Safety Messages Videos

Any time there’s a lull in mishaps or high-visibility close calls, we have a natural tendency to shift focus to other demanding areas (cost, schedule, program risks). This can distract us from noticing the subtle clues that indicate that the next serious incident is about to occur.

Weak signals of danger are always evident, even if we do not notice them over the demands of daily activities. Attentiveness is the single most valuable habit to develop during these lulls. Everyone in the organization can and should stay vigilant to spot these signals and know what to do when they encounter one. In addition, when an indicator is identified, the organization needs to determine if it constitutes an acceptable risk, or if action is necessary.

This month's Safety Message examines situations when signals appeared and were missed, or when a signal was communicated but the risk was not understood.

Every year, thousands of children — about 50 a week in the U.S. — are harmed because drivers who were backing up did not see them. These incidents often take place in residential driveways or parking lots. Most of them involve large vehicles, like trucks, vans and SUVs. Most of them involve a parent or close loved one behind the wheel. Please take some time out of your day to reflect on these figures and what you can do to keep your own family and those around you safe.

This seven-elements approach systematically identifies weaknesses within a given "prove it's safe" argument for flight approval, allowing mitigation options to be discussed. Thus, those with the power to say "yes" to residual flight risk can better understand what is being accepted.

At 7:45 p.m. on April 20, 2010, four British Petroleum and Transocean VIP’s landed aboard Deepwater Horizon for a Management Visibility Tour. The agenda: to credit the crew for 7 years with no lost-time injuries, and to check workplace conditions for occupational hazards found recently on other rigs. Seven hours later, the worst oil rig blowout and offshore spill in U.S. history transpired. Had there been focus on process safety, in addition to Institutional Safety, the blowout may have been averted. 

From the Challenger and Columbia disasters, to the Costa Concordia running aground, to the recent ISS EVA 23 event, all have involved normalization of deviance and groupthink. Understanding the symptoms of these two conditions can help us plan for them, avoid them and stop them.

It doesn't have to be spectacular to hurt. A lot of people get hurt doing unspectacular things, such as preparing food, cutting across lawns, tripping on floor mats and lifting and moving objects. People also get hurt when they are unfamiliar with their workplace and the associated hazards.

What NASA does is risky. When we bring new people on board, it is imperative that we train them in general safety practices and specific hazards of the job and environment. Managers need to be sure that all employees are aware of what they need to do to work safely. All NASA employees need to know what to do in an emergency and how to report safety concerns. Preventing unspectacular mishaps will help prevent larger and more serious mishaps.

Technical Authorities in engineering, safety and mission assurance, and health and medical all play an important role in NASA's decision-making processes. Hear Administrator Charles Bolden deliver this month's Safety Message on the importance of Technical Authority.

Russ DeLoach, Kennedy Space Center, delivers the July Safety Message on fall prevention in construction.

Chief Engineer Ralph Roe presents the Safety Message "Creating a Strong Safety Culture."

Listen to Steve Foster, acting chief of the Quality Assurance Branch, present the May Safety Message on counterfeit parts.