Logisitic Center leads with lowest mishap rates Published Aug. 27, 2007 By Brig. Gen. Kathleen Close Ogden Air Logistics Center HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you on achieving the lowest mishaps rates among the three Air Logistics Centers for fiscal year 2007. This is a tremendous accomplishment! In addition, you are on track to achieve Team Hill's safest 101 Critical Days of Summer in recent history. Achievements like this do not happen by luck; it takes a high level of safety awareness and personal risk management by individuals, leadership by supervisors, and constant reinforcement and promotion of safety programs by commanders. Thank you for your diligent efforts. That being said, there is always room for improvement. Additionally, there are several weeks remaining in the Critical Days of Summer. I ask that you maintain emphasis on two areas that have proven the nemesis for Air Force members over the last several years: Motor Vehicles (Two and four wheel) and Sports/Recreation. Motor vehicle mishaps accounted for over 71percent of total Air Force mishaps for FY07, and non-traffic related sports and recreational fatalities accounted for another 12 percent. That is an astounding figure: more than 83 percent of tragic deaths to Air Force personnel were a result of completely preventable mishaps involving vehicles, sports/recreation, or a combination of the two. How do we curb this trend? Very simple; continue to do exactly what you've been doing: applying sound risk management principles and ensuring your wingman does the same. If you can identify the risks of an activity; whether it be operating a vehicle or waterskiing, the battle is half over. If you can eliminate or mitigate those risks to an acceptable level you increase the odds of returning home safely to your family and loved ones. The top motor vehicle risk factors - factors that have sadly turned into "causes of death" for 40 of our Airmen this year - are, in descending order: Speed, absence of seat belts, alcohol and fatigue. Top factors in sports and recreation deaths were unsafe handling of off-road vehicles, alcohol, and drowning. These senseless deaths simply cannot continue. The Air Force has initiated several programs in traffic safety and high risk activity awareness that will assist you in identifying and mitigating the above mentioned risks. At the end of the day I am relying on you to take responsibility for applying risk management to your activities. Again, thank you all for your outstanding efforts in maintaining one of the safest records in the Air Force, and please keep that sharp focus as we finish out this great summer. Take some time to rest and enjoy activities with your family and friends, with the knowledge that we need each and every one of you back safely to continue our most important mission.