VICENZA, Italy – Safety hazards in the workplace, mitigating and navigating safety risks, seasonal safety considerations, occupational health and safety factors, personal protective equipment wear, driver discipline, and more – this is what a safety specialist focuses on daily.

Andrea Clavello is the safety and occupational health specialist for Logistics Readiness Center Italy in Vicenza. The expert in all thing’s workplace safety has been doing this job with the 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s LRC Italy for nearly four years. Before that, he worked in supply and services with the LRC.

Clavello said it’s all about protecting the people and protecting the mission. That’s his personal safety vision, added the 46-year-old lifelong resident of Vicenza who was born in Marostica, Italy.

“On a normal day, my duties include going to the various shops at LRC Italy and talking about safety with the people there,” said Clavello. “I also take care of all the safety training, help with the safety surveys, conduct internal inspections of the shops, and organize and manage the summer and winter safety programs for LRC Italy.”

“I spend a lot of time speaking with the managers and the people at the various shops about improving upon our safety program. Fortunately, at LRC Italy we don’t have a lot of safety incidents or injuries related to safety mishaps. At the moment, we are 160 days without injuries,” said the loving and dedicated father of eight years and husband of 10.

But safety mishaps can happen at any moment, and that’s why his position is so important, said Clavello who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the eCampus University in Como, Italy, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Studies Guglielmo Marconi in Rome, Italy.

This fiscal year LRC Italy had two minor injuries that could have potentially been avoided by following the right safety protocols, said Clavello. When an accident occurs, one of Clavello’s tasks is to conduct a safety investigation and report the information gathered to the brigade safety manager and higher.

“Fortunately, we don’t have many injuries but in case of an injury in one of our shops, one part of my job is to investigate it, find out what happened, and suggest a mitigation solution in order to reduce the risk and prevent it from happening again,” said Clavello, who added that in addition to his monthly reports to brigade, he also must report any safety incidents or safety-related injuries.

Army safety and occupational health is ever evolving and improving. Recently issued guidance directs Army organizations to adopt a modernized safety and occupational health management system that helps ensure personnel have a safer and more healthful work environment.

Army Directive 2024-09 dictates implementation of the Army Safety and Occupational Health Management System, which provides systematically managed safety and occupational health programs that enhance mission capabilities, reduce safety- and occupational health-related mishaps and improve personnel readiness through effective risk management. Read more about this new safety management system at www.army.mil/article/279724.

LRC Italy is one of eight LRCs under the command and control of the 405th AFSB. LRCs execute installation logistics support and services to include supply, maintenance, and transportation as well as clothing issue facility operations, hazardous material management, personal property and household goods, passenger travel, non-tactical vehicle and garrison equipment management, and property book operations. When it comes to providing day-to-day installation services, LRC Italy directs, manages and coordinates a variety of operations and activities in support of U.S. Army Garrison Italy.

LRC Italy reports to the 405th AFSB, which is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The brigade provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging U.S. Army Materiel Command’s materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website at www.afsbeurope.army.mil and the official Facebook site at www.facebook.com/405thAFSB.