NSC Announces Winners of its Prestigious Green Cross for Safety Awards Published May 13, 2016 National Safety Council Itasca, IL -- The National Safety Council on May 12 presented its prestigious Green Cross for Safety Awards to individuals and organizations that have helped save lives and prevent injuries. The Council presented the Excellence Award to the Air Force Safety Center, the Innovation Award to United Airlines Corporate Safety and the Advocate Award to Dr. Gary Smith of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. NSC Board Chairman John Surma, NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman and award sponsors recognized each winner during a ceremony at the Swissôtel in Chicago. "The Air Force Safety Center, United Airlines Corporate Safety and Dr. Smith have demonstrated a commitment to safety in our workplaces, communities and transportation," Hersman said. "They recognize that safety is a journey, not a destination and constantly ask, 'What more can we do?' We are proud to honor them and to recognize all the outstanding finalists that share the Council's goal of eliminating preventable deaths and injuries in our lifetime." The Air Force Safety Center performed near real-time evaluations of safety culture from the lowest- to the highest-level worker, with the theory that a strong safety culture reduces incidents. Post evaluation, mishaps fell 29% and costs associated with these incidents fell $600,000 per installation. One major command with 15,000 assigned personnel experienced a 90% reduction in fatalities. In 2010, United and Continental Airlines merged, requiring the Safety Division to integrate data from many operating groups and databases. In addition, new FAA regulations required airlines to implement a safety management system that would make data easily accessible for everyone, from front-line workers to top executives. The Data Visualization project, developed in partnership with University of New Haven students enrolled in the Lee College, has been adopted by marketing, sales, cargo, tech operations, network operations, airport operations and food services groups. Over two years, United reduced damages by 23% and injuries by 11%. Dr. Smith, a researcher and advocate for pediatric injury prevention, focuses on consumer product safety. He has worked to prevent child injuries associated with products ranging from shopping carts to liquid nicotine for electronic cigarettes. Dr. Smith played a key role in drafting the 2012 National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention created Prevent Child Injury and the Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance, and he created coalitions that work to prevent injuries at city, state and regional levels. Dr. Smith also oversees mentorship programs focused on the needs in low- and middle-income countries. The nine finalists for the three award categories were selected from over 50 applicants that were reviewed by an external panel. Finalists for the Innovation Award included Pioneer Construction and Dr. Michael Gittelman of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Excellence Award finalists were Aqueos Corporation and United Technologies Corporation. Advocate Award finalists included Janette Fennell of KidsandCars.org and Col. Mitchell Waite of the 86th Training Division of Ft. McCoy. Visit greencross.nsc.org for additional information about each winner and finalist.