Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) picked up a first place for the 2010 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Safety and Occupational Health Shore Safety award March 15.

“We won by having the best safety programs in the Navy, we implemented all the required safety programs and took additional initiatives to decrease the number of mishaps that occur on base,” said Michael Hoyt, the safety manager for NBK.

There are six CNO safety awards distributed to different naval base’s each year naming NBK the best as far as safety is concerned.  This is a step up from last year, where NBK came in third place.

“This is definitely an outstanding achievement for NBK,” said Capt. Mark Olson, NBK commanding officer, when the safety award was presented.

“It has truly been a team effort between the safety and NBK staff members,” said Hoyt. “It is everyone’s hard work and dedication on keeping safety the forefront in everything we do and we are all doing our best.”

NBK’s safety department not only supports NBK, but other tenants across the installations including Personnel Support Detachment, Transient Personnel Unit, Naval Brig, and the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center.

Safety department conducts routine inspections and mishap investigations, provides respirators to base facilities, conducts hazard abatement training to bring hazard awareness to base employees, Lockout/Tagout, which safeguards the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities, and are also in charge of the traffic safety on base.

“We plan to continue to do the things we are doing now in safety precautions to push the injury rates down farther,” said Hoyt. “The overall goal is to have less people getting hurt and streamline the process to make sure people work safe as a culture and not just because it’s a mandatory requirement.”

For information regarding NBK base safety contact (360) 476-6287.