Safety news from Fort Campbell Assistant Fire Chief to receive top award by Yvette Smith Fort Campbell Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Crane believes in leading by example, especially when it concerns safety. “If you tell a subordinate or people you work with that safety is important, but you cut corners, then what are you really saying?” said Crane. “If you know it’s important, and you emphasize that, and educate people, then maybe they’ll take it seriously.” Crane has worked at Fort Campbell’s Department Emergency Services for more than 15 years, holding positions from firefighter, to captain, and now district chief. Assigned to the installation’s Fire and Emergency Section, Crane currently oversees two fire stations with structural and crash rescue operations that provide fire prevention, rescue, firefighting and hazardous material response services to the installation and surrounding community. “I oversee the daily operations for the fire stations, to be sure we are ready to go and be able to respond to any type of emergency that we may be called to. Fires, vehicle accidents, aircraft accidents, exercises, and things like that.” Additionally, Crane serves as the FES collateral duty safety officer, a role that seems to go hand-in-hand with his primary position. “When you ask me about my job, the analogy I use … it’s like being on second base in a baseball game,” said Crane. “You’re just sitting there, not doing anything. But we always have to be ready so when that ball is hit, we’ve got to know how to get to third, and part of that is how do you get there? Do you just haphazardly wander there or do you think specifically and in a safe order. Safety is a collateral duty of mine, but I take it personal.” His embedded focus on safety, dedication to accident prevention and exemplary safety program has earned him top Army recognition, after being nominated and then selected as the 2013 Director of Army Safety Composite Risk Management Award. The DASAF award recognizes organizations or individuals who have made significant contributions to Army readiness through composite risk management. CRM is the Army’s primary decision-making process to identify hazards, control risks and prevent both accidental and tactical losses. “The nomination process was based on key contributions to Army safety, reduction of accidents,” said Mark Blankenship, Installation Safety Office deputy manager. “Reduction of accidents and loss time injuries, workforce inspections, safety training – that’s where he makes a definitive impact on his particular organization and the people that work for him.” Part of his safety training program that he does down there - we’ve seen a direct correlation between the training they conduct … to the drop-off in accident rates,” said Blankenship. Crane will be presented his award at the garrison town-hall meeting Sept. 19. Some of his highlighted achievements include receiving a 100 percent commendable rating as well as being recognized as the most improved safety program within the Directorate of Emergency Services during the most recent safety command inspection. Crane also revamped FES procedures for completion of safety training and established a new format for information briefings to better inform and educate civilian employees by applying risk management principles to the Travel Risk Planning System assessment application. While he appreciates the recognition, Crane feels his focus and efforts on safety are just part of the job. “As a leader, what you accept is what people will accept also,” said Crane. “Everything in life is a calculated risk. With that calculated risk, you learn about things, and learn how to do things safely. We just try to make sure that if there are inherent dangers in the occupation, that you do it as safe as possible.” fortcampbellcourier/news/article_0cffcd06-1be3-11e3-997f-0019bb2963f4.html
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 18:17:33 +0000
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