ALCOAST 358/22 - SEP 2022 2022 EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 261347Z SEP 22 MID200080252323U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 358/22
SSIC 5100
SUBJ: 2022 EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. Excellence in Safety Award CCG Decision Memo dtd 11 July 2018
B. Recognition Programs Manual, COMDTINST M1650.26
1. In accordance with REFs (A) and (B), I am pleased to announce the
winners of the 2022 Excellence in Safety Awards. These award
recipients embody the Commandant's priority to Advance our Mission
Excellence. Their approach to promoting, educating, and advancing
safety at both the unit and enterprise level is most deserving of
this prestigious award.
2. The winners of the Excellence in Safety Awards for 2022 are:
   a. Afloat: CGC ROLLIN FRITCH (WPC 1119)
   b. Ashore: LT Coty Hall, Sector Houston-Galveston
   c. Aviation: Sector Columbia River Safety Department
3. Excellence in Afloat Safety Award - CGC ROLLIN FRITCH (WPC 1119):
   a. Throughout a dynamic operational schedule that included a
dry dock maintenance period, three operationally driven
maintenance schedule packages, and more than 2,100 underway hours,
ROLLIN FRITCH demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to the
mission while safeguarding the cutter and crew. The crew employed
a robust unit safety program that promoted a forward leaning
approach to identify and mitigate potential safety issues, enabling
zero lost operational days during seven patrol periods.
Additionally, the cutter's Safety Officer overhauled the unit's
Occupational Medical Safety Evaluation Program (OMSEP) after
identifying multiple deficiencies, ultimately bringing the unit to
100% compliance and ensuring sustained monitoring for all
crewmembers. Despite near constant operations in support of
Operation OCEAN HUNTER in District 5 and Operation SOUTHEAST WATCH
in District 7, the ROLLIN FRITCH Safety Officer and Engineering
Petty Officer vastly enhanced the TRACEN Cape May HAZMAT program by
procuring new containment receptacles and tools to facilitate
proper HAZMAT storage and offload procedures for shore-side units
and tenant commands.
   b. Honorable Mentions for the Afloat Award are:
     (1) CGC RESOLUTE (WMEC 620)
     (2) CGC DILIGENCE (WMEC 616)
4. Excellence in Ashore Safety Award - LT Coty Hall, Sector
Houston-Galveston (SHG) Assistant Safety Officer:
   a. In September 2020, Sector Field Office Galveston transitioned
to Base Galveston, reducing much of the Sector's Safety Committee
and requiring SHG to develop new Safety and Environmental Health
policy and direction. LT Hall championed this task and developed a
robust Safety Committee. LT Hall also implemented an Eagle Eye
program to recognize and promote hazard reporting, established
the unit's first-ever anonymous safety reporting system, developed
a new unit mishap response plan, created
a Safety Committee Member of the Year Program, and scheduled
annual all-hands Safety Stand-Down and Safety Stand-Up events. LT
Hall fostered an effective safety culture at a one of the largest
and most strategically significant Sectors in the Coast Guard,
with approximately 1,500 active duty, civilian, and reserve
personnel across the Sector, three Marine Safety Units, five
multi-mission Small Boat Stations, two Aids to Navigations
Teams, and four Coast Guard cutters.
   b. Honorable Mentions for the Ashore Award are:
     (1) Sector Sault Sainte Marie
     (2) MK1 Shawn Bissinger, Aids to Navigation Team Burlington
5. Excellence in Aviation Safety Award (Captain Marion Gus Shrod
Award) - Sector Columbia River Safety Department:
   a. Sector Columbia River's Safety Department has
developed an exceptional Safety Management System capable of
managing the unique challenges associated with combined Sector and
Air Station operations and hosting the Advanced Helicopter Rescue
School (AHRS). The Safety Department spearheaded training,
education, and mishap drills to prepare unit personnel to
systematically anticipate, identify, and mitigate hazards. They
insightfully developed an AHRS specific addendum to the unit's
mishap response plan and integrated temporary AHRS instructors and
Sector permanent mishap board personnel into unit mishap drills.
These initiatives proved instrumental in excellent mishap
reporting and response. They were particularly outstanding at
safety promotion, by developing a lessons learned library,
creating a professional literature lending-library, revamping the
Eagle Eye program, redesigning the unit level anonymous hazard
reporting tool, and initiating an engineering safety petty officer
program. Sector Columbia River also astutely addressed the
Hexavalent Chromium hazard by educating maintenance personnel of
the risks and ensuring proper PPE availability and usage, and
through an overhaul of the unit's OMSEP. The efforts of the Safety
Department contributed to the safe execution of 1,700 flight hours
and the prosecution of 88 SAR cases.
   b. Honorable Mentions for the Aviation Award are:
     (1) Air Station Borinquen Safety Department
     (2) Air Station Cape Cod Safety Department
6. Congratulations to the nominees and the many safety
officers in the afloat, ashore, and aviation communities who have
demonstrated exceptional performance and provided outstanding
contributions in the areas of mishap prevention, risk management,
safety assurance, safety training, and safety promotion.
7. POC: CDR Michael Feltovic, Chief, Safety Programs, COMDT
(CG-1131), 202-475-5162.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and
Work-Life (CG-11), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.