A Day in the Life of a Ground Safety Manager

Published July 30, 2014
By Matthew Kernen
60 AMW/SEG

TMF Fall 2014 --

The Ground Safety Manager (GSM) for any installation is one of the most important positions within the safety office. The safety program begins with us, as we are the foundation or rock of the program. Our schedule is packed with meetings, training, briefings, presentations, etc., and we are the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for safety. Since we manage the entire safety program for the wing commander and installation, our perspective of time management and effectively handling the day-to-day business/operations is profound and requires a strong game plan. There are many instances, when reviewing mishaps, that we receive the infamous call from Command Post that a member of our wing has been involved in a fatal or near-fatal mishap, which then starts the mishap machine rolling. Whatever has been scheduled for that day is changed, which means being able to overcome, adapt, and improvise at a moment's notice.

With this comes the busiest times we ever face: preliminary messages, interviews, Interim Safety Board, Formal Safety Board composition, mishap report writing, timelines with the command to ensure a professional and finished product, and so on. We also have to juggle many other aspects of our position because half of our office is deployed, personnel are in upgrade training or on leave, a brand new Chief of Safety arrives, etc. This could even be the day-to-day operation without the major mishap. Ground Safety Managers are the know all/see all of and for the safety office. We are relied heavily upon to ensure the safety culture is being changed, and we are the instrumental oil that keeps things in the safety office running.

One of the largest responsibilities of a GSM is to ensure the wing commander is well informed on the status of the installation's safety program. This is done through spot inspections, program assessments and facility inspections, mishap investigations, and trend analysis. How is all of this accomplished? Well, we have a staff to assist us; however, one of the biggest tools in the GSM's arsenal is networking. This is a challenge, as we are handcuffed through emails, telephone calls, etc., but networking is one of the most effective tools because it lets personnel know who we are and who our staff members are, and it is instrumental in changing the safety culture. As the GSM, we not only promote safety, but we also have to sell it. We must empower Airmen with knowledge.

Ground Safety Managers are safety professionals who represent the Air Force, Our Command, and our Wing in all we do, providing the critical oversight and advisory role to all facets of the program. We are the teacher, the advisor, and the technical expert, providing important training so personnel can go home to their families and loved ones at the end of each duty day. The GSM is an individual who does make a solid difference day to day in how we operate as a force behind the scenes and out front leading the charge. Although we sit back, think, and analyze data, and then focus on today, tomorrow will always bring another set of challenges.

Those of us who have been in the GSM seat for an extended period of time know how much our career field has changed. Some of us are resistant to change, where others embrace it with open arms. Our duties change daily, going from handling a complaint, and then into a mishap investigation, briefing a commander, handling work orders, putting out small fires, covering meetings ... and the list is endless. In the end, the GSM is the encyclopedia of safety knowledge that everyone turns to, and though at times we feel it is a thankless job, we know deep inside that we may have saved a life that day so others can prevail.

GROUND SAFETY MANAGERS are resilient and not afraid to jump in with both feet and lead their personnel to accomplishing the mission. We are responsible for the safety of the installation, to include all tenants. Hours are long and sacrifices are made, as we believe in the core values of our Air Force and we support and care for the extended family. Ultimately, we understand that SAFETY does make a difference in mishap prevention, and it is the culture to which we strive to be successful.

Wing Safety Brief