P&W at AEDC - no on-the-job injuries in 10 years

  • Published
  • By Janaé Daniels
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engine test operations at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) achieved a major environmental health and safety milestone.

On Nov. 11, P&W reached a 10-year, no lost-time injury milestone at the site. It has also been five years and five months since the last Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injury.

During this time period, the P&W team processed 88 different test articles across military and commercial engine product lines, accumulating 15,568 hours of complex altitude and sea level engine testing.

According to P&W Site Manager Garry Blaisdell, this group is responsible for P&W altitude and sea level propulsion system testing at the center and serves as a prime focal point between Pratt & Whitney, base operations support contractor Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) and the U.S. Air Force personnel.

"Our people take a safety first approach in everything we do here, and the results reflect this culture," Blaisdell said.

As an Air Force leader, Lt. Col. L. Najeeb Ahmed, 717th Test Squadron commander, is proud of P&W's accomplishment.

"Pratt & Whitney's accomplishment of no 'lost-time' injuries at the site in 10 years, and five years, five months since the last OSHA recordable injury is quite an achievement given the advanced and complex propulsion systems that the team tests at AEDC on a daily basis," the colonel said.

According to Colonel Ahmed, AEDC has a strong standard test processes that leads to safe test operations.

Pretest coordination and review meetings, like the technical readiness review, safety review board and Safe, Reliable, Effective Operations test facility reviews for all personnel involved in the test.

"P&W's ability to achieve this milestone is a credit to safety conscious operations of ATA and the Air Force here at Arnold," Colonel Ahmed said. "Their years of diverse engine test experience are an integral part of the center's robust technical and safety review process."

According to ATA Safety and Health Group Director Catherine Plunkett, this is a very significant milestone that they should be proud of and celebrate.

"It's great to have another organization on AEDC that is fully committed to the safety principles of ensuring personnel are provided a safe environment to work. Congratulations to Garry Blaisdell and all of the P&W Team," Plunkett said.

According to Blaisdell, site personnel not only test engines, but install and repair instrumentation and conduct engine repairs and reconfiguration efforts within the confines of the test stands.

The AEDC test team is a diverse group of 34 permanent personnel consisting of test, instrumentation and control engineers, instrumentation technicians, assembly mechanics and support and program management personnel. The site also hosts approximately 200 test support visitors annually. Blaisdell attributes the exceptional safety record to his team's strict safety culture and job experience.

"Due to the nature of our work in engine test, Pratt & Whitney AEDC stands down annually for a full day of job critical EH&S classroom training," he said. "Additionally per standard work we conduct Operational Risk Management [ORM] reviews prior to starting an engine mount or performing engine maintenance, identifying hazardous conditions and implementing plans to eliminate the hazards."