Naval Air Facility Misawa holds its 21st annual Safety Fair

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

05.21.2015

Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan - Sailors stationed and deployed at Misawa Air Base, Japan attended Naval Air Facility (NAF), Misawa’s 21st Annual Safety Fair May 21.

This year’s safety fair focused on Recreation and Off-Duty Safety (RODS), Traffic Safety, and the human factors that can be controlled to prevent mishaps.

The safety fair included 21 booths that shared safety information concerning ladders, firearms, camping, water activities, driving and motorcycling to name a few.

“Planning, coordinating and executing this event with the various organizations and our safety team is a tedious process that needs personal involvement and keen leadership,” said Chief Construction Mechanic Willie Martinez-Avila, NAF Misawa’s Safety Chief, from San Diego.

The Honda Safe Motorcyclist Awareness and Recognition Trainer, which is similar to a motorcycling video game, was a very popular exhibit. Sailors and civilians enjoyed taking turns testing their motorcycle riding skills as Chief Operations Specialist Shane Smith, a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Coach, from Fargo, Oklahoma, shared safety tips and techniques.

NAF Misawa’s Public Works Department’s (PWD) Transportation Division provided Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS) which is designed to reinforce common-sense driving skills, such as staying alert, not consuming alcohol or other drugs, getting adequate sleep, wearing seatbelts and driving the proper speeds. Automobile accident stories involving Navy personnel were shared with guests in an effort to let people know the dangers involved when taking unnecessary risks. The PWD team also gave hands-on vehicle inspection training.

The 35th Fighter Wing Safety Team allowed visitors to experience different levels of intoxication by wearing drunk goggles. The goggles distort the wearer’s vision to match the same effects brought on by certain blood alcohol content levels. Most visitors failed to operate a remote control car and walk within marked paths while wearing the goggles.

“It was really hard to focus and I found myself starring at my feet more than the walking path,” said Yeoman 1st Class Alonte Horn, assigned to NAF Misawa, from Oceanside, Calif.

Visitors were also trained on how to apply operational risk management (ORM) to numerous high risk outdoor spring and summer activities. Attendees successfully gave risk matrix scores based on probability, how likely the mishap would happen, and severity, how bad would the results of the mishap be, to activities of their choice using ORM principles.

NAF Misawa’s Navy College Office also took the opportunity to share available education opportunities and benefits with Sailors, civilians and their families.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2015
• Date Posted: 05.26.2015 23:51
• Story ID: 164590
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP