The Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety Office reports that accidental drowning at area lakes and inspection deficiencies within the district’s military construction sites are down from this time last year.
More than 15 million people visit the district’s 18 lake project recreations sites annually during the summer season beginning on Memorial Day and ending after the Labor Day holiday. The good news is that this year the district reported significantly fewer drownings compared to the last fiscal year at lake projects in our four state area.
Annual safety inspection deficiencies within the district and in the military construction sites in our two state boundaries have also improved.
Water Safety – The fatalities of accidental drowning reported from May to August 2014 have declined from 12 in FY13 to seven in FY 14 with no ground related fatalities. The district hires 13 public safety rangers each summer with the primary purpose of promoting public safety. The rangers go through a rigorous two day training program to prepare them to work with the public and conduct safety programs with visitors at the lakes.
This summer, they successfully conducted numerous water safety outreach efforts throughout local communities and provided the public with water safety information to include: give-a-ways, water safety quizzes and water safety materials. Each year, thousands of school children receive guided tours and information regarding water safety and the proper wear of life jackets.
Several district lakes have water safety life jacket loaner stations, which by design, are brightly colored to catch visitors eyes. Many of the lake project gate attendants issue life jackets to those who need them. The district utilizes a robust advertising campaign to inform the public about water safety. These successful efforts include posting water safety messages on bulletin boards at the lakes, safety messages on lake maps and brochures, banners at key entrances to the parks, and water safety decals on highly used boat ramps and docks.
Annual Safety Inspections – Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are required to furnish each employee a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that cause or may cause death or serious physical harm. Inspecting the workplace to identify hazards is one method to meet this requirement. The number of workspace safety deficiencies within the district declined during FY14.
The district reviews the deficiencies identified during regularly scheduled safety “tool box” meetings to eliminate or mitigate safety risks. Safety remains a major focus and is the responsibility of supervisors, Collateral Duty Safety Officers and employees.
Safety successes are a reflection of the commitment our leaders and district personnel have to one another and the public. Everyone is urged to keep the momentum going by continuing to do what works for safety: staying engaged, holding themselves accountable for their personal well-being and always looking out for one another. When we stay on top of risk, we’ll close the year with fewer accidental deaths. Whether planning a day trip to the lake, making reservations at a campsite, or conducting day to day operations as a district employee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District wants everyone to be safe and avoid becoming a statistic.
To learn more about boating safety, water safety, and recreational opportunities in the Kansas City District, please visit our website:
www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/DistrictLakes/Safety.aspx .
Release no. PA-2014-001