Innovative short cut creates dangerous situation

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. A.C. Eggman
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  At the end of the duty day, a Dyess Airman on his way home pulled over and took action to prevent injury, or worse to an individual performing an unsafe act Oct. 27. 

Instead of interfering with the individual's work or getting his attention, Master Sgt. Sydney Forster, 7th Component Maintenance Squadron, called the Safety Office chief. 

"As I was driving past the government vehicle wash rack, my attention was immediately diverted to the forklift-ladder combination," said Sergeant Forster. 

Sergeant Forster said he had to do a double take because he never thought he would see such an unsafe act on a military installation. 

"About 100 yards after passing (the building), I stopped and looked in my rear view mirror to make sure I actually saw what I thought I had," said Sergeant Forster. "After confirming what I considered to be the unthinkable, I called Ground Safety." 

The individual had placed an Air Force stand on one side of an Air Force forklift, and then placed a step ladder on top of the forklift. He then climbed on the top bars of the stand to reach the forklift platform, hoisted himself up, and climbed up the step ladder, which was unsecure, to reach the roof of the wash rack building. 

Mr. Jack Wylie, 7th Bomb Wing Safety Office chief, called in a safety representative to check and confirm the unsafe situation. After the safety representative described the situation, Mr. Wylie arrived on scene, called wing leadership and the fire department.
The person was wearing hearing protection and had not noticed the growing crowd. While waiting for the fire department to arrive, the worker finally noticed the commotion on the ground, said Mr. Wylie. 

"I signalled him to stop (working) and told him he couldn't come down the way he had gone up," said Mr. Wylie. 

The fire department arrived with a 35-foot ladder and had the man climb down. Once the worker was safely on the ground, he admitted his actions were dangerous and the correct equipment would be on site the next day. 

Rules for how to approach a situation such as this will depend upon whether it is a military member or a contractor, according to Safety and Contracting officials. Anyone who observes a military member working or performing an unsafe act should stop the individual, and call the 7th Bomb Wing Safety Office or contact someone in the individual's chain of command. 

However, the rules on how to approach contractor workers are different, said Lt. Col. Duane Elmore, 7th Contracting Squadron commander. 

Government contactors are required to operate in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards; however, on some occasions they may not always do so, said Colonel Elmore. 

"That is where we need everyone's help to ensure contractors are using safe working practices," said Colonel Elmore. "With the large number of contractors working on Dyess on a daily basis there are not enough inspectors and Quality Assurance personnel to provide 24-hour oversight." 

Airmen should not interfere with any contractor performing their duties "except in cases where there's a possiblity of injury, lost of life or limb, do not stop a contractor," said the colonel. "Only a contracting officer can stop a contractor from working." 

If any member of Team Dyess observes an unsafe practice by a contractor, they should contact the 7th Contracting Squadron immediately at 696-2352/3685 or notify the 7th Bomb Wing Safety Office at 699-5208 or 699-1827. Personnel should also contact the Command Post after duty hours at 696-1921 to report unsafe acts.