Norfolk Naval Shipyard Launches New Safety Management System to Ensure Team Effort in Protecting the Workforce

Courtesy Photo | Norfolk Naval Shipyard Launches New Safety Management System  

PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

10.01.2023

Courtesy Story

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Story By Kristi Britt • NNSY Public Affairs Specialist
Graphics from the Safety Management System Executive Steering Committee

One of the highest priorities at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is workforce safety, ensuring all are practicing operational risk management (ORM) so that each individual is able to return home safely. Servicing the nation’s fleet requires talented individuals who are able to assess each job and perform their duties safely and efficiently. With NNSY’s newly launched Safety Management System (SMS), the workforce is taking a ONE TEAM effort in how they approach and increase workplace safety as a whole.

The SMS is identified as a formal top-down and bottom-up approach to ensure we are safe-to-operate and operating safely within a four-pillar framework while producing a safe place, safe people, safe property and material and safe processes and procedures at all levels of command. This provides an avenue to develop, maintain and improve NNSY’s safety and health management program through mentoring, training and progress tracking.

“Per OPNAV M-5100.23, a SMS is required across all naval and industrial organizations. We are implementing our SMS, in lieu of using Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), to take ultimate ownership and accountability for identifying, communicating and controlling risk. The objective is to set conditions for success, not control all facets of safety and risk across our shipyard. We are collaborating with OSHA Challenge, an OSHA Cooperative Program to ensure we establish a culture where all personnel are educated and fully embrace decisive risk management,” said NNSY SMS Executive Steering Committee Co-Lead Raquita Washington.

Founded on the PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT concept, this risk based approach aims to achieve continual improvement that aligns with NNSY’s ORM.

“PLAN and DO incorporates our existing ORM process. Work is planned, risk identified, mitigations put in place and work is performed as planned. Check monitors/measure the work, identify potential gaps and take action for continuous improvement to meet our intended outcomes (the 4 Ps). ACT is what makes Plan-Do-Check-Act powerful and can help NNSY achieve so much more from our SMS if we practice it,” said Safety and Health Division Head Jeffrey Medrano.

Safety Management System Program Manager Brian Olson added, “It’s a continuous loop that provides a simple and effective approach for solving problems, managing change, and testing improvement measures on a small scale before updating procedures and working practices.”

“Embracing the Plan-Do-Act-Check process within NNSY’s SMS is like having an additional level of oversight for safety. With thoughtful planning, execution, continuous evaluation and adaptive adjustments, we can ensure a resilient and safe workplace,” said Safety Management System Program Manager Doug Vick. This approach ensures safety is a team effort, building on existing processes, exhibiting corporate due diligence and reinforcing overall safety culture across the board.

Employees can visit the Code 106 SharePoint to learn more as well as submit Employee Hazard Reports (EHR) and Safety Deficiency Reports (SDR), review the Employee Safety Handbook and obtain Technical Work Document Concurrence. In addition, Safety Hazard Boxes are available across the shipyard for employees to report hazards, mishaps and near mishaps.

“If you’re ever unsure, you can consult your supervisor or departmental safety representative for guidance. Always be sure to assess the work environment and ‘fix or elevate’ concerns whenever possible,” said Washington. “Together we can take full accountability to identify and control workplace hazards, reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, and create workforce involvement and morale. Together, we can ensure that America’s Shipyard is a safe and thriving workplace for our workforce.”

For more information or to learn how you can be involved with SMS, contact the SMS Executive Steering Committee at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 10.01.2023
• Date Posted: 10.27.2023 13:35
• Story ID: 456684
• Location: PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US