AFMC CC challenges command to reduce mishaps, fatalities Published May 7, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, recently issued some lofty goals for safety. In a memorandum issued April 16, Hoffman declared the command's safety goals to be "zero reportable fatalities" and an "8-percent reduction in mishaps based on the command's 5-year average." A "reportable fatality" refers to deaths which must be reported for safety statistics. In general terms, those include on-duty deaths of any command member resulting from a mishap. Any accidental death of an Airman, even while off duty and off base, would also count as a reportable fatality. That makes zero reportable fatalities for the entire command seem an unlikely goal to reach, but Bob Meloche believes it can be done. Meloche, safety and occupational health specialist in the 78th Air Base Wing, said the key to reaching both goals is for people to take responsibility for their own safety both at work and at home. "It's going to take a commitment from workers and supervisors to keep each other safe," he said. "It is achievable if there is enough involvement from the top down." Hoffman said in the memorandum that safety is not only about avoiding personal injury, but it fulfilling AFMC's mission. "If we do not work safely today, we may not be here to do the mission tomorrow," he said. "If mishaps keep us from researching, developing, acquiring, fielding, maintaining and sustaining weapon systems, our warfighters in harm's way may not be able to accomplish their mission.