Air Force Occupational Safety, Tinker Safety Office introduce The ‘Quest for Zero’ Campaign Published May 29, 2015 By Steve Serreete 72nd ABW Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- What's the "Quest for Zero" for? One might reasonably ask. It is to focus on risk management and on-(and off-) duty safety. The Air Force recently unveiled the "Quest for Zero" campaign, a new risk management program, to encourage on-and-off duty safety, and to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of accidents. It is intended as a year-round program, essentially replacing the winter safety and Critical Days of Summer campaigns. In other words, there is no longer a "Critical Days of Summer" program. Say "goodbye" to that terminology. According to a memo published by the Air Force Chief of Ground Safety, "the intent of 'Quest for Zero' is for Airmen (both military and civilian) to recognize the hazards they face every day, at work and at home. When Airmen embrace the 'Quest for Zero' motto -- my job, my life, my choice -- they are, in a real way, fulfilling their commitment to mission success." The goal is to reduce or eliminate accidents by starting risk management at the lowest level year-round and everyone, from the highest-to-lowest-ranking civilian and from airman basic to chief master sergeant through the chief of staff of the Air Force -- it doesn't matter what rank you hold, everyone is responsible for safety. The goal involves striving for zero mishaps and zero fatalities, period. In fiscal 2014, there were more than 1,300 on-duty mishaps (of all variations) in the Air Force. According to Air Force records from FY13, there were 381 maintenance mishaps resulting in injury. Of those, the top three injury types were sprains/strains, fractures, and open wounds. At Tinker, between Jan. 1, 2014, and May 6, 2015, there were a total of 779 injuries (including first aid). Of those, 201 involved slips, trips, falls same level and fall elevation (like stairs), 224 fell into the struck by/against category and 150 were due to overexertion or strain position. Nature of injury by breakdown: -- Contusions/Abrasions, 172 -- Lacerations, 167 -- Sprains/Strains, 250 -- Object in eye, 38 -- Fractures, 31 -- Multiple, 38 Tinker's reportable mishaps (what the Air Force counts) was 446 out of the 779 grand total mentioned previously. Of those, there were 105 slips, trips and falls, 126 struck by/against and 111 overexertion or strain position mishaps reported. Nature of injury by breakdown: -- Contusions/Abrasions, 61 -- Lacerations, 96 -- Sprains/Strains, 167 -- Object in eye, 16 -- Fractures, 30 -- Multiple, 24 With a goal to eliminate this mayhem and save precious lives, Air Force Safety implemented the "Quest for Zero" campaign. The campaign will provide year-'round resources promoting risk management and mitigation techniques such as: -- Wearing the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) -- Ensuring work areas are clear of hazards -- Following procedures outlined in Air Force instructions, and much more. -- Making work platforms available when possible -- Using safety pins and devices that secure hoods, hatches, doors and ramps -- Maintaining situational awareness and communicate with co-workers -- Following procedures outlined in Air Force instructions and technical orders, and much more. "Readiness is paramount to the mission," said Maj. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, the Air Force chief of safety, "and the safety of every Airman is critical to ensuring that readiness." Bill Parsons, the Air Force chief of ground safety, said safety is a priority in all career fields at all levels, every day, "Awareness of the hazards is the first step in mitigation and risk management to preserve our most valuable asset -- our Airmen," Mr. Parsons said. "When Airmen embrace the 'Quest for Zero' motto -- my job, my life, my choice -- they are, in a real way, fulfilling their commitment to mission success." Many of the FY14 mishaps were simply the result of a lack of situational awareness or complacency. Members can get focused on a task, and lose track of the environment around them. It happens a lot more than you think. As we transition to the warm summer months, we enter the most challenging time of the year for unnecessary off-and on-duty injuries and deaths within the Air Force family. Summer is a wonderful season to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather with your friends and family. The Tinker Base Safety office urges you to incorporate thoughtful planning in all your activities and get sufficient rest before strenuous events as well as extended road trips. Give some consideration to your personal limits and capabilities and exercise sound judgment. We want every Airman (both civilian and military) to come home safely at the end of the day. Every year in the past, we reminded you about exercising personal risk management during the "Critical Days of Summer" -- and for good reason. Now we're re-emphasizing it once more via the "Quest for Zero" campaign. Despite the constant reminders, the majority of these unwarranted Air Force fatalities happen during the summer months and we should all want this madness to cease and desist. Even one loss is too many! Your Tinker Base Safety professionals encourage you to make safety a priority. Remember Risk Management? - Think twice before you act. Our ever-continuing goal is, and always shall be zero preventable mishaps and fatalities -- in other words, the "Quest for Zero." You may access the "Quest for Zero" information to be used for Safety briefings (workplace and otherwise) at the following link: https://wwwmil.tinker.af.mil/safety/101CDS/critical_days_of_summer.htm.