USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s (CVN 69) safety department’s standing goal is to educate Sailors using informative packages and training to avoid preventable injury, death, material loss or damage.

Safety department’s presence throughout the ship allows them to arm Sailors with tools to minimize unnecessary risk.

“Keeping Sailor’s situational awareness high is essential to our mission,” said Damage Controlman 2nd Matthew Baumgardt, a sailor temporarily assigned to Safety. “When most people on the ship walk into a space and see a green hardhat and white float coat their first reaction is in most cases is to visually scan the area in search of a possible hazard. The idea is to have Sailors think like this even if we are not in a space mid-safety check or exercise.”

Sailors in safety oversee numerous command-wide operational safety and occupational health programs by demonstrating proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and providing general safety information to the crew.

“In safety department we are all professionals and we never falter on our readiness to support the crew,” said Baumgardt. “We review cold work chits to ensure adequate PPE is used, issue respirators for the health of our shipmates and review accident and injury reports to help understand how to make our ship safer.”

Rather than focus on repair, production or service, Safety looks for ways to support Sailors in the safe execution of their task.

“As the safety department we can take a step back from the ‘get it done, and get it done now’ mindset that can lead to injuries and assess situations and evolutions to keep everyone safe above all other things,” said Baumgardt. “I base our effectiveness by how many days the ship goes without an avoidable casualty and how much work is being done without safety violations. Our work ethic is high because our mission is important. Sailors can’t complete a task or job if they hurt themselves in the process.”

With heavy metal equipment constantly in use and various moving parts to be conscious of at all times, a naval ship can be a very dangerous place.

“A Sailor with an acute awareness for danger and unsafe practices is one of the best assets a ship can afford,” said Fire Controlman 1st Class Caleb N. Baker, leading petty officer of Ike’s safety department. “Every Sailor has to avoid complacency and overconfidence in the crew’s lack of incidents resulting in personal injury or loss of life. There will be times everything goes as exactly as it should, but accidents still happen and some may not be preventable.”

Creating a safe work environment on an aircraft carrier is not something that can be accomplished in one simple step. It’s a continuous process that requires time, manpower and a mutually understood concept by more than just Safety department.

“By working closely with Media to bring safety hazard awareness to all personnel, I was able to create a commercial-based campaign called ‘Be Safe’ to be played during stand downs and underway,” said Baker. “I hope people pay attention to the hazards and think of how they can be prevented when the time comes.”

Between this campaign and safety department’s training, a standard has been set aboard the Ike.

“When you see a green hat, know we are there to help maximize safety awareness at all levels of the command while providing a safe and healthy work place for all Sailors,” said Chief Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) Jameche W. Frazier, a safety chief petty officer. “This is our mission and that is why we will continue to train and mentor Sailors on the importance of a safe working environment.”

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.