Web-Enabled Safety System (WESS)

Web-Enabled Safety System (WESS) online reporting tool for DoD Aviation Hazards and Mishaps Policy and Guidance Lesson One (v2)

Policy/Guidance OPNAVINST 3750.6R The Naval Aviation Safety Program is based on the concept of necessitarianism which teaches us that mishaps are the inevitable result of the causes which preceded them in time. (Nothing "just happens.") We can prevent mishaps when we eliminate their causes beforehand. Preventing injury to people and damage to equipment, requires that we eliminate the hazards that cause damage and injury. The goal of the program is, therefore, to eliminate causes of damage and injury: to eliminate hazards.

What is WESS? The Web Enabled Safety System (WESS) is the Naval Safety Center's on-line reporting and data retrieval system allows users to submit initial 3750 & 5102 mishap notifications, mishap reports and hazard reports, and route them through the releasing chain for validation prior to being sent to the Naval Safety Center. Once released to the Safety Center the report is quality assured for accuracy and released for endorsement and the use of canned & queried reports based on access rights. Meets VCNO's web-enabled requirement Provides real-time reporting Eliminates the need for redundant local data entry systems Allows retrieval and download of data so activities can perform their own analyses

What needs to be reported via WESS? Answer: Mishaps and hazards must be reported using WESS OPNAVINST 5102.1D/MCO P5102.1B outlines the requirements WESS submissions of non-aviation mishap and hazard reports OPNAVINST 3750.6R requires aviation hazard reports to be submitted via WESS. With the introduction of WESS Aviation, also known as the WESS Aviation Hazard and Mishap Reporting System (WAHMRS) in October 2010, Aviation mishap reporting is mandatory through WESS.

WESS and send a message report? Sending a message report is no longer required if you are entering the report in WESS.

Is Marine Corps data part of WESS? Answer: WESS includes all Marine Corps required data and is used for all Marine Corps mishap and combat mishap reporting. Marine Corps data from MARTRAK and the Marine Corps Ground databases have been included and are available using the WESS report functions.

Who is responsible for entering WESS Aviation reports? Answer: Per 3750, every command, every individual, in naval aviation has an obligation to report hazards. Reporting hazards is one form of administrative control that warns similarly-equipped, similarly-tasked commands of new-found dangers. Your Aviation Safety Program must encourage and reward hazard reporting. The commanding officer is responsible for ensuring that the reporting is accomplished. Commands may designate anyone they choose to make the entries. Much of the information originates with the medical department representative and command aviation safety officer or manager. Since safety managers or officers are familiar with many of the required elements in the data, we recommend they review the data.

What sort of data will I have access to? Answer: This will be dependent on your permission level determining privileged or non-privileged access to your command's or other commands' reports. All WESS users will have access to pre-formatted and custom reports for any and all Navy and Marine Corps activities. If you do not see the data or reports desired, use the WESS Help form to request that data.

Do Echelon 2 Commands have access to subordinate activities' data? Answer: Yes. Queries of any UICs/RUC/MCCs by the chain of command will be included in the reporting options.

Account Requests https://wess.safetycenter.navy.mil

Account process Once an account is requested from the WESS webpage, there will be an automatically generated email with a link to click on to validate it as a *.mil address Another email will go to the command Safety Authority who will define your level of access into the system which will go to the Naval Safety Center. The Naval Safety Center system will then send you an email notification that your account has been established.

Safety Authority Who is Safety Authority? A person within the command who manages the command’s WESS accounts, approves or rejects new account requests, and defines the level of access for command account users. How to become a Safety Authority: Must be designated in writing by CO. Signed CO letter will be faxed to NSC at 757-445-9124.

Safety Authority Designation Letter https://wess.safetycenter.navy.mil

At some activities the CO or XO will designate a Safety Authority (SA), who will approve your request and forward it to the Naval Safety Center for creation of your account. It is especially important to list all the UIC/RUC/MUC’s

Account Maintenance

Modify Account

Account Permissions Found under Account Maintenance Tab Aviation Draft & Routing: user is able to draft and route aviation mishap reports and HAZREPs Privileged Access:User is able to see privileged information Aviation Endorser:User is able to endorse aviation mishap reports and HAZREPs Initial Notification:User is able to draft and release the initial notification only HAZREP Notification:User is able to get HAZREP notification emails Misrec/Hazrec Responder: user has the authority to endorse misrecs and hazrecs Full notification:User is able to receive all notification emails (HAZREPs and SIRs) Aviation Draft Releasor: User is able to release reports

Is it possible to get the software that you are using so that I can start to use your format to collect my mishap information? Answer: There is no software to download. The application is web based and requires our IBM/Informix relational database, which cannot run on a PC. However, there are forms in Microsoft Word format that are available on the website and follow the questions presented in WESS based on the type of report you are entering. We suggest you download the form(s) http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/wess/tutorial/worksheets/default.htm and use them offline to gather the information required for submission prior to sitting down and filling out a WESS report.

What to put in all hazard reports(HAZREPs) The following four worksheets apply to all of the OPNAV 3750 hazard report types: Event / Aircraft Information Involved Persons (if a person is involved) Injury Data and Lab tests(If Injuries are involved) Involved Factors and Recommendations These worksheets are sufficient for Near Mid-Air Collision Hazard Reports and General HAZREPs; the following HAZREPS require more data and have additional worksheets…

HAZREPs requiring additional information Air Traffic Control Hazard Report -- Air Traffic Control (ATC) special data worksheet Bird Animal Strike Hazard Report -- Bird Animal Strike Hazard (BASH) special data worksheet Embarked Landing Hazard Report -- Embarked Landing special data worksheet Electro Magnetic Interference Hazard Report -- Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) special data worksheet Out of Controlled Flight Hazard Report -- Out of Controlled Flight (OOCF) spcial data worksheet Physiological Episode Hazard Report -- Physiological Episode (PhysEp) special data worksheet

PRIVILEGED INFORMATION Military and Federal courts recognize that information given under promises of confidentiality and findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the AMB and endorsers are protected from release under Executive Privilege. Any information, which would not have been discovered but for information provided under a promise of confidentiality, is privileged. HAZREPS are not considered to be Privileged Information so do not designate them as such in WESS.

How do I suggest modifications or request enhancements to the system? Answer: A Feedback Form must be submitted. Depending on the level of work required, a configuration control board will determine acceptance of changes for WESS development. From the WESS Main Menu, click on the link Change Request to access the form.

Do not confuse ESAMS with WESS If there is a “defined Naval aircraft involved” you must use WESS to report your event. ESAMS (Enterprise Safety Application Management System) is a management system that can be used to report minor OSH related events.

If I report using ESAMS do I still have to report to WESS? The answer is Yes. If the report is a mishap that is anything beyond minor OSH related information, the report will have to be completed in WESS. Although ESAMS data is forwarded to the Naval Safety Center, ESAMS is not designed to route, notify or endorse a report and does not collect the level of detail required to obtain a full OPNAVINST 3750.6R report. If you submit an Aviation Hazard or Mishap Report an ESAMS report is not required.

Web-Enabled Safety System (WESS)