Risk management is key to safe Labor Day weekend

Command Master Chief Dominick Torchia, assigned to the Naval Safety Center, gives a safety presentation to Sailors at Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Torchia and Rear Adm. Arthur Johnson, commander of Naval Safety Center, visited Japan to educate Sailors about potential dangers both on and off duty, as well as highlighting the 101 Critical Days of Summer. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Andrew Ryan Smith

April Phillips
Naval Safety Center Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) — The Naval Safety Center (NSC) is encouraging proper planning for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6, to ensure Sailors and their families enjoy their time off and return safely to work Sept. 7.

“It’s important that everyone practices solid risk management over the holiday weekend. While Sailors deserve a chance to relax and have some fun, our Navy, and the nation, needs everyone back at work Tuesday morning,” said Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, commander, Naval Safety Center.

NSC offers several tips to ensure the weekend doesn’t turn tragic for Sailors or their families. Those who will be traveling by car out of their local area should fill out a travel risk planning system (TRiPS) assessment. The online survey is a tool that helps users recognize risks in their planned travel, and it also offers suggestions to mitigate that risk.

“TRiPS has proven to be a very useful and successful tool in mitigating risks that Sailors and their family members may face while driving on leave or liberty outside their command limits,” said Dan Dray, a traffic safety specialist at NSC.

He also reminded TRiPS users to fill out a return risk assessment, since the survey is one way. That way the entire trip is covered.

“We just passed 200,000 TRiPS assessments without any fatalities occurring to anyone on an approved TRiPS assessment, so it works,” Dray said.

TRiPS is available through Navy Knowledge Online at www.nko.navy.mil.

Even those who aren’t traveling for Labor Day can find tools to reduce the risk of their planned recreational activities. NSC’s annual summer safety campaign, “Live to Play, Play to Live,” is in force through Sept. 6 and offers videos, articles, checklists and presentations.

The good news is that Sailors are doing a good job of managing risks during the holiday. The last five Labor Dayêweekendsêshowêthatêthe holiday isn’t statistically more dangerous than any other weekend. However, that’s no reason to get complacent, Johnson said.

“While statistics show that we’re doing a pretty good job of managing risk during Labor Day weekend, there were a number of injury reports last year that show we can always do better,” Johnson said. “Many injuries occurred during sporting activities. Know your limits and wear all the protective gear your favorite sport requires.”

About half of the reportable Labor Day weekend mishaps in 2009 occurred during organized sporting events and other recreational activities.

For more information about off-duty risk management, visit www.safetycenter.navy.mil.