Warren Airmen applying ORM, preventing rollovers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Warren Airmen reached a milestone by going more than 600 days without a rollover in the missile field.

Rollover accidents are one of the leading causes of vehicle fatalities in the Midwest, said Mike Woods, 90th Missile Wing safety office. Gravel roads and slick conditions contribute to rollovers, and Airmen who trip out to the missile fields have to deal with those conditions on a daily basis.

May 12, 2007 was Warren's last vehicle rollover accident in the missile field.

"The driver in that accident did everything wrong," Mr. Woods said. "He didn't check his map before he left and got lost, he was speeding, he was trying to communicate on a radio and a cell phone and he overcorrected when he lost control of the vehicle."

Since that accident more than 600 days ago, what have Airmen been doing right?

"It's all about culture," said Col. Mike Morgan, 90th Missile Wing commander. "The right training plus leadership emphasis, and most importantly, disciplined drivers, have given us a vehicle safety record that is the envy of the command."

Mr. Woods added, "Everyone is starting to believe in Operational Risk Management, and applying it on a daily basis."

First line supervisors have been the keys to this success because without them the base would still be having rollovers, Mr. Woods said. They are teaching the younger Airmen the right things to do, and they are making the right calls and reducing the risk of accidents.

A safety briefing and ORM process is conducted before every vehicle movement, said Troy Weaver, 90th MW safety office. This process is used to determine the risk and to offset high-risk situations.

Some factors considered are:
-- Vehicle operator's age, driving experience and driving history.
-- Geographic driving experience.
-- Driving experience on gravel roads and winter road conditions.
-- Vehicle operator's rest or sleep prior to driving.
-- Weather.
-- Vehicle type.
-- Travel distance.
-- Hours on duty prior to trip departure.
-- Day or night travel.
-- Familiarity with the area.

"All these factors are considered and depending on the risk level it is determined whether travel is safe or not," Mr. Weaver said. "If it is unsafe then the people traveling might have to get squadron or group commander approval before they trip out or come home."

Staff Sgt. Nick Jump, 90th Security Support Squadron, said some things briefed before anyone signs out a vehicle are:
-- The speed limit on gravel roads is 25 miles per hour.
-- Reduce speeds by 10 miles per hour during inclement weather.
-- Know all the local hazards.
-- The passenger is always a second set of eyes -- watch out for hazards.
-- Do not swerve to miss wildlife.

"One of the most important things we try and teach our young Airmen is to not dodge wildlife in the road," Sergeant Jump said. "Because when someone tries to avoid an animal they tend to lose control, skid and roll a vehicle."

Along with safety briefings and ORM comes training and in 2003 the safety office implemented a plan to start reducing the number of rollover accidents in the missile field, Mr. Weaver said.

There are six types of training required for Airmen who drive in the missile field. They are driver's safety, vehicle crew concept, skid monster, gravel road, vehicle orientation and operation, and route familiarization.

No vehicle operator will be allowed to operate a vehicle alone until all driver training requirements are met, Mr. Weaver said.

He said some basic practices taught during skid monster training and gravel road driving here are:
-- Don't panic.
-- Don't slam on the brakes.
-- Remove your foot from the gas.
-- Always turn the wheel into the skid.
-- Slowly apply the brakes.
-- Never over correct when going through a ditch.

But has the training paid off?

"The 90th Missile Wing has driven more than 11 million miles during 50,000 dispatches while maintaining its flawless record and during that time the other wings in the command have had nine rollovers," Mr. Woods said.

Although that has not always been the case; in 2004 the Mighty Ninety had eight rollovers. Since then the wing has been in a downward trend having five rollovers in 2005, and three rollovers in 2006 and 2007, Mr. Woods said.

"Our best fiscal year prior to the 600 days without a rollover was four months," Mr. Woods said. "This truly is a historic event for the 90th Missile Wing."

But how can the wing continue this streak?

According to the safety office's ORM plan some things Airmen can do to reduce risks are:
-- Swap out drivers.
-- Use the appropriate vehicle for the mission, and caravan or carpool when possible.
-- Slow down!
-- Read the route folder.
-- Take a break if you're tired and call the traffic control center, or TCC.
-- Call for help (Flight Security Controllers, Missile Maintenance Operations Center, or TCC.)

While traveling if someone encounters conditions other than briefed or planned they should stop in a safe place, update road conditions with TCC, re-accomplish ORM and obtain permission to continue travel.

Following basic common sense practices and using ORM is the best way to avoid mishaps, Mr. Woods said.