Air Force has safest holiday season ever, Airmen encouraged to continue safe practices

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Air Force just had its safest holiday season on record, according to a letter sent to commanders throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

Maj. Gen. William A. Chambers, USAFE Vice Commander, said for the first time ever, there were no mishap-related fatalities between Christmas and New Year's Day. As a major command, USAFE had only seven mishaps between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. On average, USAFE has 30 mishaps during the holidays.

All the mishaps reported in USAFE during the holidays were considered Class C. A Class C mishap is one which causes any loss of time from work beyond the day or shift during which it occurred.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Franklin, 100th Air Refueling Wing ground safety noncommissioned officer in charge, said between October and December 2009, RAF Mildenhall had no reportable on-duty mishaps.

"That's huge," he said. "To have no one hurt on duty to the point of missing work is not typical of any three-month stretch."

Sergeant Franklin stressed the importance of on-duty safety.

"Pay attention to your training, and do things the way you've been trained to do them," he said. "Don't take shortcuts."

Laughing, he added, "Wear your reflective belts."