OSHA chief congratulates Air Force on ground safety milestone

Published March 12, 2012
By Air Force Safety Center

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Air Force Safety Center officials received the following message March 12 from David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, congratulating the Air Force on its historic milestone of going more than one full year without an on-duty ground safety fatality:

"Congratulations on a fatality-free year. The men and women who serve in our country's defense are willing to give their all to keep our Nation safe, and it's only fair we do all we can to keep them safe and healthy on the job. This is why OSHA and many organizations believe employers should find and fix hazards in their workplaces before their workers get hurt or killed. One year without a single death on the job demonstrates that our armed forces embrace the concept of systematically addressing workplace hazards. As you move forward, I encourage you to aim even higher and focus on preventing on-the-job injuries and illnesses as well as fatalities. I'm grateful for the Air Force's commitment to workplace safety and health and its cooperative spirit in working with OSHA on behalf of protecting defense personnel. Together, we have the same goals: Healthier Workers, Safer Workplaces, and a Stronger America."