The Directorate of Public Works Safety Office's mission is to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment for all employees, contractors, Soldiers, or bystanders whom may encounter any of the numerous missions the DPW Team conducts. The DPW Safety Office provides mentorship and insight in all facets of Occupational Safety and Health as it pertains to the DPW mission. Through proactive risk management, safety councils, employee-lead safety committees, and leadership we foster a safety culture focused on awareness, safe working practices, and open communication. The DPW Safety Office provides state of the art education, training, equipment, and PPE in order to implement a world class safety program.
Army Safety and Occupational Health Management System
Fort Hood DPW has become a model of how safety can be integrated into the workplace, support the Army’s mission and set a standard for excellence. Through comprehensive safety training, a robust recognition program, team member involvement, and steadfast leadership support, DPW is leading the charge in embracing the capability objectives of the Army Safety and Occupational Health Management System (ASOHMS).
ASOHMS emphasizes the following six objectives: leadership engagement and employee participation; investigations and reporting mishaps, incidents and illnesses; conducting safety and occupational health training and promotion; conducting inspections and assessments; conducting hazards analyses and developing control measures; and employee health protection and readiness.
DPW's safety program aligns with the goals of ASHOMS and serves as a model for other garrison directorates and military installations. Understanding training is the foundation of an effective safety culture, the directorate ensures employees receive regular, targeted training to identify and mitigate workplace hazards. To engage employees and overcome any negative attitudes toward safety training, the DPW Safety Office maintains a safety video library of more than 100 DVDs, with a video for nearly every known hazard a DPW employee may be exposed to.
Whether it’s instruction on injury and illness prevention; personal protective equipment; trenching and excavation; vehicle and equipment operation; welding; work and construction sites; and accident investigation, DPW provides its workforce with the knowledge and tools necessary to perform their duties safely.
Unit Safety Officers play a pivotal role in this effort. Each division within DPW has a designated Unit Safety Officer (USO) who acts as the frontline advocate for safety. By empowering USOs, DPW embeds safety directly into every level of its operations.
Safety Hero of the Quarter
Marcus Snow was recognized as the Safety Hero of the Quarter (SHoQ) award for 2nd Quarter, FY26 for consistently demonstrating a safety-first mindset. While responding to a demand maintenance order (DMO) regarding exhaust fans, Mr. Snow noted that the access door to the roof was not easily accessed without the use of a step stool or ladder. There was a makeshift staircase on site that had clearly been utilized for roof access in the past. He noted that the makeshift staircase appeared to be unstable and poorly constructed. Mr. Snow placed caution tape at the access and pushed the stairs out of the way to use his 4ft ladder to make safe access to the roof.
Once on the roof, Mr. Snow noted that the ladders provide access to the fans were similar to ladders previously deemed unsafe at different locations. Mr. Snow then stopped work, notified his supervisor of multiple unsafe conditions and worked with him to develop a method to safety access the fans to complete his DMO. His actions demonstrate the always improving safety culture in the Operations and Maintenance Division. His follow-through ensured that no longer would another technician be exposed to these harmful conditions.
