Norfolk, VA –
The Naval Safety Command (NAVSAFECOM) Submarine Safety Division completed another Global Submarine Safety Officer Course Aug. 18.
The four-day online course provides submarine officers and submarine-qualified chief and first class petty officers the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a functional safety program aboard submarines. It is one of three courses required to qualify for the safety professional Navy enlisted classification code and gives submariners the chance to connect with other fleet safety officers and personnel.
The knowledge and skills associated with managing a functional safety program include major submarine mishap prevention and reporting, identification of key safety personnel, safety and occupational health, risk management, Risk Management Information-Streamline Incident Reporting, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, fall protection, planned maintenance system monitoring, off-duty safety, and traffic safety.
The course is especially unique because it is taught by fleet assessors who provide current and direct insight on issues found throughout the fleet.
“Safety doesn’t happen by accident,” said Chief Electronics Technician (Navigation) Hector Pabon, an instructor for the course. “If there was one thing I would want them to take away from the course, it would be that safety is not a one-person show; it is a culture that requires everyone's buy-in. We should appreciate those actively engaged in identifying risk and providing risk mitigation on a continuous basis, as it is proof that those shipmates really do care,” Pabon said.
The course is taught quarterly via Microsoft Teams, and the fiscal year 2023 schedule has dates set for Nov. 1-4, Feb. 13-16, May 8-11 and Aug. 21-24. These dates are subject to change.
Petty officers first class acting as assistant to the command’s safety officer should include a statement in the quota request indicating their current role. All personnel should have at least 12 months remaining in their job assignment to attend.
A class schedule can be found in the Catalog of Navy Training Courses at https://app.prod.cetars.training.navy.mil/cantrac/vol2.html.
For more NAVSAFECOM information or resources, visit the command website at navalsafetycommand.navy.mil.