Safety

The CAP Safety Policy is to minimize the risks faced by our members in the performance of their volunteer duties.

Safety is EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY

1. Responsibilities.

a. All levels of command shall work in partnership to develop effective safety education and mishap prevention measures to safeguard our members and preserve our physical resources.

b. All levels of command shall seek to instill a culture of safety that guides the planning and execution of every CAP activity.

c. Individual members will live the CAP motto of “Always Vigilant” in planning, conducting, and participating in all CAP activities. Hazards and potentially unsafe behavior will be addressed immediately and then reported to higher authority.

d. Commanders at all levels carry the responsibility of taking immediate action against any CAP member who places a fellow member at unnecessary risk. Measures may range from counseling to the loss of membership in accordance with appropriate CAP directives.

e. The effectiveness of each commander’s safety efforts shall be evaluated yearly through the on-line Safety Survey process. The commander at the next higher echelon, or his/her designee, will review and comment on the surveys of all subordinate units.

2. Required Program Criteria.

a. Each level of command shall formally appoint a safety officer with qualifications appropriate to the local risk environment. Members in command positions should not serve as safety officer. Whenever possible, and especially in flying units, members with flying experience should be selected. Safety Officers will report directly to the commander (reference CAPR 20-1,Organization of Civil Air Patrol).

b. Within 90 days of appointment, each safety officer shall complete the on-line Basic Safety Course and test, located on the Safety page of the National CAP website.

c. Each safety officer shall complete the on-line Safety Survey not later than 31 January of each year. Items to be addressed in this survey shall include, but are not limited to, those listed in the on-line Safety Survey found in e-Services. Once completed, this report will be sent automatically to the safety officer and the commander at the next higher echelon.

d. Safety Officers shall develop a program of regular safety education and mishap prevention training for the unit(s) to which they are assigned. This program shall deliver no less than 15 minutes per month of face-to-face safety education and training to the membership. Members who missed the face-to-face safety meeting will review the information presented at the meeting before they participate in any CAP activity (including unit meetings). Rational flexibility should be used to get the latest safety meeting information to those members who miss the unit safety meeting. Any system that gets the message to the member is acceptable – e-mail with read receipt, videotaping the presentation for later playback, audio taping, read file or any other method that works. Due to the educational benefits gained from the interaction during face-to-face meetings, each member must attend at least one face-to-face meeting per calendar quarter.

 EVERY MISHAP MUST BE REPORTED ONLINE ON eSERVICES AT CAPF 78