Defence

Army

People first philosophy in action

By MAJ Peter Davies

Chief of Army LTGEN Peter Leahy with the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, The Hon. De-Anne Kelly MP, at the launch of ArmySAFE. "We have to put in place processes that maximise safety while being conscious of our operational capabilities."

Army's role is to win the land battle - a task that cannot be achieved without the necessary resources. The single most important of those resources is the soldier. Army's philosophy of 'people first' has received endorsement at the highest level with the recent launch of Army's new safety management system - ArmySAFE.

ArmySAFE was launched by the Chief of Army on 20 May in front of the most comprehensive gathering of Army leaders in recent times. The direction from the Chief was clear and unambiguous. Active involvement from Army leadership at all levels was required to achieve success and this was to be a system based firmly on the Army ethos of leadership by example.

In a time of tight fiscal and manpower constraints the Chief has set an example by committing the necessary manpower and funds to make the concept of ArmySAFE a reality. In a break from what could be considered tradition, ArmySAFE delivers resources at the operational rather than the strategic level. ArmySAFE will see the establishment of 87 new positions, predominantly focused on delivering a safety risk management capability at 'the coal face'. It will provide dedicated safety risk managers to all Army formations and certain high-risk units. These positions will provide the integral safety support at the operational/tactical level that was previously achieved through ad-hoc measures.

To further support commanders an ArmySAFE Advisory Service (ASAS) has been established. Its main purpose is to conduct Occupational Health and Safety audits and provide advice to commanders. The ASAS will focus on conducting planned audits as part of the Army OHS audit regime thereby relieving units of this onerous function. The ASAS is regionally based and will be responsive to commanders who request support to improve their unit's OHS performance.

In order to promote the visibility of OHS at the strategic level and better manage the enhanced system, the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety-Army (DOHS-A) will be formally stood-up within the Personnel Branch in Army Headquarters in July. The full implementation of ArmySAFE will be the primary focus of the directorate in the coming two years.

Safety is a force multiplier in the truest sense. Preventing injuries and deaths improves morale, preserves personnel and retains resources, thereby improving Army's fighting power.

[ top of page ]