JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The AF Risk Management (RM) Program is going through major revisions across
all areas of the program to improve and standardize the process across all
functional areas of the Air Force. Updated RM courseware and guidance will
be published in the upcoming months that will include standardizing the AF
RM process from 6-Steps to 5-Steps to mirror our sister services. In
addition we are adopting an easy to remember mnemonic (a learning technique
that aids memory) to help individuals quickly recall the RM process in
real-time. The goal is to provide our Airmen with a simple and effective RM
tool that can be used individually or in a group for both on- and off-duty
situations. This real-time RM (RTRM) process is also referred to as the
ABCD model and is depicted below:
Assess the situation: Identify and assess the hazards associated with a
particular mission or activity.
Balance Controls: Consider all available controls (resources) available
to ensure success or mitigate identified hazards.
Communicate: Communicate with leadership or others to discuss problems,
intentions & possible alternatives. In individual situations carefully
consider personal actions before deciding upon & implementing a final course
of action.
Decide and Debrief: Make the decision to continue, modify or abandon the
mission or activity based upon real-time circumstances and conditions.
Provide feedback on what worked and what did not work to ensure important
lessons learned are passed to others; your experience can help save lives!
CASE STUDY: An Airman departed tech training for the holidays to visit
family and pick up his POV. He had at least three safety briefings prior to
his departure, and indicated he would take six days to drive from Ohio to
California. However, the Airman departed his parent's home a day later than
planned, drove 1,717 miles in 25 hours and stopped in Salt Lake City to
visit another family member. After visiting for a few days, the Airman
awoke & departed Salt Lake City at 0300 with the intention of completing his
trip (840 miles). 5- hours into the drive he ran off the interstate, rolled
his vehicle, was ejected and fatally injured. His seat belt was not
properly worn and his blood alcohol level was .022.
Bottom line - If Risk Management is ignored, bad things do happen. The
Airman originally made a good RM plan, but real-time changes to his plan and
lack of careful consideration of the potential hazards posed by these
changes resulted in the fatal mishap; ABCD it can save your life!