RMKS/1. This fleet order on safety is the third in an updated series of U.S. Pacific Fleet orders.  It defines safety as it applies to the mission of the Pacific Fleet, describes why we practice safety in all we do, and outlines my expectations on safety for every command, sailor, and civilian in U.S. Pacific Fleet.
 
2. Safety is a byproduct of our PACFLT standard of professionalism and yields effective operations.  Professional execution of proven safe practices reduces risks, prevents mishaps, and if they do occur, it prevents those mishaps from turning into disasters.  Our professional safety culture is a fleet fundamental that must be ingrained and fostered through professional behavior at all ranks and disciplined leadership by example.  To support our safe operations we must practice critical self-assessment, procedural compliance, and continuous improvement.  We will think critically to reduce risk, mitigate any assumed risk, while maintaining a questioning attitude, constant vigilance, and re-assessment.
 
3. Safety and applied operational risk management support a fighting force both in competition and conflict.  Safe operations reduce mishaps, preserve resources for maintenance and training, enable demanding operational schedules, and ensure we prevail in combat. Performing mission-essential tasks safely, from equipment repairs to fleet operations to lethal strikes, allows us to continue them without distraction.  Our commitment to this operational safety mindset preserves our most important weapon - our sailors - and ensures they focus on effectiveness at all times.
 
4. Safety is not just about prevention; it's about responding rapidly to minimize impacts when something occurs.  Resilient systems, equipment, procedures, and people can take a hit and recover, but that resilience depends on you.  Over the past two years, the Pacific Fleet reported over 200 fires onboard ships. Fifty of those fires resulted in some level of mishap.  While the goal is to have zero fires, your diligence in applying lessons learned and recommendations from past disasters minimized the effects of those fires and is an example of the professionalism I expect.
 
5. Safety is not just a single department or the responsibility of a few designated individuals.  As professionals, it is the duty of all personnel assigned in Pacific Fleet.  Our focus on safety and risk reduction is a pact we make as individuals with every other sailor, marine, and civilian on our team.  When we identify a safety hazard, we report it early and correct it aggressively.
 
6. Continuous improvement is a cornerstone of safety.  We must strive for continuous learning and improvement in our daily lives by asking questions to determine mishap root cause both on and off duty.  While fatalities due to high-end mishaps in Pacific Fleet have a downward trend in recent years, we can do better.  Costs from lower-level mishaps are increasing and off-duty vehicle and motorcycle mishaps are still claiming lives unnecessarily.  We owe it to ourselves, each other, and our families to do everything possible to make our workplaces and recreational environments as safe as possible.  Get your teams the training they need to safely perform their duties.  Encourage reporting and elevate barriers that require higher level action to overcome.  Commanders at every level must identify and overcome barriers to safety whenever they are encountered and should be aware of and assume informed risk for those they command.
 
7. All navy leaders must be involved and use active messaging along with modeling safe behaviors to reduce the risks associated with the hazards we are destined to encounter in our line of work and at home.  All commands are directed to develop and/or obtain appropriate safety training material and conduct regular safety training and promotion events in appropriate all-hands engagements (stand down, operational pause, etc.).  Within 10 days after the end of each fiscal year echelon III commanders shall provide safety promotion after-action reports to the U.S. Pacific Fleet Safety Officer.  These reports should summarize safety guidance provided to subordinate commands and the training conducted throughout the year (including topics addressed, relevant lessons learned, and echelon III actions taken to mitigate identified hazards and resultant risk trends).
 
8. Safety is proactive - not reactive - and safe practices must be part of all we do.  Our effectiveness depends on it.
 
9. Adm Koehler sends.//