Web-Enabled Safety System

Mech, Summer, 2004

The Web-Enabled Safety System (WESS), with complete, on-line mishap reporting and data retrieval for non-aviation mishaps, went "live" July 12, 2004. It simplifies and brings the field and fleet mishap- and hazard-reporting procedures and safety data analysis into 21st century. It is a major improvement over its predecessor, WESS 1, and all previous PC-based and naval message-reporting methods.

When fully implemented, WESS captures reports and identifies the who, what, when, where, how, and why of mishaps and hazards. It also allows users to enter mishap and hazard notifications, route them through the proper releasing chain for validation, and electronically submit them to the Naval Safety Center. Upon receiving this information, the Naval Safety Center will give the data a quality-assurance review and then store it in a consolidated database. TESS users are able to retrieve data and to access a variety of data report options.

WESS will come to the fleet in three releases:

1. Non-aviation mishap and hazard reports: online now

2. Aviation hazard reports (HAZREPs): January 2005

3. Aviation mishap reports: December 2005

The non-aviation release includes shore, afloat, ground, work-related illnesses and injuries, home and recreational, motor vehicle, diving, helo rope suspension techniques, cargo air drop, parachuting, combat zone, and aviation/non-aviation explosive mishaps. WESS reporting will consolidate more than a dozen other previous reporting formats under one, consolidated system.

Another major improvement of WESS over all previous mishap-reporting methods is that WESS users no longer must prepare lengthy mishap messages, maintain time-consuming shipboard accident and injury logs, develop their own record-keeping for trend data, or send mishap-report summaries through to their chain of command. Instead, the answers to questions about Navy mishaps or recurring hazards is available in real-time data, as is information enabling a user to compare past safety records for trends.

Many suggestions received from customers during the beta testing of WESS have been incorporated. The new program's enhancements include:

* Expanded pull-down menus and pick lists.

* Question-filtering or Turbo Tax[R] methodology--Customers will be prompted for information relevant only to the event, based on previous information entered. This capability reduces the number of reporting screens the customer sees and reduces event entry time.

* Page level saves--Data (or information entered) is saved as a draft after each screen is completed. This feature allows the customer to exit at any time before completing the mishap or hazard report, to return and continue later.

* Sidebar navigation--This feature lets the user jump directly to the desired screen, instead of having to page through unrelated information. Users also can easily return to a specific section of the report to complete those questions as information becomes available.

* Custom templates--This section lets the user create and store templates for information repetitively reported.

* Help system--This section provides a link for page-, question- and terminology-level definitions.

* WESS Users' Guide--This set of PowerPoint modules offers step-by-step instructions on how to best use various features in WESS.

* Injury Log and PDF Report--At any time while preparing the report, the user can print off the entire report from a PDF file or print off just their Injury Log.

WESS promises to be a powerful new tool for safety personnel and will help them to manage their mishap-prevention efforts.