Shipbuilders,

Sunday, April 28, is Workers’ Memorial Day. It’s a time to remember and honor workers around the world who lost their lives, were injured or became ill on the job. At Newport News Shipbuilding, it is also a reminder to focus on safety in every task – no matter how routine.

Technological advances have made shipbuilding safer than it was in the early days of our company, but make no mistake – the industrial environment we work in daily still presents safety challenges. Many of the accidents we see involve repetitive motion, slips, trips and hand injuries. All are preventable with actions such as pre-job stretching, sequencing of work to mitigate hazards and proper housekeeping. We all must commit to building a safe workspace by staying alert and be willing to speak up and ask the extra question to protect ourselves and others.

 

You may have noticed wreaths hanging at shipyard gates this week in honor of Workers’ Memorial Day. I hope they will inspire you to recommit to making good, safe decisions every day.

Our nation is depending on us to safely deliver the quality aircraft carriers and submarines the U.S. Navy needs to defend freedom around the world. Even more importantly, our loved ones are counting on us to return home after each shift.

Respectfully,
Jennifer Boykin
President, Newport News Shipbuilding