IACH health, safety specialist shadows fire inspectors

Melissa Hendrix, occupational health and safety specialist for IACH’s safety office, third from left, watches FES firefighters conduct a rope rescue training Nov. 16.

As an occupational health and safety specialist for Irwin Army Community Hospital’s safety office, Melissa Hendrix said she wanted to learn more about the installation, along with fire inspections, fire alarm testing and sprinkler systems.

In order to gain a better understanding of the different types of occupancies and how to inspect each occupancy, Hendrix shadowed members of the Fort Riley Fire and Emergency Services Fire Inspection Branch Nov. 14 to 18.

Having Hendrix shadow members of FES benefits the department by allowing different tenant units, like IACH and FES to work closely together and learn different aspects of safety as it pertains to both organizations, said Shawn Sullivan, lead fire inspector, FES.

Hendrix conducted the shadow experience as a weeklong internship for the CP-12 Intern Program, a two-year education program that includes four months of formal classroom instruction in the functional elements of the safety and occupational health program.

“The goal of the Army Safety and Occupational Health Career Program is to develop a professional group of Department of the Army civilians whose focus is to assist commanders and directors to protect the force through risk management to enhance mission accomplishments,” Hendrix said.

Through the internship, Hendrix said it has allowed her to “grow as a safety professional and to push me a little harder to earn my (bachelor’s degree) in occupational health and safety, which I will have completed by this spring. After the internship, I will become a safety manager.”

During her visit with FES, Hendrix was able to see how fire inspections and drills are conducted at child development centers, as well as hangar inspections. She also attended a high angle rope rescue training event and sat in on the Unmanned Aircraft System hangar design review meeting.

“She saw how we conducted elevator testing and learned how FES conducts fire alarm and sprinkler system acceptance testing,” Sullivan said. “She was able to see the public education aspect of fire prevention by attending the rope rescue final exam and assisting with station tours for CDC kids.”

Hendrix said she likes to learn new things and the time spent with FES allowed her to see the different sides of safety outside the hospital setting.

“It’s a great opportunity to work alongside the fire inspectors and learn from the best. I am thankful for their support,” she said.

Sullivan said it was a first for him to be able to provide another unit on post with the ins and outs of how FES conducts business, while showing all the different aspects of their job.

“To learn from Melissa the different aspects of safety she deals with at the hospital was remarkable. Two organizations working toward one common goal in the area of safety will be helpful toward the entire Fort Riley populace,” he said.

(This article was published in the Nov. 23, 2011, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)