The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan District finished stage three, otherwise known as the Gold Castle, of the USACE Safety and Occupational Health Management System (CE-SOHMS) on Aug. 21, positioning the district to pursue Army Safety and Occupational Health Star recognition, one of the Army's highest workplace safety distinctions.
“I am incredibly proud of the work the JED team has put in to achieve this milestone,” said Col. Patrick Biggs, commander. “This demonstrates the culture of safety that we have strived to not only achieve, but continuously improve upon, at the district.”
The goal of CE-SOHMS is to fully integrate safety into all USACE business operations, managing risk at each level.
“The culture of safety was already there, but CE-SOHMS gives us the framework,” said Lt. Col. Simratpal “Simmer” Singh, deputy commander and district CE-SOHMS champion.
As part of the assessment of the maturity of the district’s program, inspectors interviewed people throughout JED. Assessors examined how the district has worked to move beyond viewing safety as a compliance requirement and instead integrate it into daily business processes.
“Stage III is important because it shows we’re not just checking boxes,” said Vanessa Matheny, Safety Chief. “We have processes in place, people understand their roles, and safety is becoming part of how we do business across the district. The Gold Castle is a great accomplishment and really shows how far we’ve come.”
With the milestone now achieved, the district will now focus on assessor recommendations, employee feedback, training and hazard trends to further strengthen the program.
For Matheny, the milestone gives her the chance to reflect on safety goals for the district.
“For me, I’m really proud of what we accomplished, but I also know the work doesn’t stop here,” she said. “One of my biggest goals is continuity. I don’t want CE-SOHMS to depend on me or any one person. I want what we’ve built to continue even when people or leadership change.”
The district's next goal is achieving Army SOH Star status, a recognition earned by fewer than 20 Army organizations.
“The true measure of our safety program is how well it performs five years from now,” Biggs said. “We want the culture we have worked hard to establish today to thrive, so safety still matters and everyone is still safe in the years to come.”
While Stage III marks a milestone in JED’s CE-SOHMS journey, district leaders view it as the foundation for the next phase of continuous improvement. As the district works toward Army SOH Star recognition, leaders say the focus will remain on empowering employees, identifying risks before incidents occur and sustaining a culture where safety is integrated into every mission.