New in Safety - Well there are many changes in the National Safety program. Actually what is new is a major effort by National to make it easier for a member to remain safety current and to streamline the whole Safety area. There are virtually no paper forms to fill out at a National level. However at wing level there are only two. The first form is the commander's safety policy and it is not really a form but a narrative written by the commander to his unit outlining the methods he/she will expect from the members of the unit. One copy to Group, one for the unit file, and one for the safety bulletin board. Group will compile from all the units assigned and forward to Wing. If there is no change in the unit commander, then only an email to wing and Group indicating no change is all that need be sent. This is due to wing by Jan 15 of each year.

The second paper item is the annual safety schedule to Group and Wing.  This is just a listing of what the safety program will be each month. Again one copy to the unit for file, one for the bulletin board and a copy to group and wing. These are due to wing by Jan 15, but may be submitted earlier. 

What is new in E-services for safety is a new presentation format.  First, everything that was there before the change is still there. The new format is in the center and the old format is on the left side listing. And second the paper forms have been eliminated completely, so don't even ask for them. You will also notice that the form numbers (78 and  79) have been eliminated. They are now called incidents and come as part 1 and part2.  Part 1 needs to be completed as soon as possible with a very brief description with no names or places mentioned (just the facts) Example: "Cadet tripped entering the squadron office".  Part 2 is to be completed within 48 hours with the details.  If you come out to the Wing Conference on September 28, all will be explained to you.  If you want to find out sooner, on your training site, you will find the tutorials explaining how to do this AND as a bonus, each tutorial will count toward you monthly safety requirement. 

 

2012 PA Wing Conference - Safety will be doing several presentations at the Wing Conference on September 28 and 29. One presentation will be the Executive Safety Course which will include a briefing involving the new SMS. Also a presentation called "What you need to be a Safety officer", which will explain in simple terms how and what you need to become a unit safety officer.  Both presentations will qualify you for your monthly safety requirement. 

 

Safety Email Address- We have a new email address for all safety related business. The new address is safety@pawg.cap.gov. This new address is following the same format as used for the other departments in Pa Wing. Any safety related material should be sent to the new address. My other email address, bmetzcap@verizon.net will still be used for other CAP matters. But you may use either one. 

 

Where did the form 26, 78 and 79 GO? - The forms are gone; everything is now done on-line under e-services. To find where to file a mishap (the new name for the old 78 form) go to e-services, click on Safety Management System (SMS) either on the left side or on the right side, if authorized. There you will find all the items you need to file a mishap (incident). You will first find a Box that says "File a new Mishap (1)", click on this and you are taken to a form where you just submit "the facts and nothing but the facts" in other words just the important facts of the mishap. No names, titles, or identifying information. For example, "Lt Col John Smith was on the North side of Main Street walking to the local Wal-Mart for the reason of purchasing batteries for East Brandywine composite squadron 9908 when he tripped on a broken branch of a Maple tree. Lt Col Smith showed great bravely by dragging his greatly sprained ankle back to the Squadron headquarters where he was attended to by the squadron EMT Major Dave Smith (no relation) and he decided to call West End Ambulance who arrived in 5 minutes and transported to Shamokin General Hospital where he was treated by given Col Smith an aspirin and told to stay off his ankle for a few days" 

The correct version is "senior member tripped on a branch and was transported to the hospital for evaluation." This is what should be in part 1; part 2 is completed after more facts come to light. In part two, names are added in the proper areas. Unfortunately, the first description is what we normally receive.  

 

To learn more about this, click on :On-line Safety Education" and courses are listed concerning the SMS program. Just click on the first course, take the course and when you pass it you also get you monthly safety credit. 

The form 26 is now called "file a hazard report". The 79 is no longer a form and only members designated by either the Wing Commander or the Wing Director of Safety will be authorized to investigate the incident.  

 

And that's it, you can also find all the reports that you have used in the past in the SMS.