DECEMBER 2011
Safety Newsletter
Pennsylvania Wing -
Civil Air Patrol
Lt Col Barry Metz
Phone 610-429-9984
Director of Safety
E-Safety Newsletter
DECEMBER 2011
Here it is December and with that all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, but this is a time when accidents can occur due to rushing or just not thinking ahead. It is a time for parties and good times, however it is also a time for over-indulging in drinking alcohol. Make a steadfast rule that you will always have a designated non-drinking driver do the driving.
When you go shopping, always be aware of what is happening around you. Don't leave money, gps, or any valuables in your vehicle so that it can be seen and that includes Christmas or holiday gifts. Park in well lit areas that is not isolated from the main stores. If unsure about going out to your vehicle, ask a security guard to walk you to your vehicle. Best yet is to shop with someone else. Also traffic around malls will be heavy with drivers maybe not paying close attention to their driving.
Annual Safety Survey - This required safety item is required to be completed by Jan 31 of each year. On Nov 1, the on-line entry system was cleared and new inputs are being accepted. Why not get this requirement completed early and then you will not have me calling you in January to remind you to get it done. Pa Wing along with NE Region has set the deadline for completion of the Safety Survey as Dec 31. Please print a copy and place in your files. No copies need to be sent to Wing or Group.
Commander's Safety Policy - Due each year to Wing Headquarters with a copy to the unit's Group headquarters. It is a written narrative describing the Unit's Commander's safety policy and requirement's. A new policy is required only if the Unit commander or unit safety officer changes. Otherwise an email sent to wing indicating "no change" is all that is required. This is due to wing headquarters by Jan 15.
Unit Safety Schedule - A schedule of the unit's safety program for the required monthly safety briefing is required to be published once a year and due at wing headquarters by Jan 15. This can be written by the unit safety officer with approval by the unit commander. The schedule consists of the subject of each meeting and the date the briefing will be held at the unit. It is based on the calendar year and the results are inputted by the unit safety officer into e-services.
Unit Safety Day - Each unit must conduct an Annual Safety Day sometime during the months of January, February or March. This will be the same type of briefing the units used to conduct in October and will be recorded in e-services as "Safety Day Meeting". This will also take the place of the monthly safety briefing.
PowerPoints from PA Wing Conference - Included with this addition of eSafety, I included both PowerPoints from the recent PA Wing Conference. The unit commanders at the conference received a handout of a summary of this important information. Please review and if you have any questions, please contact me.
Final Notes - It was very nice to see and talk with the members at the Wing Conference this year. I tried to meet with as many of the safety personnel as possible, but due to my ongoing illness at the time, my attention span and energy gave out several times. I seem to be improving so hopefully I'll be back to my old self soon.
As you may be aware, the new Pennsylvania Wing Commander has asked me to continue on as the Wing Director of Safety. I am honored by her confidence in me and hope to continue to improve the safety culture of our members. But it takes more than just one person, each and every member of the Wing has made it a mandate to improve their concept of safety in Pa Wing. Thanks to one and all.
Other business includes the assistants assigned to the Safety Director. Continuing on is Lt Col Riley as the assistant in Ground Safety and Lt Col Buchman as the assistant in Air Safety. Please contact my assistants for any specific questions in their specialty or contact me.
And finally, about a year and a half ago I announced that bmetzcap@comcast.net was being discontinued, six months ago I closed the Comcast account. The new email address as of 6 months ago is bmetzcap@verizon.net . Please use that address only.
