BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Defense Logistics Agency COREX 22 is fully underway in Battle Creek, Michigan, as participants perform an array of tasks across multiple sites.
While the members each may have very different responsibilities within the scope of the exercise, one constant remains for every participant – safety is the number one priority.
“Our highest priorities are following safety requirements and standard operating procedures for our equipment,” said Christy Rogers, a DLA Disposition Services certified instructor. “During COREX 22 we want to show everyone how to operate safely in a contingent environment.”
One of the ways participants are operating safely is to ensure everyone is wearing the correct personal protective equipment. These items include, but are not limited to, hard hats, safety goggles and gloves. While PPE is important, it isn’t the only safety measure in place.
“There are going to be occasions where even with PPE you may come across a situation where you do get injured,” said Rogers. “When that [injury] happens you need to know who to report to and where to look for on-site medical supplies. Making sure you know where the first-aid kits are, where the eye wash stations are, and we go through this with the site chiefs to make sure everyone knows where these things are at.
Physical items such as PPE and first-aid equipment each serve their purpose in preventing injury to workers, but another aspect of safety is the proper training and knowledge on the equipment in use.
“The biggest things about operating this machinery are understanding the capabilities of that machine and knowing your surroundings,” said Miguel Aguirre who is a materials examiner and identifier based out of Fort Riley, Kansas. “Another benefit of when I come to this exercise is that I’ve gotten refamiliarized with all of the equipment and safety requirements of operating this machinery and it’s very helpful.”
With COREX 22 making use of multiple pieces of heavy machinery, torches and a variety of other potentially dangerous equipment, the sites are already prepared with medical personnel on standby.
“Me and my other two medics are here to provide transitional or acute care if needed,” said Senior Airman Jessica Armstrong, a medic with the Battle Creek Air National Guard. “We are primarily here for real-world scenarios – because there is a lot of potentially dangerous equipment – but we also participate in the exercise as well. For example, we simulated as if someone had an eye injury and went through the whole scenario of what steps we would take to treat that person and get them [transported] out of here.”
The medical team isn’t just here to treat major injuries. They also ensure exercise participants are taking the necessary precautions to stay hydrated during the summer weather conditions.
“Because of the heat, I think it’s very important to have the medics on-site,” said Navy Petty Officer Second Class Demica Robinson, an exercise participant. “We’re all working in the sun, and we aren’t keeping track of the heat index as we try to get all of this work done. The medics are keeping an eye on the temperatures, and they let us participants know that we need to hydrate, and I’m very happy about that.”
As COREX 22 continues, participants look to demonstrate and strengthen the agency’s expeditionary capabilities with exercise activities planned to wrap up on July 30.