ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 132100Z NOV 03 ZYB MIN PSN 380906J26
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS //N01420//
ALNAV 086/03
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/SN/NOV//
 
SUBJ/SECNAV SAFETY POLICY//
 
REF/A/MSG/SECNAV/151652ZJUL2003//
 
AMPN/REF A IS SECNAV ALNAV 057/03//
 
RMKS/1.  AS YOUR SECRETARY AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER, I WANT TO
REEMPHASIZE THE PRIORITY WE MUST PLACE ON PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF
OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET - EVERY SAILOR, MARINE AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.
 
2.  IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S TWO-YEAR, 50
PERCENT MISHAP REDUCTION GOAL, A THREE-TIERED APPROACH WAS OUTLINED
THREE MONTHS AGO TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE SAFETY CULTURE WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (REF A).  SINCE THEN, WE HAVE SEEN LITTLE
IMPROVEMENT.
 
3.  MY MESSAGE TODAY IS DIRECTED AT EVERY LEADER WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT - NOT JUST COMMANDING OFFICERS, BUT EVERYONE WHO
SUPERVISES THE ACTIONS OF ANOTHER. WE MUST CHANGE THE VALUE WE PLACE
ON SAFETY AND TOGETHER TURN THE TIDE.  FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAVE
EXPERTLY MANAGED THE MECHANISMS AND PROCESSES OF OUR SAFETY
PROGRAMS, BUT TODAY I NEED YOUR HELP.  TODAY EACH OF US MUST BEGIN
TO LEAD A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN OUR SAFETY CULTURE, INCORPORATING
SAFETY AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS INTO ALL JOB DUTIES AND OPERATIONAL
DECISIONS.
 
4.  MY SAFETY POLICY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY IS QUITE SIMPLE.
EVERY COMMAND, EVERY WORK CENTER, EVERY UNIT WILL HAVE A SAFETY
CULTURE BUILT ON THREE PRINCIPLES:  LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT,
LEADERSHIP COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY.  TODAY'S LEADERS FOR
SAFETY MUST EXHIBIT A SOLID COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATE SAFETY POLICY
AND TO PERSONALLY ABIDE BY IT.  THEY MUST VERBALIZE A BELIEF IN THE
VALUE OF SAFETY AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES OPEN,
FRANK COMMUNICATION.  THEY MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO SET AND ENFORCE
TOUGH AND SOMETIMES-UNPOPULAR STANDARDS, TO ALLOCATE SAFETY
RESOURCES (THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND SUFFICIENT FUNDING), AND TO PROVIDE
QUALITY TRAINING TO ENSURE THEIR PERSONNEL LEARN CORRECT SAFETY
PRACTICES.  TODAY'S LEADERS MUST HAVE THE INTEGRITY TO HOLD
THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY
STANDARDS AND TO ADMIT THEIR OWN SAFETY FAILURES SO OTHERS WILL DO
LIKEWISE.  AN EFFECTIVE LEADER MUST ALSO OPENLY PRAISE AND CELEBRATE
SAFETY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
 
5.  WHILE THE CNO, CMC AND I ARE LEADING THIS MISHAP REDUCTION
EFFORT FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, WE KNOW THAT, IN THE END, SUCCESS
OR FAILURE DEPENDS ON YOU.  THE CMC AND CNO ARE ESTABLISHING
COMPREHENSIVE MISHAP REDUCTION PLANS TO GUIDE THE DEPARTMENT IN
ACHIEVING THE SECDEF 50 PERCENT REDUCTION GOAL BY THE END OF FY05.
THESE PLANS WILL REQUIRE LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES -- WE MUST BE
COMMITTED TO BOTH.  WE WILL DEVELOP AND TRACK METRICS TO ACCURATELY
MEASURE OUR PERFORMANCE, AND OUR LEVEL OF SUCCESS WILL BE SHARED
WITH YOU.
 
6. I PLEDGE TO YOU MY FULL SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT.  THROUGH OUR
COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP EFFORTS WE WILL DRAMATICALLY ELEVATE THE
SAFETY CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.  IT WILL TAKE A
DECISIVE AND TARGETED LEVEL OF EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A FIFTY PERCENT
MISHAP REDUCTION IN TWO YEARS, BUT IF THE EFFORT SAVES YOUR LIFE OR
THE LIFE OF A SHIPMATE, FELLOW MARINE OR CO-WORKER, THERE IS NO
BETTER TIME SPENT.
 
7.  I COMMEND EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR LOVED ONES FOR THE
SACRIFICES YOU MAKE TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOM OF OUR GREAT NATION.
ENSURE THIS MESSAGE RECEIVES WIDEST DISSEMINATION AND IS POSTED ON
ALL REQUIRED READING BOARDS.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R.
ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
 
BT
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