Navy endorsement. Unless otherwise 

stated, material in this publication may be reprinted without permission; please 

credit the magazine and author.

SUBMISSIONS

Submit your stories or news items to safe-decisions@navy.mil. Email letters to: 

evelyn.odango@navy.mil or write to: Commander, Naval Safety Center, Attn: 

Decisions Magazine, 375 A Street, Norfolk, VA 23511-4399. We reserve the right to 

edit all submissions for clarity, applicability and length.

DISTRIBUTION

To get on our distribution list, email safe-decisions@navy.mil or download and 

fill out a form at http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/pages/media/

subscription.aspx. Decisions is published by Commander, Naval Safety Center, at 

375 A Street, Norfolk, VA 23511-4399. Periodical postage paid at Norfolk, Va. 

Postmaster: Send address changes to Commander, Naval Safety Center, Attn: 

Decisions, 375 A Street, Norfolk, VA 23511-4399.

SHORE SAFETY PROGRAMS

To contact a safety analyst by phone, call the main number 757-444-3520 and dial 

the extension at any time during the greeting.

Occupational Health and Industrial Safety Division 7820

Training Safety Division 7831

Traffic and Recreation, Off-Duty Safety Division 7842

NAVAL SAFETY CENTER ANALYSTS AND CONTRIBUTORS 

Nika Glover, Media and Public Affairs

Kevin Conroy, Lessons Learned Management

Joseph Perfetto, B.Sc, CPSI, Safety and Occupational Health

Steven Geiger, Safety and Occupational Health 

Cindy Chester, Safety and Occupational Health

John Scott, Data and Statistics

FLEET CONTRIBUTORS

LCDR James Faraco, VAW-125

ENS Jason Buckley, Naval Education and Training Command 

MC2 Nicolas C. Lopez, Defense Media Activity

Cpl Michelle Reif, II Marine Expedetionary Forces

Ivan Garrett, Mid-Atlantic Region Maintenance Center Safety Office

Resources and Information for the Safety Manager

Fall-Winter 2015, Vol. 4., No. 2

Join us on the web or your mobile device:

SOCIAL NETWORK

New Web URL

Bookmark our new web address to make sure you're able to 

download valuable information and material for shore, afloat, 

aviation, ORM, OSH, and other safety products.

	http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen

FY14 Annual Mishap Overview

The Naval Safety Center has published its analysis of Navy 

and Marine Corps mishaps. This report focuses on areas of 

elevated risk that require increased or renewed prevention 

efforts. The 60-page report is available in PDF format.

	/documents/media/FY14_Annual_Report.pdf

Sleep/Fatigue Videos

This latest series of videos demonstrates how lack of sleep 

and fatigue reduce performance and increase the risk of 

mishaps. Collaborators include OPNAV, COMNAVSURFLANT, 

Naval Personnel Command, the Naval Postgraduate School.

 /pages/video/sleep-fatigue.aspx

Safe Tips for Work and Off Duty

Download quick and easy summaries with topics ranging 

from automotive, driving/riding/traffic, electrical, fire, health 

and personal safety, summer and water activities, and much 

more. Share these PDFs as printed or digital training resource 

for your next safety standdown. 

 /pages/media/index-safetips.aspx

Seasonal Resouces

To help you prepare for your next safety briefing or 

standdown, we have stocked some materials including 

POD notes, ORM resources, seasonal statistics, safety tips, 

posters, videos, and more.

 /pages/media/seasonal/index.aspx

NOW ON: www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen

QUARTERLY ANALYSIS REPORTS

In support of the Fleet Safety Campaign, 

NAVSAFECEN delivers a detailed analysis of 

safety data to the Fleet and TYCOMs on a quarterly 

basis. Each report includes a prioritized list of 

safety hazards and causal factors by community, 

as well as trending data with recommended course 

of actions. The quarterly reports are available 

on the Fleet Safety Campaign site via Intelink 

(https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/navsafecen/

SafetyCampaignPlan). 

See the "Safety Resources" section on Page 19, for 

details on how to obtain credentials to access the 

Fleet Safety Campaign site.
FEATURES

COVER STORY

10 Out-of-the-Box Thinking

Safety specialist and training instructor GySgt Monica Cervantes applies life experiences and real-life situations to ground safety training at MCB Camp Pendleton. 

By Evelyn Odango, Naval Safety Center

MISSION ANALYSIS

18 A Lesson in Communication

Deployment for Training (DFT) exercise teaches Marines about the importance of 

handling a situation as a team and using their voices to convey information. 

By Cpl Michelle Reif, II MEF

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

20 Do the Right Thing

Look out for co-workers and shipmates who are oblivious to the dangers in the workplace, whether it's to themselves or the enviroment. Do what you can to recognize 

and correct them. By Ivan Garrett, Mid-Atlantic Region Maintenance Center Safety

DELIBERATE ORM

22 A Plan Hinged on Luck

Sailor recalls a crash on an icy road that could have been avoided had he applied 

ORM and used the Travel Risk Planning System before getting on the road. 

By LCDR James Faraco, VAW-125

2 EDITOR’S NOTE

4 VIEWPOINT

IN THIS ISSUE

3 SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

6 SAFETY BITS

19 SAFETY RESOURCES

26 QUICK FACTS

DEPARTMENTS

LESSONS LEARNED

8 A Place for Sharing

NAVSAFECEN Division collects, examines 

and distributes findings from mishaps.

By Kevin Conroy

SAFETY & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

15 Get That GHS Label On!

Major changes to OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard approaches deadline.

By Cindy Chester

ORM PLAYBOOK

16 Daisy Chain Overload

Extension cords are for temporary use 

only and can quickly become hazards.

By Joseph Perfetto, B.Sc., CPSI

TRAFFIC & RECREATION

28 Hot Off the Press!

The latest motorcycle magazine from the 

Naval Safety Center will thrill riders.

By Nika Glover

30 Did Someone Ski Over My Head?

A throwback article about skiing teaches 

the same lesson: wear ski PPE.

By LT Troy Williams

AWARENESS & PROMOTION

31 Safety Fest Attracts Thousands

Co-hosted by NASC and NATTC, annual 

all-day event offers hands-on experience.

By ENS Jason Buckley

CHECKLIST

32 Hurricane Season Not Over Yet

A quick reference guide for handling 

preparations before, during and after a 

tropical storm or a hurricane.

DECISIONS CONTENTS Fall-Winter 2015

COVER: Photo illustration by Evelyn Odango. 

Photo by Eunjoo "Kim" Gallegos, MCIWEST 

Camp Pendleton Base Safety. 

THIS PAGE: Photo by Perlick Laura, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service.

22 A Plan Hinged on Luck

Have a survival story, a news brief, or safety tips to share? Send us an email 

at safe-decisions@navy.mil or contact the editor at 757-444-3520, ext. 7220.

WE ARE TAKING SUBMISSIONS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE!

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 1
EDITOR'S NOTE

Let me tell you a story.

I just need to pick the right one. That’s the trouble with 

being around for so long – too many yarns mill around in 

my memory. I’m not sure what you’d like to hear.

Terror? I could tell you about the time I was a passenger in a brand new, little red Renault that a friend of mine in 

high school (sans driver’s license) drove to school. With me 

and two other passengers, he totaled it (it rolled over three 

times and burned up).

Humor? There was the time I was perched on my slippery, steep front-porch roof, swatting wasps with a paint 

scraper (maybe you remember this one from the Friday 

Funnies).

You want pain? I’ve got a few trauma-induced scars 

here and there, each one a lesson learned the hard way. And 

I’ve logged a few hair-raising near-misses. In each case, 

except for a few seconds or a few inches, I wouldn’t be here 

doing this editorial.

I’ve written a fair amount of stories in my time, but I’ve 

edited a thousand times as many articles. In case you aren’t 

sure what “editing” means, here’s a hint: nitpicking. Editors 

inhabit that murky, mostly subjective world between what 

an author meant, what that person actually wrote, and what 

the reader will understand. 

It is a thankless but important task, because the articles 

Your Experience May Be Worth Sharing

Decisions magazine invites letters from readers. Send your letters via email to evelyn.odango@navy.mil; fax to 757-444-4791; or mail 

to Commander, Naval Safety Center, ATTN: Decisions Editor, 375 A St., Norfolk, VA 23511-4399. Please include your contact information. We reserve the right to edit letters.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

are important. The stuff in this magazine, the other Safety 

Center magazines, and every safety-related communication vehicle in the Navy and Marine Corps, aims at making 

sure our personnel are ready to do the jobs they have been 

trained for, not limping around on crutches thanks to an 

easily preventable and self-inflicted injury.

Taxpayers don’t send Uncle Sam their money so that 

young Sailors and Marines can learn the hard way. They 

shouldn’t have to rewrite lessons that were already written 

in blood once.

Strike one is that most young people (which, in the 

military, is most people) don’t know their limitations. Strike 

two is that they don’t particularly enjoy having their noses 

rubbed in that fact. The task of the people who are part of 

this magazine is a challenge.

We do what we can. Your part is to soak up as much as 

you can and share the wealth. If you can add a story of your 

own, so much the better. Add some knowledge the next 

time you’re with a Sailor, Marine or a civilian worker who 

is starting an unfamiliar task. Your experience may become 

a lesson learned or a best practice. It might help that next 

safety stand down be less of a snoozer. 

The point isn’t a poorly managed risk from last month 

or last year. It is about what you are going to do today and 

tomorrow.

BY DEREK NELSON

Guest Editor

I'm skipping my regular column in this issue to pay tribute to my esteemed colleague and supervisor, Derek Nelson, 

who, for more than 35 years, has been a mainstay in the Naval Safety Center's Media Division. As he gets closer to 

closing this chapter of his career, he will tell you what a journey it has been to read, write, edit, or rewrite stories for 

all publications before they go to press and get in your hands. —Evelyn Odango, Ed.

2 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
Sailors, Marines and civilians were recognized 

for their exceptional safety performance and environmental stewardship during FY14. Twenty-six 

Secretary of the Navy Environmental and Safety 

Excellence Awards were presented at the July 23 

ceremony held at the Navy Memorial Heritage 

Center in Washington, D.C.

"This is the first that these awards have been 

presented at the same time," said Dennis McGinn, 

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment. "I think it's really appropriate 

to do that because [with safety] we preserve life and 

health of all our Sailors, Marines and civilians, and 

[with environmental stewardship] we preserve the 

life and health of our natural environment wherever 

we operate."

Each command awarded was recognized as the 

best among the entire Navy. 

"Being awarded the Emerging Center of Safety 

Excellence Award from the deputy secretary of 

the navy is an extreme honor," said CDR Stephen 

SECNAV Award Highlights Safety, Environment

Petras, Carrier Strike Group 4's safety officer. "I 

think it shows safety as a priority of the Navy, 

but also highlights not just me, but my command, as it's truly dedicated to maintaining their 

Sailors."

Awards were presented for accomplishments in natural resources conservation, cultural 

resources management, environmental quality, 

sustainability, environmental restoration, environmental excellence in weapon system acquisition, and environmental planning. 

According to SECNAV Ray Mabus, the 

objective of the Environmental and Safety Excellence Awards is to highlight activities that have 

excelled in improving warfighting and mission 

readiness through professional risk management 

in the elimination of preventable deaths, injuries, 

occupational illnesses, infrastructure and materiel losses, and mission degradation. The awards 

emphasize the unique importance of safety as a 

top Department of the Navy priority.

BY MC2 NICOLAS C. LOPEZ

Defense Media Activity

Established in 2002 by former SECNAV Gordon R. England, the Safety Excellence Awards are designed to promote safe practices throughout the Department of the Navy and personally recognize those commands that have 

integrated an awareness of safety in everyday operations, reducing loss in man-hours, material damage, among 

other factors that may decrease Navy assets.

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 3
BY JOHN SCOTT 

On March 22, 2014, a massive wall of mud and debris slid down from the 800-foot 

Whitman Bench ridge on the banks 

of the Stillaguamish River near Oso, 

Wash. The mudslide killed 43 people, 

including two active-duty Navy personnel assigned to Puget Sound.

CDR John Regelbrugge and Chief 

Petty Officer Billy Spillers were killed, 

as was Regelbrugge’s wife and three of 

Spillers’ children.

Public officials initially stated that 

it was a “completely unforeseen” situation. This statement was subsequently 

shown to be extremely questionable, 

similar to if someone claimed that 

massive flooding was “unforeseen” 

in New Orleans following the levee 

breaks during Hurricane Katrina. 

U.S. Geological Survey mapping 

shows that for miles along the ridge, 

there have been periodic slides. This 

specific area had documented slides in 

1937, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1967, 1988, and 

2006. In 2004 the county considered 

buying out existing houses. In 1962 a 

rock revetment was installed to prevent erosion at the base of the ridge, 

and in 2006 there was an attempt to 

'Unforeseen'? I Don’t Think So

divert the river 430 away from the 

base. In 1999, a 26-page Army Corps 

of Engineers report documented the 

history of the area and warned of the 

inevitable next slide. According to a 

Seattle Times article, the local residents 

referred to the area as “Slide Hill.”

So how could the Navy have 

helped to prevent the tragic loss of the 

two Navy personnel? 

In 1910, only 90 miles away, two 

trains were struck by a massive avalanche that killed nearly 100 people. 

The Great Northern Railway had built 

a tunnel and snow sheds to protect 

trains. Slides hampered the construcLidar base map and overlay of Oso landslide 2014. Lower “A” is Skaglund Hill slide area (2006 and 2011). Upper “A” is Oso slide of 

2014. Red cross-hatching is approximate area of runout. (Photo: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014)

VIEWPOINT

4 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
tion of the railroad. When the trains 

first got stuck on the track that tragic 

day, employees discussed the possibility of avalanches. The risk was 

well-known. The Washington state 

supreme court, however, ruled that it 

was an “act of God.” The case stood 

as the test case for disaster-related lawsuits for many years.

That was more than a century 

ago, and what we feel we can affect 

has changed over the years. Until 1989 

the DOD safety reporting instruction 

allowed for an “Act of God” exemption. Some Navy instructions carried 

the same language until 2005, and the 

philosophy of “we can’t do anything 

about it” pervades safety mentality to 

this day. 

We can do something about it. 

The DOD Manual 4165.63-M 

(“DOD Housing Management”) 

requires that “Service members shall 

obtain housing support services prior 

to agreeing to rent, lease, or purchase 

housing.” The support should include 

“inspections of units for suitability 

based on environmental, health, and 

safety considerations.” Perhaps as we 

progress to lower and lower thresholds of acceptable loss, it is time for 

housing inspections to join the long list 

of risk mitigations we have instituted 

over the years (e.g., seat belts, motorcycle training and PPE use, carbon 

monoxide detectors, helmet on bikes). 

Maybe it isn’t currently realistic 

to name all of California off limits for 

housing because of the risk of earthquakes, but permission to move into a 

house near a known mudslide zone is 

something we can control.

Mr. Scott is the head of data management 

and services division at the Naval Safety 

Center. He is a subject-matter expert in Do you have an idea for a safety viewpoint topic or an opinion mishap statistics and data analysis.

about anything that you’d like to see in Decisions?

Send us an email at safe-decisions@navy.mil or contact the 

editor at 757-444-3520, ext. 7220.

Oso area of Snohomish County, Wash., during the March 22, 2014 search and recovery 

efforts. The mudslide covered a one-square-mile area in a rural community about 55 

miles northeast of Seattle. (Photo: Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, Third Army/U.S. 

Army Central)

This image of landslide debris and a barrier lake created by the landslide was originally 

published by the office of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. It was taken on 

March 23, 2014 during an aerial survey by NASA's Landsat 8 sattelite. (Photo: NASA Earth 

Observatory Website/Adam Voiland)

WHAT’S YOUR POINT OF VIEW?

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 5
CNRMA — The holidays are 

approaching and you’re probably 

thinking about a command-sponsored 

holiday luncheon. Commands need 

to be aware of the permit requirement for the use of an open-flame 

turkey fryer on a military installation. Commander, Navy Region 

Mid-Atlantic’s Norfolk Fire Prevention Office offers a 20-minute 

instructional training on proper 

use of a turkey fryer and how to 

obtain a permit from a fire prevenQUANTICO – The Naval Safety Center 

and the Commandant of the Marine 

Corps (Safety Division) produce 

lessons-learned documents that 

provide examples and insights to mishaps and risk experiences throughout 

the Marine Corps and the Navy. The 

lessons learned aid in recognizing 

the indicators, causes and effects 

of these hazards. The Marine Corps 

Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL) 

is part of the Marine Corps Combat 

Development Command, Marine 

Corps Training and Education Command, located at MCB Quantico, Va. 

Connect to MCCLL (CAC-enabled) at 

https://www.mccll.usmc.mil.

NSWC IHEODTD — Team members 

of the systems engineering department 

safety committee at Naval Surface 

Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive 

Ordnance Disposal Technology Division are the recipients of the Command 

Award for Safety Excellence. The 

committee (Amanda Spooner, Taylor 

Young, John Backes, Robert Hastings, 

Mike Deeds, Cynthia Manns, Pansy 

Cole, Allen Wilson, Rodney Lucas, Ed 

Hernandez, Wade Babcock, Zaeem 

People Making a Difference

SAFETY BITS

Husain, and Paula Greaser-Hayes) was 

recognized for encouraging employees to actively participate in the safety 

program. The members met regularly 

to discuss safety issues, publish newsletters to raise awareness of organizational safety issues, establish a system 

for employees to report hazards to 

management, and suggest how to correct hazards. Their efforts resulted in 

their department not having a work- or 

duty-related injury in 2014.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology 

Division (NSWC IHEODTD) held their annual Honorary Awards ceremony, June 23, at 

the Indian Head Town Pavilion to recognize those individuals and teams who made 

significant contributions to fulfilling the command’s mission during calendar year 2014. 

(U.S. Navy Photo/Matthew Poynor)

tion inspector. If a command calls for a 

permit and they have not received this 

training, the permit will be denied. 

A permit may not be authorized if 

weather conditions are not conducive at the time of the permit request. 

Training must be completed before 

a permit can be issued. Contact the 

fire prevention chief at 757-322-2416. 

For fire safety news and information, 

visit the National Fire Protection and 

Prevention Administration at http://

www.nfpa.org/education.

Have You Got a Permit for That Turkey Fryer? 

Lessons Learned

File Photo

Photo: PBS.org

6 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
COMNAVSAFECEN — 

“NAVFAC P-301, Navy Railway 

Operating Handbook,” published by the Naval Facilities 

Engineering Command, has 

recently been updated. An 

ALSAFE message from the 

Naval Safety Center (R 151346Z 

JUL 15 ZYB) outlining the specific details of the update was 

released in July. 

The changes have been initiated 

to enhance safety and are in 

alignment with the commercial 

and federal railroading industry. 

Sections 1 (Background), 3 

(Operations, Practices and Procedures) and 8 (Railway Safety 

Requirements) of the handbook are affected by this update.

Updates include basic skills such as mounting, dismounting, riding, and 

climbing on railway cars and locomotives (Section 3, Part 1, Paragraph C). 

In this section, new wording can be found in areas like switching operations 

and general operations for signals. In the local railroading operating directive 

(Section 8, Parts 3 and 5, Paragraphs B and D), training and refresher training 

have been updated to reflect the following requirements: completion of initial 

40-hour, Army conductor/engineer certification course or similar, and completion of annual conductor/engineer re-certification.

For more information, consult ALSAFE 036-15 “Rail Safety Update,” or contact 

NAVSAFECEN POC Steven Geiger at 757-444-3520, ext. 7151.

SINGAPORE MOU — Active-duty 

military personnel, DoD employees, and any dependent who will be 

driving in Singapore must complete 

the U.S. Forces-administered driver 

training before operating any vehicle 

in Singapore. A passing score of 70 

percent is required. The training is 

offered every Monday by appointment 

(except local and U.S. holidays). Contact the Navy Region Center Singapore 

(NRCS)/ Singapore Area Coordinator (SAC) safety program manager at 

6750-2535.

SASEBO – A Local Hazards Course is 

mandatory for licensing to operate any 

vehicle in Japan. The course provides 

local traffic safety information for 

the written test and for driving in the 

country. For questions about courses, 

call the traffic safety office at 252-3717 

or 090-3669-9369.

Rail Safety Policy Update

FROM THE FAR EAST ...

news and information from the fleet 

Let us help you spread the word about 

your safety-related events and tidbits of 

information. Send your press release or 

inquiry to safe-mediafdbk@navy.mil

GOT NEWS? SHARE IT!

Driving in Singapore 

Japanese Road Signs

Motor Vehicles Only

No Parking or Stopping

Hearing Impaired

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

 http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/pages/OSH/index.aspx

U.S. Navy Photo

U.S. Navy Photo

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 7
LESSONS LEARNED

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

– George Santayana, The Life of Reason (1905-1906), Vol. 1, Reason in Common Sense

8 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES A PLACE FOR SHARING

BY KEVIN CONROY

The Naval Safety Center has 

received a pressing request 

from the Navy and Marine 

Corps communities for more 

efficient communication of safety lessons learned information. The primary 

reason for this demand is to establish 

effective relationships among safety 

enterprise participant organizations. 

The main objective is to promote the 

sharing of lessons learned throughout 

the Department of the Navy (DON). 

The Naval Safety Center has 

established a new division to improve 

lessons-learned sharing and dissemination across the fleet. The 

Lessons Learned Division is the lead 

for collecting, analyzing, publishing, 

and archiving safety lessons learned 

information. This may include trend 

analysis and best practices. 

These efforts will support safety 

training, planning and execution for 

both exercises and operations, and 

ultimately improve mission readiness 

across the force. The safety lessons 

learned program will inform the operational and administrative chains of 

command, as well as adjacent and subordinate units, of significant lessons 

learned and/or safety issues related to 

execution of daily operations. 

Stakeholders can submit lessonslearned issues and topics for further 

analysis and recommendation directly 

to the Naval Safety Center lessons 

learned program manager. The success 

of the program will allow Naval Safety 

Center analysts to better collect, analyze, and communicate findings from 

mishaps, hazards, assessments, and 

other fleet engagements. Our end goal 

is to prevent mishaps, preserve equipment and, most importantly, keep our 

personnel alive.

Mr. Conroy is the lessons learned program 

manager for the Naval Safety Center.

	COLLECT safety 

information from operations, events, exercises, 

hazard reports, and mishaps.

 IDENTIFY best practices and/or potential 

issues requiring corrective actions.

 DISSEMINATE

safety lessons learned 

for use by the DON units 

during planning and 

execution of operations, 

events, and exercises 

involving the naval force.

Safety Lessons Learned POC:

Kevin Conroy, Program Manager 

Lessons Learned Division

kevin.conroy@navy.mil

757-444-3520, ext. 7192

DSN 564-3520, ext. 7192

F/A-18D CRASH IN VIRGINIA BEACH, APRIL 6, 2012

The engine from the wreckage of an F/A-18D Hornet (left) is lifted by a crane from Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic 

for removal from the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Va. The Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 106 

(VFA-106) , suffered multiple engine failures just after takeoff on April 6, 2012 and crashed into the apartment complex. Both air crew 

safely ejected from the aircraft and there were no fatalities. (U.S. Navy Photo/John Washington/Modified)

LESSONS LEARNED WEBSITES

Navy Lessons Learned  https://www.jllis.mil/navy

Joint Lessons Learned NIPR  https://www.jllis.mil

Joint Lessons Learned SIPR  http://www.jllis.navy.smil.mil

Department of Homeland Security Lessons Learned  http://www.dhs.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency Lessons Learned  https://www.fema.gov

Center for Army Lessons Learned  http://usacac.army.mil

Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned  https://www.mccll.usmc.mil

Air Force University Lessons Learned  http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/awc-lesn.htm#writing

Naval Operational Medical Lessons Learned Center  http://www.med.navy.mil/bumed

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 9
COVER STORY

SUPERMOM

Mother of three 

school-aged children. 

Day starts at 0500 

with a cross-fit 

workout, a trip to 

daycare, then on to 

an 8-hour workday.

OFFICIAL JOB TITLE

Safety specialist/

training instructor/

SNCOIC

PRIMARY DUTIES

Lead, mentor, train, 

and represent the 

Marines under her 

command. Serve 

as enlisted safety 

representative for 

all students. Publish 

monthly safety 

newsletters and a 

special-issue “Critical 

Days of Summer” 

bulletin.

FINEST MOMENT

Selection to the staff 

degree completion 

program and getting 

a master’s degree.

Out-of-the 

10 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
On the job for more than a year as a safety 

specialist, GySgt Monica Cervantes knows a 

thing or two about role playing for safety and 

making a believer out of her flock. Sounds a bit 

evangelical? Perhaps, but Cervantes — with bachelor’s and 

master’s degrees in psychology and performance psychology — wants to create value in training by digging deep 

into people’s fundamental desire to learn.

Cervantes is a staff non-commissioned officer in charge 

(SNCOIC) at MCB Camp Pendleton Base Safety. She provides ground safety training, CPR instruction, and up to 30 

hours a month of occupational safety and health courses. 

She focuses on exploring creative ways to train 30-40 

Marines (E-2 to O-3) about risk management and personal 

responsibility. She uses case studies and best practices to 

develop scenarios for her students to act out. 

That means less PowerPoint and more energy. 

“I don’t want to oversaturate with so many slides that 

the brain shuts down,” she said. Instead Cervantes uses 

scenes from movies like “Spiderman” to teach about fall 

protection. She develops safety messages using free association with candy products like Lifesavers, Extra, and Nerds. 

To teach about distracted driving, Cervantes has students 

participate in a simulated driving activity that measures 

their reaction time.

Regarded by one of her colleagues as forward-leaning 

and out-of-the-box thinker, Cervantes asks a lot of questions — of her superiors and the Marines in her classrooms. 

“There’s always room for something better,” she said. 

“What can I bring to the table? What value can I add without changing the purpose of the training?” 

Cervantes has high hopes for the Marines. She talked 

with Decisions about setting standards for herself and for the 

training she provides.

Decisions: How do you maintain situational awareness 

and manage a healthy workload between classroom time 

and administrative work?

GySgt: Since 75 percent of my day is devoted to my 

work [training], I make deadlines for myself and prioritize. I make a task list and chunk it by categories — admin, 

training, coursework, etc. — then split up the work through 

the day or the week, depending on deadlines. My focus is 

not on worrying about the before and after; I focus on the 

moment. If I split my attention, I will not be able to give 

the task my full attention. I don’t try to do it all. I go to my 

resources (supervisors and colleagues) for support and 

follow-up. When I leave work, I leave all of that behind.

Decisions: What has been the most challenging experience you’ve had as SNCOIC?

GySgt: The biggest thing I wish I could change is getting [leaders] onboard for setting training standards. I want 

to get their buy-in by showing their commands’ mishap 

statistics and identifying the trends, or bringing to light 

I don’t want to 

oversaturate with so 

many slides that the 

brain shuts down.

 Box Thinking

BY EVELYN ODANGO Photos by Eunjoo “Kim” Gallegos, Camp Pendleton Base Safety

Energetic Learning

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 11
To make learning fun, GySgt Cervantes 

uses learning methods that allow 

students to retain the feeling they 

experience. She uses techniques such 

as object association (candy safety 

message) when demonstrating the use 

of personal protective eyewear to her 

students.

The Critical Days of Summer 

newsletters are segmented by 

topic each week and are short 

enough that safety officers can 

post them on safety bulletin 

boards.

Out-of-the Box Learning

Use your PPE!

What comes to mind?

12 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
vidual recovered later. But looking at the HFACS during the 

investigation, I wondered why people hadn’t been trained 

to handle the situation. What led up to it? What could have 

been done differently? Training to the situation would 

have built confidence [for someone to administer CPR] 

and provided the basic skills to act properly. We are now 

making sure we have enough AEDs in appropriate locations 

throughout the base. 

Decisions: How can you influence people’s attitude 

toward safety training and risk management?

GySgt: I strongly believe that in certain situations we 

revert to our training, to what we’ve learned. Our response 

is driven by what’s ingrained in our brain; we naturally act 

out what we know. That is why it is so important to set standards and train consistently to those standards. The most 

valuable takeaway I can give my students is that they must 

be prepared to act in real situations. During role playing 

in class, I give them ownership of the safety message. For 

Distracted Driving Activity Activity Debrief

In this activity, students stand in a 

line facing one direction (one person 

in front of another). This facilitated 

exercise measures reaction times 

when the driver is distracted by phone 

activities such as texting and calling.

When the timer is started, the last 

person will squeeze the shoulder 

in front of him/her. This activity 

demonstrates a person’s response to 

stimulus while driving.

The students are then given a number 

to call and simulate talking and driving. 

Next, they are instructed to dial a 

number and send a text message.

After the exercise, students are given 

time to reflect upon what they had just 

experienced. They provide comments 

and describe what they felt during their 

reaction times.

 What could the difference in reaction 

times mean on the road?

 How could alcohol further affect the 

reaction time?

 As safety professionals and/or 

advocates, what can we do to help 

reduce driving mishaps?

During a facilitated driving exercise, GySgt Cervantes lets students simulate driving distractions such as dialing a phone number, 

engaging in a phone call, and sending a text message. The students walk away with the knowledge and a better understanding of the 

dangers of distracted driving. The activity emphasizes the following: vision is the most important sense for safe driving, drivers look 

out the windshield but do not process everything in the roadway, and that the brain not only judges tasks but also juggles focus and 

attention. 

their problem and offering a solution. Continuity of training 

is the biggest challenge: people move, COs leave, budgets 

get cut. The most important question everyone should ask 

is: How valuable is the training to reducing risk? If personnel are not trained to the situation, mishaps win. 

Decisions: Can you recall an event where appropriate 

training would have changed an outcome of a situation?

GySgt: We had an incident that required an ambulance transport for a heart-related situation. Before medical 

personnel arrived, no one was trained to perform CPR or to 

operate an AED had it been necessary. Fortunately, the indiStock Photo

I like being able 

to teach in context my 

students can relate to.

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 13
example, if it’s about distracted driving, I set up scenarios 

where they actually feel what it’s like to experience cognitive overload (driving, texting, reading, and thinking all at 

once). They feel it and realize it could happen in real life. 

They’re more inclined to share that feeling with others. I 

hope they never have to experience it in real life.

Decisions: What do you see as your biggest asset as a 

mentor and a supervisor?

GySgt: From serving in Afghanistan and Iraq to 

supervising two junior Marines, I’ve had a lot of different opportunities. These have helped me draw examples 

from my personal life experiences and share them with my 

students. I’ve been working in safety billets since becoming an SNCO when I was an E-6. When I look at training, I 

like being able to teach in context my students can relate to. 

My responsibilities don’t stop in the classroom. As a female 

leader, I constantly have to prove myself, especially in the 

Marine Corps environment. In the safety environment, not 

so much; that’s because of my knowledgebase and professional training. 

Decisions: Do you have a role model?

GySgt: I aspire to be just like one of my psychology professors. I like the fact that this field is not clinical. I like that 

I’m working with individuals who are already performing 

at or above baseline and I’m helping them improve. I find 

that people who are already performing at their best need to 

focus more. I like showing them different ways to organize 

and get the job done. It’s a different way to teach.

Decisions: What is a successful day for you?

GySgt: When I get my to-do list cleared off. But my day 

is “accomplished” when I get feedback from the students; 

that they are using the information we’ve given them.

Ms. Odango is the editor of Decisions and Sea Compass magazines.

Confident in her role as a safety specialist, instructor and SNCOIC, GySgt Cervantes expands her duties and responsibilites from the 

classroom (left) teaching the use of PPE to site inspections (right) ensuring safety guidelines are met. 

14 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
are not required to 

maintain two sets of 

labels and SDSs for 

compliance purposes.

By June 1, 

2016, employers are 

expected to update 

alternative workplace labeling and 

hazard communication programs. 

They must provide 

additional employee 

training for newly 

identified physical 

or health hazards. 

It is important that when employees 

begin to see the new labels and SDSs in 

their workplaces, they will be familiar with them, understand how to 

use them, and access the information 

effectively.

A training video is available on the 

Naval Safety Center’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/EKAvxoramG4). 

You may also request a DVD training 

video by emailing cynthia.chester@

navy.mil. 

Ms. Chester is a safety and occupational 

health specialist in the Shore Safety Programs Directorate, Naval Safety Center.

To ensure workers are effectively 

identifying chemical hazards, 

OSHA initiated a change in 

2013 to modify the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The Globally 

Harmonized System — or GHS — has 

been introduced to improve safety and 

health of workers. Manufacturers, handlers and users are expected to be in 

full compliance by the end of this year.

Employers began training workers 

on Dec. 1, 2013, on the new labeling 

elements and the format of the safety 

data sheets (SDS) to ensure workers 

recognize and understand the new 

chemical hazard labels. 

Full compliance with the final 

rule began June 1, 2015, for chemical 

manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers. Distributors can’t 

ship containers labeled by the chemical 

manufacturer or importer unless the 

containers have GHS labels.

During the phase-in period, 

employers need comply with either 

the existing HCS, the revised HCS, or 

both. OSHA recognizes that hazard 

communication programs will go 

through a period of time where labels 

and SDSs under both standards will be 

present in the workplace. This will be 

considered acceptable, and employers 

Get That GHS Label On!

COMPLIANCE

BY CINDY CHESTER

Major Changes to the 

Hazard Communication 

Standard

The standard that gave workers the 

right to know, now gives them the 

right to understand.

Hazard Classification: Provides 

specific criteria for classification of 

health and physical hazards, as well 

as classification of mixtures.

Labels: Chemical manufacturers 

and importers will be required 

to provide a label that includes 

a harmonized signal word, 

pictogram, and hazard statement 

for each hazard class and category. 

Precautionary statements must also 

be provided.

Safety Data Sheets: Will now have 

a specified 16-section format.

STANDARDIZED LABELS – Improvements align with the UN’s Globally 

Harmonized System of classification 

and labeling of chemicals.

ONLINE RESOURCES 

GHS Toolbox

http://www.public.navy.mil/comnavsafecen/Pages/OSH/GHS.aspx

“The Purple Book,” Decisions, fall-winter 2013

http://www.public.navy.mil/comnavsafecen/pages/media/magazines/

decisions/index.aspx

SAFETY & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 15
BY JOSEPH PERFETTO, B.SC, CPSI 

MANAGE RISK. ENSURE SUCCESS. COMPLETE THE MISSION.

Daisy Chain Overload

S

ome buildings, especially older 

ones, don’t have enough electrical outlets. But there will always 

be a need to plug something into an 

outlet. So what do people do? Create 

a “daisy chain” or a “mixed daisy 

chain.” As convenient as this may 

seem, this is a safety violation.

This quick-solution approach 

refers to extension cords or surge 

protected power strips that are often 

interconnected to readily provide 

more outlets and/or to reach greater 

distances. Another “solution” is to 

interconnect extension cords and 

power strips (mixed daisy chain). 

Interconnecting these devices is a 

violation of Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and the National Electrical Code. 

This method can cause these electrical 

devices to overload, fail, and possibly 

catch fire.

During health and safety inspections, we’ve identified daisy chains 

and mixed daisy chains as some of the 

most common violations. 

OSHA has specific regulations 

for conductors and electrical equipment. Most power strips are approved 

Clockwise from top: Daisy chain-interconnected extension cords, mixed daisy 

chain-power strip energized by an extension cord, results from overloaded power 

strips. (Photos courtesy of the author)

16 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
for providing power to a maximum 

of four or six individual items; however, when multiple power strips are 

interconnected, the one directly connected to the building outlet is often 

supplying power to far more than the 

approved number. This electrical current overload can result in a fire or can 

cause a circuit breaker to trip, de-energizing computers and other equipment 

throughout the area. 

The risk is magnified when 

another outlet in the same wall or floor 

receptacle is also overloaded in a similar manner. When other outlets on the 

same circuit are also overloaded, the 

risk increases.

Extension cords are sometimes 

used to energize power strips in locations far from outlets. Because electrical resistance surges with increased 

power cord length, interconnecting 

cords increases the total resistance 

and subsequent heat generation. This 

creates an additional risk of equipment 

failure and fire, particularly when 

paper and other combustible materials 

are in contact with the wires. 

OSHA’s regulations allow 

extension cords to be used only as 

temporary wiring for up to 90 days. 

Unfortunately, once in place extension cords tend to become permanent 

wiring and a fire hazard.

Mr. Perfetto is a safety and occupational 

healt specialist in the Shore Safety Programs 

Directorate, Naval Safety Center.

ONLINE RESOURCES

REFERENCES

Navy Safety and Occupational Health Program (OPNAVINST 5100.23G)

Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR 1910.303(a))

Office of Compliance

http://www.compliance.gov/publications/fast-facts/

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9911&p_table=STANDARDS

National Electrical Code

http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=70

SAFE SOLUTIONS

• Replace a power strip energized by an extension cord or 

another power strip with a power cord long enough to reach 

an outlet. 

• Move desks and associated equipment closer to existing 

outlets. 

• Use a power strip that is designed for bulky transformer 

plugs. 

• Consider amperage and length when selecting a surge 

protector. Models vary in the amount of current that they are 

rated to safely carry. Consider the amperage requirements of 

the devices to be energized.

• Surge protectors also vary in length of power cord, typically 

ranging from 3-to-15 feet. Choose one whose length is most 

appropriate for reaching the intended room outlet. 

• Avoid having too much excess cord and make sure the surge 

protector is set on its base. Some have swivel plugs which 

make them easier to connect to the outlet and protect the 

plug and cord from damage. Make sure each surge protector 

is in good condition.

• Only power strips equipped with internal fuses are acceptable 

as permanent wiring. Those lacking these fuses are 

equivalent to extension cords, and therefore may not be used 

as permanent wiring. 

• When a power strip is installed, ensure that it is not 

suspended in mid-air by its power cord or cords plugged into 

it, resulting in excessive stress on electrical connections. 

• When there are simply not enough outlets for your needs, 

request the installation of additional outlets. Their placement 

should avoid any need to run any wires across walkways, 

where they can create tripping hazards. 

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 17
The Marines not only needed to know how to effectively employ the weapons system, they also were required 

to yell over the boom of the machine guns to relay important information about enemy location to their fellow gunners in the turret of the vehicle next to them. 

“The biggest thing I learned today is how important 

it is to keep relaying information to the other gunners and 

drivers,” said Lance Cpl Zachary Frantz, a motor transport 

operator. “Constant communication is so important.” 

This range was conducted as part of the battalion’s 

deployment for training exercise. The purpose of the DFT 

is to increase the battalion’s combat engineering skills in 

a unique training environment to prepare the Marines for 

future deployments. 

“The DFT is all about coming out here to train towards 

overall battalion readiness to deploy,” said Jamgochian. 

“One of the things that Engineer Support Company is 

expected to do is to operate and provide vehicles for the 

battalion, so us being proficient in convoy operations is key 

to that mission.”

Cpl Michelle Reif (7 Aug. 2015), "Support Co., 2nd CEB, Learns 

Important Lesson in Communication During Convoy Live-Fire 

Exercise." Retrieved from http://www.marines.mil/news, 11 Aug. 

2015. Cpl Reif is with II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines with Support 

Company, 2nd Combat 

Engineer Battalion, 

fire M240B Machine 

Guns and M2 Browning 

.50-Caliber Machine Guns 

at targets of an unknown 

distance from the turrets 

of armored Humvees as 

part of a convoy live-fire 

range at Fort A.P. Hill, 

Va., on Aug. 4, 2015. 

The company conducted 

the five-vehicle convoy 

in order to increase 

their proficiency with the 

weapons systems and to 

improve their communication skills.

A Lesson in Communication

STORY AND PHOTO BY CPL MICHELLE REIF

MISSION ANALYSIS

The officer in charge of the range leaned over the 

terrain model, pointing out possible ambush 

points to the group of gathered Marines. He 

pushed the pinecones, representing the Humvees, across the ground and advised the Marines about the 

importance of handling the situation as a team and using 

their voices to convey information. Their mission: clear a 

route infiltrated by enemy combatants, to an urban area in 

order to allow their fellow Marines to safely pass.

 Support Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 

conducted a convoy live-fire range as part of a deployment 

for training (DFT) exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. The Marines 

fired M240B Machines Guns and M2 Browning .50 Caliber 

Machine Guns mounted to armored Humvees in a five-vehicle convoy in order to increase their proficiency with the 

weapons and practice their communication while moving as 

a convoy.

“We are in the crawl phase still but it went well,” said 

1st Lt Joseph Jamgochian, the company’s executive officer. 

“We have the Marines practicing using the medium day 

optic sights on the machine guns, engaging targets from an 

unknown distance, and increasing their proficiency in working together.” 

18 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/

navsafecen/SafetyCampaignPlan 

and request access to the Fleet 

Safety Campaign site. The 

Campaign Document Library 

contains a folder holding the 

Quarterly Analysis Reports.

PROGRAMMING

Safety Officer Toolbox

This comprehensive toolbox offers 

command safety officers and 

collateral duty safety officers the 

resources and training material 

necessary to start, improve and/or 

run a command safety program. 

Online Resources

The Naval Safety Center safety 

officer web page (http://www.

public.navy.mil/navsafecen/pages/

safety-officer/so-index.aspx ) 

provides general information about 

various communities of interest. If 

you can't find what you're looking 

for and need help, please e-mail 

safe-oshfdbk@navy.mil. Your 

e-mail will be answered within one 

working day. 

Valuable information and 

downloadable resources include 

guides, checklists, data requests, 

performance metrics, training 

materials, mishap-reporting 

manuals, marketing ideas, Navy 

and OSH annual reports, and 

course prerequisites.

SMART Tutorials

The Brief-in-a-Box feature 

generates a ready-to-use Microsoft 

PowerPoint presentation file that 

can be downloaded and that 

contains all of the information 

related to the current query. A 

tutorial is at http://www.public.navy.

mil/navsafecen/Documents/WESS/

SMART_Search_Tool_cs1.ppsx. 

For more information, contact the 

WESS help desk at 757-444-3520, 

ext. 7048 (DSN 564).

STRATEGY

Fleet Safety Campaign

If you’re interested in keeping tabs 

on the progress of the Fleet Safety 

Campaign, you’ll find a wealth 

of material on Intelink: guidance 

for the campaign plan, meeting 

agendas, Safety Management 

System updates, and the Quarterly 

Analysis Report provided by the 

Naval Safety Center to CFFC/

CNAP.

Intelink Access

You’ll have to register for an 

Intelink Passport account at: 

https://www.intelink.gov/passport/

Login. Click “New account 

registration,” then click “Register” 

for a Passport account. You’ll 

enter your email address and 

some personal information and 

create a password. Activate 

account using an email that they 

send you. The final step is to visit 

SAFETY RESOURCES

TECHNOLOGY 

WESS Search Feature

The Selective Mishap Analysis 

& Retrieval Tool, or SMART, lets 

users explore all of the mishap 

and hazard reports that have been 

reported through WESS. WESS 

users can easily find specific types 

of events by searching through 

narratives, dates, locations, classifications and many other filtering 

comparisons. 

Comprehensive Searches

You can create complex queries 

using a robust search syntax 

that allows you to group search 

terms, exclude keywords, and use 

proximity searches. You can further 

refine your results by applying 

additional filters to your search 

criteria. Specify the classification, 

location, service, or event date 

you are interested in to limit what 

mishaps are displayed.

Manageable Data 

Your data will display in interactive 

charts called Insights, based 

on mishap severity, location, 

keywords, and branch of service. 

You can also get mishap data out 

of SMART in multiple formats. You 

can subscribe to an RSS feed to 

receive search result updates for 

a specific query. Data for a query 

can also be exported in a comma 

separated values (CSV) file, which 

can be opened with Microsoft 

Excel. 

Whether you're a full-time safety manager or a collateral-duty safety officer, chances are 

you will be developing a command safety program. You will need tools and resources 

to satisfy the requirements and to execute your responsibilities. From program planning 

to mishap reporting, you will need help building your resource library. Look no further 

than the Naval Safety Center to collect information, link to lessons learned materials, 

and access mishap reporting tools and databases. 

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 19
basket. He attached his anti-flying harness to the appropriate D-ring/anchor and went back to work, making big paint 

pieces into little paint pieces.

Alas! We learned something from this evolution, my 

fellow Jedi knights:

 Watch out for workers who may be unintentionally endangering themselves by trying to fly from elevated 

heights, while trying to just get a job done that someone else 

thinks is extremely important. 

 We are looking out not only for the safety of the 

workers but also for the environment. Remember, this environment is where our food comes from – in a round-about 

sort of way. Food has to come from somewhere before it 

lands in a nice little prepackaged container, complete with 

nonsensical labels, a lid that’s on too tight, and made of a 

substance that never degrades in the environment. Do the 

right thing and maybe you’ll enjoy some local food for next 

week’s cookout. 

 Last but not least, the floating city is not in active 

continuous maintenance availability or under our current 

purview. But, if you notice something not quite right, take 

action even if the vessel is not under your direct cognizance. 

Don’t let the mishap take place before you react. Recognize 

the potential for hazard and make the right decision.

Mr. Garrett is a safety specialist at the Mid-Atlantic Region Maintenance Center Safety Office.

hile walking the waterfront with my 

“Lead Jedi Knight” today, we discovered 

some preservation work being accomplished on the forward superstructure of a 

CG. A Sailor attached to the small floating 

city was in the basket of a boom lift wearing a fall protection 

harness. He was scraping the painted side of the forward 

superstructure. The lift was safely fastened to the pier by 

gravity, and he was precariously extended across the water. 

He had on a pair of “Mickey Mouse” ear muffs for hearing 

protection, and he was wearing standard, Navy-approved, 

almost clear and not-so-new eye and face protection. 

My Lead Jedi Knight noticed the worker wasn’t capturing any of the paint chips, thereby producing a shower of 

gray debris. I noticed he did not have his anti-flying device 

attached to the lift basket D-ring. After some time (approximately five minutes) of trying to get his attention — signal 

flags, radios, flares, flash mirrors, jet noise from a fly-over, 

all sorts of stuff — he finally saw us. 

Once he realized all the commotion was just for him, 

he took off his PPE and acknowledged us with a grin. We 

returned his cheerfulness with “Safety First!” smiles and 

began telling him all the things wrong with his present state 

of affairs. He was initially crestfallen but attentive, although 

still unable to hear us well. It was then we noticed he was 

wearing ear buds, which were attached to his phone, which 

was in his pocket, while he was wearing the ear muffs. 

Heeding our instructions, a shipmate responded with a 

large roll of paper and some duct tape (the world leader in 

fastening stuff together) with which he proceeded to line the 

BY IVAN GARRETT

Do the 

Right Thing

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

20 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
Photo for illustration purposes only. U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Charles Oki

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 21
Have you ever looked back at an event 

in your life and thought, “How did I 

survive that?” I often tell myself that if 

I knew back then what I know now, I 

would have never made that mistake. Thinking back to that 

winter day, I wonder what would have been different if I 

had made operational risk management (ORM) part of my 

travel plans.

Winter break was coming to an end, and I was due back 

to school in a few days. I had spent the break on the sunny 

beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and had bought a Ford 

Explorer to take back to school with me. I convinced my 

buddy Brian that he should cancel his plane ticket and ride 

back to school with me by promising him that we would 

make it an adventure that he would not soon forget.

AS THESE TWO FLORIDA BOYS PLANNED THE 

TRIP BACK TO THE WINTRY MIX OF MARYLAND, we 

did not think much beyond loading the SUV with the stuff 

we wanted to take back to school. As we packed the vehicle 

on a balmy Florida day, the impending nor’easter that was 

predicted to slam the entire East Coast seemed out of sight. 

It was 1,200 miles to Maryland, we had a full tank of gas, 

half a bag of Twizzlers, and we had 20 hours of driving 

time ahead of us. We had never heard of any travel planning assessment or had been taught any sort of deliberate 

or time-critical risk management. Our 

plan hinged on luck and perceived 

common sense.

After an uneventful 

first day, we stopped in 

Florence, S.C., for an 

overnight stay to get 

some rest. To our 

surprise, we woke 

up to about three 

inches of fresh snow 

on the ground. I thought, 

“This is not good” (identify the 

hazards). I asked Brian, “Have you 

ever driven in snow before?”

BY LCDR JONATHAN FARACO

A Plan 

Hinged 

on Luck

DELIBERATE ORM

22 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
Photo for illustration purposes only. Creative Commons/Daniel Lobo

He replied, “Yes, one time about five years ago” (assess 

the hazards). We decided to press on (make risk decisions). Having never driven in snow, I decided that Brian 

was the more experienced driver and would take the first 

shift (implement controls) while I navigated from the right 

(supervise). In our impromptu time-critical risk management, we unknowingly worked through the five steps.

WE HEADED OUT SLOWLY, DRIVING BELOW 

THE SPEED LIMIT and keeping plenty of distance between 

us and the cars ahead of us (implement controls). Everything was fine until we crossed over a bridge on I-95. As I 

was reading the sign aloud to Brian that bridges ice before 

roads (supervise), about 800 yards ahead of us we saw a 

car’s red tail lights illuminate and then turn 90 degrees 

and continue to slide sideways down the road. We quickly 

discussed that we should not brake or we would spin just 

like the car ahead of us (make risk decisions). We slowly 

closed on the sliding car in front of us until it was clear we 

were going to collide. I remember thinking, “I can’t believe I 

am going to wreck a vehicle that I have owned for less than 

10 days.” Just before we hit, the airbags popped us in the 

face, and suddenly we were doing 360-degree spins in the 

northbound lane, bouncing from one guard rail to the other 

on a bridge about 2,000 feet above a river.

When all violent motion had stopped, Brian and I 

looked at each other and said, “Dude, how did we just 

survive that?” We got out of the vehicle and noticed that 

we had been hit from behind by a RAV-4. The impact was 

so hard that it blew out every window and smashed the 

cargo area of my Explorer’s trunk up to the back seats. Our 

belongings were scattered all over the bridge. I looked over 

the bridge to see some of our clothes hanging in the trees 

below, and one of my garment bags floating down the river.

The paramedics arrived and were amazed that we not 

only survived the crash, but walked away without a scratch. 

I do not remember most of what they said except that under 

no circumstances were we to return to the crash site. The 

local police gave us a ride to the next stop and left us to 

figure out our next move. Brian and I quickly decided that 

we needed to rent a car and get back to the river to collect 

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 23
our belongings because everything we owned was now scattered along the highway. In retrospect: not the best decision 

or application of time-critical risk management (TCRM).

Arriving at the crash site, we collected our stuff along 

the highway. We were almost done when I saw my blue 

garment bag lying on the side of the frozen river. Deciding 

to recover my bag, we got to the river bank and tested the 

thickness of the ice. We decided that Brian, who was about 

70 pounds lighter than me, should walk out to get the bag. 

He slowly walked over the cracking ice until he reached the 

bag. The ice held until the combined weight of Brian and the 

bag broke the ice, leaving him chest deep in frozen water. 

As I pulled him out, his skin had turned purple. We decided 

to get back to the car and out of the cold to avoid hypothermia. Although we had accurately identified the hazards, we 

fell well short of implementing the remaining steps of ORM.

We arrived at the car, but could not find the keys. Brian 

searched his pockets and realized that the keys had come 

out when he fell into the river. We tried to use our cellphones to call for help, but our batteries were dead from 

the series of calls made after the accident. So there we were, 

stranded along the same stretch of highway for the second 

time that day, this time soaking wet in freezing weather 

with no way to call for help. Luckily a passing driver 

stopped just in time to help and offered a warm vehicle and 

spare clothes.

We were lucky to have survived the accident and 

Brian’s subsequent polar plunge with only the loss of a 

few material possessions. Although our trip started with 

a rudimentary attempt to anticipate and manage risk, we 

could have avoided the car accident by performing the steps 

of deliberate ORM planning. At a minimum, I would have 

done the following things differently. The first step in my 

planning should have been to log onto the Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS) website to fill out an online assessment 

form. This assessment would have helped me walk through 

the steps of deliberate ORM planning.

 Wear a seatbelt at all times.

 Inspect the vehicle before traveling.

 Avoid consuming alcohol at least eight hours 

before or during the trip.

Using common sense, I had used some 

of the mitigation tools that a TRiPS 

assessment recommends:

Here are a few factors and mitigation tools 

that a TRiPS assessment would have 

helped me identify in my initial risk assessment:

 Younger age brackets are statistically in a higher 

risk category.

 Plan to drive no more than 720 miles or 12 hours 

in one day.

 Planning the majority of a trip in the day is safer 

than at night.

 Checking the weather prior to departure provides 

an opportunity to reassess and change the plan.

 Planning to get at least eight hours of sleep the 

night before a trip and frequent rest stops at 

planned intervals during the trip help reduce driver 

fatigue.

 The type of route (two vs. multi-lane roads) factors 

into the risk assessment.

Looking back, we failed to 

implement and reassess the five 

steps of time critical ORM throughout the unforeseen twists and turns 

of our trip. If I knew back then what 

I know now about TCRM, we could 

have avoided the river incident. 

 I would have realized that the planned driving 

distance and time requirement needed a minimum 

of two days in optimal weather. Watching the 

weather a few days in advance would have 

allowed us to depart a day early and stay ahead of 

the weather for our entire trip. 

 If I would have inspected the interior in addition 

to the exterior of the vehicle, I would have packed 

the vehicle better. I should have secured all loose 

items with straps to prevent injury from projectile 

objects in the event of an accident. 

 The decision to wear our seatbelts, despite all of 

our deliberate ORM missteps, may have saved our 

lives.

Using a TRiPS assessment would have 

highlighted a few critical factors that were 

significant hazards. 

24 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
ONLINE RESOURCES 

Naval Safety Center Motor Vehicle Safety

http://www.public.navy.mil/comnavsafecen/pages/shore/motor_vehicle/motorvehicle.aspx 

Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS)

https://trips.safety.army.mil/

LOOKING BACK, WE FAILED TO IMPLEMENT 

AND REASSESS THE FIVE STEPS OF TCRM throughout 

the unforeseen twists and turns of our trip. If I knew back 

then what I know now about TCRM, we could have avoided 

the river incident. We should have properly identified and 

assessed the hazard of falling through the ice (assess the 

situation). We were fortunate that the river water was only 

chest deep and that the current was not strong enough to 

pull Brian away from the river bank. 

Assessing the hazards, we should have made the decision not to walk on the ice because we had no way to prevent Brian from falling into the river if the ice broke (balance 

your resources). Our only remaining options should have 

been to find a way to get the bag without walking on the 

ice or to leave the bag. Deciding to test the strength of the 

frozen river for a bag of clothes violated the ORM principles 

to accept no unnecessary risk and only to accept risk when 

benefits outweigh the cost. 

Fortunately, we survived to tell the story and can now 

appreciate how properly applied deliberate and time-critical 

risk management could have prevented two potentially fatal 

incidents.

LCDR Faraco flies with VAW-125.

Snowy and icy conditions in Florence, S.C. (Photo: Ken Baker via Jamie Arnold, WMBF News/www.weather.gov)

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 25
statistics, trends, assessments, & analysis

By looking at statistical data and analyzing military 

mishap reports, safety professionals have determined 

that the following common high-risk behaviors 

contribute to deaths and injuries. Naval Safety Center 

analysts target the 18-25 year-old male demographic. 

It has the highest number of fatalities and also represents the largest group of personnel in the Department of Defense. This fact produces the greatest 

impact on readiness. High-risk behavior is a complex 

mixture of variables that include emotions, maturity, 

skills, attitude, personal discipline, and leadership 

input. Keep all these factors in mind when developing 

your safety campaign.

ANALYSIS OF HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOR

PMV Leading Fatal Factors

 Driving between midnight and 6 a.m.

 Driving during the weekend

 Not using seatbelts

 Drinking and driving

 Speeding

Other factors that are under-reported:

 Aggressive and distracted driving

 Drowsy and fatigued driving

Recreation/Off-Duty Leading Causes of Injuries

 Unsupervised water activities

 High-risk outdoor activities or extreme sports

 Unsupervised home and playground activities

 Inadequate perosnal protective equipment

 Inadequate ability and skill

 Poor training

 Disregard of rules and regulations

When are they 

most at risk?

Here is something that we do know from our analysis of 

PMV-related deaths:

• The majority of them happen at night, particularly 

weekend nights. 

• In almost half of the mishaps, the people weren’t wearing their seatbelts. 

• More than a third of them were speeding or drinking. 

• One-fifth of them were just too tired to be behind the 

wheel. In some of these mishaps, more than one of the 

above factors were involved.

NEED STATS FOR YOUR NEXT BRIEFING? http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/pages/statistics/index.aspx

SUMMER 2014 OVERVIEW

THE GOOD NEWS:

▪	 30% decrease from 5-year average

▪	 15% decrease from previous year

▪	 10% less as many motorcycle fatalities as previous 

year

▪	 All categories (cars, motorcycle, pedestrian and rec/

off-duty) 30% below 5-year average (22 vs. 31.4)

THE BAD NEWS:

▪	 13 fatal traffic mishaps

▪	 9 were motorcycles

▪	 9 died during recreational activities

▪	 4 drownings (2 kayaking, 1 cliff diving, 1 personal 

water craft )

▪	 3 falls (balcony, window, parking garage)

▪	 1 ATV wreck

▪	 1 private plane crash

NAVSAFECEN data as of Aug. 12, 2015

Only military personnel are included in the fatality totals.

26 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
NAVSAFECEN data as of Aug. 12, 2015

Only military personnel are included in the fatality totals.

A Shift in Drinking Behavior

This summer, the Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP) Office launched the third annual Keep 

What You've Earned survey to gain insight on how alcohol 

use and abuse is perceived in the Navy. 

More than 1,400 Navy personnel and their families 

completed the anonymous online survey last year. NADAP 

gained valuable insights about changes in Sailors' drinking 

behavior and awareness of alcohol abuse prevention efforts 

like the Keep What You've Earned campaign. This year, 

NADAP hopes to build on those insights to further improve 

the effectiveness of the campaign. 

"The campaign has been shaped by feedback from 

Sailors and its efforts would not be successful without 

their input," said Dorice Favorite, director of the NADAP 

Office. "The survey allows our office to determine how well 

alcohol-abuse prevention efforts and messages are being 

delivered across the fleet. [It helps] shape the following 

year's plan to improve those efforts."

The anonymous survey takes five minutes to complete. 

It asks about your reasons for drinking, the likelihood that 

you or your fellow Sailors would seek help for alcohol 

abuse, and any recommendations you have for the campaign. Feedback from this survey will help the campaign 

continue to develop materials to encourage responsible 

drinking and remind Sailors to keep what they've earned. 

"Understanding Sailors' opinions and attitudes toward 

alcohol use in the Navy is a critical component to the 

success of the Keep What You've Earned campaign," said 

Favorite. "[We get] a pulse check on how those attitudes 

and behaviors have changed in the past year, and how we 

can continue to develop an innovative strategy to promote 

responsible drinking." 

FROM CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS 

SURVEY DATA AND SOCIAL MARKETING

TAKE THE SURVEY https://survey.max.gov/167456

http://www.npc.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor

THE NAVY’S FLAGSHIP RESPONSIBLE DRINKING CAMPAIGN

SUMMER TRAFFIC DEATHS DOMINATE

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 27
BY NIKA GLOVER

The motorcycle safety 

magazine for the riding 

enthusiast.

Hot Off

Press! THE

Most motorcyclists would probably say that statement is spot on. 

The feeling of adventure and sense of 

freedom is hard to resist. So they take 

the risk with the pleasure of riding 

because for riders it’s an even tradeoff. However, that doesn’t change the 

fact that motorcycle riding is dangerous, and riders must be vigilant and 

safe. 

In response to the rise of motorcycle mishaps and fatalities, the Naval 

Safety Center has produced a specialissue magazine called Ride. The goal 

of the magazine is to inform motorcyhe famous actor (and 

avid motorcyclist) Steve 

McQueen once said, “One 

of the things that makes 

motorcycling so great is that 

it never fails to give you a feeling of 

freedom and adventure.”

28 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
With a commercial look and feel, 

Ride magazine was developed 

to be a fun magazine with rider 

safety in mind. The magazine 

is chock full of fun tidbits of 

information like the Motorcyclist's Bucket List 

on Page 6 that shows riders the best roads to ride before they kick the 

bucket. There's also a showcase of the 10 Critical Pieces of Body Armor on Page 36. 

This showcase includes information on little-known pieces of body armor that protect 

important body parts. Read about the latest and greatest in sport bikes and motorcycle 

safety rules. If you are not a subscriber to any Naval Safety Center magazine, contact 

safe-mediafdbk@navy.mil to get on our magazine distribution list.

ONLINE RESOURCES 

OPNAVINST 5100.12J & MCO 5100.29B: “Navy Traffic Safety Program” and "Marine Corps Safety Program"

Navy Motorcycle Rider: www.navymotorcyclerider.com

ESAMS: https://esams.cnic.navy.mil/esams_gen_2/loginesams.aspx

TRAFFIC & RECREATION

clists about motorcycle safety through 

something called “covert learning.” No 

one wants to spend their time reading 

a bunch of sometimes boring facts and 

figures. Ride magazine was created to 

be enjoyable while informative. 

For starters, the magazine has the 

look and feel of a commercial publication. There’s information on the latest 

products and gadgets for motorcyclist. 

Those products are cool but they also 

offer an upgraded level of protection. 

There’s also a bucket list of some 

of the best roads to ride in the U.S. and 

overseas. Have you ever tried to ride 

“The Dragon”? This road boasts 318 

curves and borders the Great Smoky 

Mountains. Most motorcyclists know 

about the famous Route 66, which 

is also featured in the magazine, but 

what about Gouliang Tunnel Road in 

China? While it’s only .75 miles long, 

it’s one big curvy tunnel. 

One of the most interesting articles 

in the magazine is “The History of Military Motorcycles” by Aaron Cortez, 

a writer for the website Bike Bandit. If 

you’ve ever wondered where the word 

“chopper” came from, read the article 

and learn all about the bikes that were 

repurposed after World War II. 

If you’re the type who has a need 

for speed, check out the article on the 

fastest bike Kawasaki has ever made. 

It’s a speed machine that you’ll want to 

test ride after reading about it. There’s 

also an entire spread on the best and 

most critical gear for motorcycle safety. 

A lot of bikers don’t even know there’s 

armor for the hips that help protect the 

pelvis during an accident. 

Harley-Davidson recently released 

its first electric bike, the LiveWire. It’s 

a quiet sleek bike that competes with 

the best gas bikes for speed and agility. 

You may think about going green after 

reading about it. Of course any good 

motorcycle magazine features the best 

bikes of the year, and Ride magazine 

is no different. The list of the 10 best 

sport bikes goes into detail on specs, 

safety aspects and price ranges. 

Ride magazine has something for 

every bike enthusiast with safety in 

mind. While we can only control some 

of the factors that lead to dangers on 

the road, we can definitely control how 

well we protect ourselves when we 

travel. By doing something as simple 

as wearing the proper body armor, 

we can limit our chances of getting 

seriously injured in an accident. That’s 

what the goal of the magazine is, to 

help keep you safe. 

Ms. Glover is the editor of Ride magazine. 

She is also the editor of Approach and Mech 

magazines.

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 29
Did Someone Ski 

Over My Head?

This is an archived article that was 

published in the winter 2000-2001 

issue of the Naval Safety Center’s 

now out-of-print Ashore magazine. 

It is provided only for personal 

risk-management purposes.

BY LT TROY WILLIAMS

Image source: 4-designer.com

I

f you are acquainted with the 

San Juan and Skagit Valley areas 

of western Washington, you are 

undoubtedly familiar with the 

cold, wet dreariness associated with 

Northwest winters. As a resident of 

this area, the only ritual that keeps me 

from checking into the nearest asylum 

is a weekend trek to the Whistler ski 

resort in nearby British Columbia for 

48 hours of heart-racing, ski-slapping 

moguls. The thrill of sailing through a 

sea of “bumps,” with just the slightest 

bit of stability, is indescribable.

On one of my weekend trips, the 

day was bright and sunny. The night 

before, the mountain had received an 

additional foot of fresh powder. The 

runs were smooth — even the bumps 

felt like feather pillows. I had fallen 

several times, but since the snow felt 

like down, I hardly felt the impact. 

Because of these great conditions, I 

thought this would be a great time to 

improve my skills and be more aggressive on the slope.

That’s what I was doing when 

I was halfway down the slope and 

planted my skis to “bunny hop” 

around a specific mogul. My skis 

locked in the snow. Unfortunately, one 

ski disconnected, and my body kept 

driving down the slope. 

When I hit the ground, I remember 

thinking for a brief second that it was 

simply another fall. I started to look 

up for my right ski when suddenly 

it found me. The extra powder had 

prevented the brake on the ski from 

adhering to the slope, and its momentum had sent it rocketing down the hill 

after me.

My head was facing uphill as the 

ski struck me just above my right eye. 

At first, I thought someone had skied 

over my head. However, as I rolled 

over to look down the hill, I saw my 

ski continuing on its own for another 

50 yards. I grabbed the spot where 

the ski had hit my head, and, to my 

amazement, felt a knot the size of a 

tangerine bulging from under my 

ski hat. After about five minutes, I 

gathered my composure and hobbled 

down to my other ski, reconnected it 

and skied to the nearest chalet, where 

my ski partner was able to call a 

medic.

Although the knot wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, I had no lengthy headaches or blurred vision. However, I 

was downed from flying for four days 

because I couldn’t fit my flight helmet 

over the bump.

I realize I could have easily 

been knocked unconscious and have 

been downed from flying for several 

months. Now, before any ski trip, I 

not only bring my skis, gloves, and 

goggles, but also my new ski helmet. 

If I had been wearing one prior to the 

incident, I would have enjoyed the 

remainder of the day skiing and would 

have had a few extra hours of flight 

time as well.

LT Williams was with VAQ-133 when he 

wrote this article.

30 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
BY ENS JASON BUCKLEY Photos by Janet Thomas

F

or the last eight springs, 

military and civilian personnel have gathered for the 

Safety Fest hosted by the 

Naval Aviation Schools Command 

(NASC) and the Naval Air Technical 

Training Command (NATTC). This 

past April 17 marked the eighth year of 

promoting safety awareness [and best 

practices]. NASC Safety Officer John 

Prince, event organizer, said it usually 

attracts up to 4,000 people.

“It gives the students and staff 

from the training commands a chance 

to talk about safety topics,” said Prince. 

“During a safety standdown, we can 

only cover so much in the time we 

have.”

Safety standdowns periodically 

cover major safety issues, usually 

occurring before long weekends or 

holiday breaks or as required. This 

event takes place during the normal 

training day and addresses more indepth safety concerns. 

Displays included on-base programs from the commands and the 

Fleet and Family Services Center 

(FFSC), as well as emergency services 

like the Florida Highway Patrol.

“We had 30 presenters covering 

everything from disaster to fire prevention to health and wellness. It gives us 

a wide variety,” said Prince. Some of 

the booths featured demonstrations, 

including a beer goggles walk, which 

simulate vision problems when drunk, 

and a firefighting simulation.

According to Prince, the goal is to 

demonstrate safety in a way that better 

engages the young military members.

“Our students now learn in a more 

interactive manner. By getting here 

AWARENESS & PROMOTION

Annual Safety Fest Attracts Thousands

and using the motorcycle trainer, the 

fire trainer, and visiting the booths, 

they get hands-on experience,” Prince 

said.

The annual event gives the newest 

military members an opportunity to 

see many of the support programs 

established to support them.

"By bringing the safety issues out 

we can expose Sailors and Marines and 

their families to safety issues before 

they become a problem," said Paul 

Maxwell, the education service facilitator for FFSC. 

FFSC had set up four booths for 

this event — addressing issues of suicide prevention and awareness, sexual 

assault prevention and response, new 

parent support and home visitation, 

and family advocacy. FFSC offers these 

programs year-round to serve military 

members and their families. Maxwell 

engaged participants at the suicide 

prevention and awareness booth.

The Safety Office at NASC hosts 

the Safety Fest every year, inviting 

local businesses and organizations to 

join military-related organizations in 

their effort to promote awareness of 

safety issues.

ENS Buckley works in the Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs 

Office. 

AMAN Lauren Lucas watches as Paul 

Maxwell, an education services facilitator 

at NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center, spins a wheel to pick out a 

topic to discuss during the April 17, 2015 

Health and Safety Fair.

AA Nicholas Riley discusses emergency 

preparedness with Kathy Sims from NAS 

Pensacola Fleet and Family Support 

Center during the annual fair.

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 31
Hurricane Season Not Over Yet 

What to Do Before, During and After an Emergency

CHECKLIST

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 

coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. 

Parts of the Southwest United States 

and the Pacific Coast also experience 

heavy rains and floods each year 

from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. 

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts 

from June to November, with the 

peak season from mid-August to late 

October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane 

season lasts from May to November. 

Use the emergency preparedness checklist on page 33 as a quickreference guide for planning. Provide 

a copy to your personnel and family. 

Check with your local installation 

for information on tropical cyclone 

conditions of readiness (TCCOR) and 

hurricane category conditions. Emergency preparedness websites are also 

available for detailed guidance.

To get ready for a hurricane, stay 

informed. Know likely emergencies 

and learn local emergency warnings. 

Have a plan and know what to do, 

where to go, whom to call. Share the 

plan with all family members and all 

personnel. Prepare essential supplies 

for survival. Practice and update your 

plan; check your kit every six months.

Update and verify your personal 

information with the Navy Family 

Accountability and Assessment System 

(NFAAS). All Navy military and civilian personnel are required to update 

their information twice a year.

A tropical cyclone in which the 

maximum sustained surface wind 

speed (using the U.S. one-minute 

average) ranges from 39 mph (34 

knots) to 73 mph (63 knots).

A short guide to keep in mind: 

TCCOR 5: Within 96 hours. 

Perform general house cleaning.

TCCOR 4: Within 72 hours. Identify 

outside items to be secured.

TCCOR 3: Within 48 hours. Secure 

outside equipment. Activate 

emergency management plan.

TCCOR 2: Within 24 hours. 

Shelters open. Relocate offices 

that are at risk. Back up computer 

hard drives. Fuel vehicles and 

generators.

TCCOR 1: Within 12 hours. 

Release non-essential personnel. 

Final preparations/actions by 

departments.

A tropical storm which has 

intensified to 75 mph and has high 

tides, strong winds, and heavy 

rainfall.

There are five categories of 

hurricane intensity: 

Category 1: Winds of 74 to 95 

mph; storm surge 4 to 5 feet; 

minimal damage.

Category 2: Winds from 96 to 

110 mph; storm surge 6 to 8 feet; 

moderate damage.

Category 3: Winds from 111 to 

130 mph; storm surge 9-12 feet; 

extensive damage.

Category 4: Winds from 131 to 155 

mph; storm surge 13 to 18 feet; 

extreme damage.

Category 5: Winds greater than 

155 mph; and storm surge higher 

than 18 feet; catastrophic damage.

HURRICANE WATCH: A hurricane 

may threaten an area within 48 

hours.

HURRICANE WARNING: A 

hurricane is expected to strike an 

area in 36 hours or less.

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TROPICAL STORM

HURRICANE

Source: ReadyNavy, http://www.ready.navy.mil

Hurricane/Typhoon Preparedness Guide

Be informed before, during, and after an incident; 

make a written family emergency plan; and build an 

emergency supply kit good for at least three days. 

This three-page guide is handy for distribution to 

personnel and their family members. This disaster 

preparedness guide is available for download at 

http://www.ready.navy.mil/be_informed/natural_hazards/hurricane_typhoon.html.

Pacific Coast Hurricane Readiness Guide

The May 2015 issue of Pacific Missile Range Facility's 

"Within Range" newsletter includes a preparedness 

guide for its personnel. The guide lists shelters in 

Kauai and Waimea, as well as local resources. The 

guide also provides information for the mandatory 

Safe Havens registration procedure for all personnel 

residing on base. Download at http://cnic.navy.mil/

regions/cnrh/installations/pacific_missile_range_

facility_barking_sands/news/within_range.html.

32 DECISIONS Fall-Winter 2015
ONLINE RESOURCES 

FOOD AND WATER

 One gallon of water per person, per day and canned 

or nonperishable food (3-day supply for evacuation, 

2-week supply for home)

 Special food items for elderly members and infants

 Iodine tablets for water (available at sporting goods 

stores)

 Manual can opener

 Camp stove with fuel

 Plastic utensils, plates and bowls

 Cooking pots and pans

MEDICINE AND FIRST AID

 Prescription medications for each family member. 

Make a list with information for dosage, frequency 

and administration. 

 Pain relievers for both adults and children

 Anti-diarrheal and cough medicines; aspirin

 Insect repellent

 Compression stockings to prevent blood clots 

(especially in situations where people sit or stand for 

extended periods)

 First-aid kit with bandages in various sizes, sterile 

gauze pads, tweezers, antibacterial ointment, instant 

cold compress, oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass), non-latex gloves, scissors, antiseptic wipe 

packets, and first-aid instruction booklet 

PERSONAL HYGIENE AND SANITATION

 Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap

 Contact lenses and lens cleaner 

 Antibacterial hand sanitizer 

 Toilet paper

 Baby supplies (diapers, bottles, wet wipes)

 Breathing masks (for areas where air quality is poor)

COMMUNICATION NEEDS

 Flashlight (helpful for sending signals)

 Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

 Extra batteries (radio, flashlight and cell phone)

 Cell phone with a charger that works in the car.

 Two-way radios

 List of family members and contact information (outof-area relatives, work and personnel accountability 

roster – if you are a supervisor, include work and home 

numbers)

 Whistle

BOATING AND WATER SURVIVAL

 U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person

 Communication devices (flares, flag or smoke signals, 

flashlight, bell, whistle and horn/siren, cell phone, emergency contacts)

 Fire extinguisher

 Life raft or dinghy

 Ring buoys or reaching pole

 Personal locator beacon

 Food and water supplies

 Foul-weather gear

 First aid kit (onboard a vessel or near a pool)

CLOTHING AND PROTECTIVE GEAR

 Emergency blankets or sleeping bags

 Towels

 Rain gear

 Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes

 Plastic sheeting or tarp

 Work gloves 

OTHER BASICS

 Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)

 Copies of personal documents (proof of address, deed/

lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance 

policies)

 Extra cash

 Map(s) of the area

 Extra set of car keys and house keys

 Duct tape, rope, string or bungee cord (to secure tarp 

or loose items)

 Plastic garbage bags

 Chlorine bleach (to use as a disinfectant)

 Matches in waterproof containers

 Utility knife

EMERGENCY CHECKLIST

Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System

https://navyfamily.navy.mil 

American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Library

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster-safety-library 

Federal Emergency Management Administration: Plan, Prepare and Mitigate

http://www.fema.gov/plan-prepare-mitigate

Fall-Winter 2015 DECISIONS 33