Safety Communiqué
(SAFECOM)
Hazard Reporting… the first step in managing risk
SAFECOM Program
If you see something…
SAY SOMETHING
If you think it’s wrong…
QUESTION IT
If you know it’s wrong…
STOP IT
Either way…
REPORT IT !!
Objectives

Why we have the SAFECOM system

Proper / improper use of a SAFECOM

Who can submit a SAFECOM

How to submit a SAFECOM
Ratio of Incidents to Accidents
(why reporting hazards is so important)
Frank E. Bird Jr.
FY 08
Flight Hours and SAFECOMs
79,315
Flight hours
85,593
60,309
Sorties
100,959
399
SAFECOMs
620
199:1
151:1
Flight hours per
SAFECOMs
Sorties per
SAFECOMs
138:1
163:1
SAFECOM Program
Safety Alert - Facts and Fiction
The Aviation Safety Communiqué
(SAFECOM)
352 DM 3.10B and NFES 2724
The “SAFECOM” (Form AMD-34/FS1500-14) is used to
report any condition, observance, act, maintenance
problem, or circumstance, which has the potential
to cause an aviation-related mishap.
A SAFECOM’s sole purpose is for mishap prevention.
A SAFECOM is not intended to fix blame and
should not be utilized in disciplinary action against
any employee.
Use of a SAFECOM for any other purpose is
prohibited.
Federal Acquisition Regulation
and the SAFECOM
(Subparts 15.306 and 42.15)
Our interpretation of FAR 15.306 and 42.15
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Section
42.1503 identifies the Government requirements
for handling past performance information.
Three primary criteria must be met:
(1) Contractors shall be provided the evaluation
information and be given 30 days (or more) to
respond/rebut the information.
(2) Any systems containing such information shall
ensure that only Government personnel and the
affected contractor have access to it.
(3) Past performance information that is to be used
for source selection purposes shall not be kept longer
than three years after contract performance.
Our interpretation of FAR 15.306 and 42.15
Contracting Officers maintain their own past
performance files and evaluate and discard the
information in accordance with the FAR. The
SAFECOM system doesn't follow the FAR in
this regard and therefore Contracting
Officers are not to use SAFECOMs when
evaluating past performance.
FAR Section 15.306 addresses the issue of
using past performance information that the
offeror (contractor) has not seen and indicates
the need to give them a chance to respond if
the Government will be using it to evaluate
past performance.
Our interpretation of FAR 15.306 and 42.15
Using SAFECOM information to determine past
performance jeopardizes the regular, honest
communication that the SAFECOM system
depends upon to work effectively.
This is exactly what we tell Federal employees
and Contractors in our pre-work meetings.
says
for COs
Our interpretation of FAR 15.306 and 42.15
Managers should NOT address
SAFECOMs in their daily diaries
since daily diaries are legitimate tools
for Contracting Officers
says
for COs
SAFECOM Program
(Who can submit a SAFECOM)
A SAFECOM may be submitted by
anyone who observes an aviation
hazard (or a commendable action).
Government Employees / Managers
Vendor Employees / Managers
Aviation Users
SAFECOM Program
(How to submit a SAFECOM)
Don’t sugar coat it !
If you see a serious problem write the
narrative to get our attention.
Bird strike occurred
Maintenance notified.
If it’s
really urgent
call the 24 hour Hotline
1 . 888. 4MISHAP
Processing the SAFECOM
SAFECOMs may be submitted electronically,
telephonically, by mail, or by fax.
The submitter's choice of “Operational Control”
initially directs the routing of the SAFECOM.
Aviation Safety personnel review all SAFECOMs.
Most SAFECOMs are followed up by the Bureau
Aviation Safety Manager or delegated down to
Regional or State managers.
The most serious SAFECOMs are investigated by
National-level Safety, Technical Services, or Regional
Office personnel.