TSA wins prestigious airport safety award

Tuesday, August 6, 2024
2024 Denver International Airport Stakeholder Safety Award (Photo by Carie Muirhead)

Recently, the City and County of Denver recognized the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Denver International Airport (DEN) with the prestigious Denver Airport Safety Stakeholder Award. The award recognizes TSA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of our most valuable asset: our employees.

Sulynn Shepherd, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist left and Travis Krabbenhoft, DEN Director of Airport Safety (Photo by Carie Muirhead)
Sulynn Shepherd, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist left and Travis Krabbenhoft, DEN Director of Airport Safety (Photo by Carie Muirhead)

Stakeholder Safety Programs overseen by a variety of companies including airlines, construction companies and other government agencies were evaluated based on the following criteria: effective use of hazard reporting systems; incident investigation procedures and corrective action implementation; safety training and work area inspections.

The DEN Colorado Safety Action Team serves as the frontline defense against potential hazards and risks. Equipped with Occupational Safety and Health Administration training, it plays a vital role in identifying and addressing safety concerns before they escalate into serious incidents.

One of TSA DEN's hallmarks is our proactive approach to injury prevention. Through Behavior-Based Safety (BBS), we are able to achieve a higher level of safety excellence by promoting a proactive response to statistically valid leading indicators, building relationships of trust and unity across our team, and developing empowerment opportunities related to employee safety. Equally important to our safety culture, BBS provides line management with the opportunity to demonstrate and support our organization's core values.

Nationally, TSA has invested in cutting-edge technology to streamline hazard reporting and management. Our internal Safety Information System allows employees to report hazards quickly and efficiently, ensuring that potential risks are identified and addressed promptly.

Sulynn Shepherd accepts the award for TSA’s safety efforts at DEN (Photo by Carie Muirhead
Sulynn Shepherd accepts the award for TSA’s safety efforts at DEN (Photo by Carie Muirhead

Special recognition goes to Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (SOHS) Sulynn “Susie” Shepherd, who oversees the safety program for TSA Colorado. Her leadership, dedication, and hard work have been instrumental in achieving this award. Susie’s commitment to safety and her proactive approach to hazard prevention have set a standard of excellence that inspires us all.  In

Sulynn Shepherd speaking of the principles of Behavior-Based Safety at the DEN Safety Summit. (Photo by Carie Muirhead)
Sulynn Shepherd speaking of the principles of Behavior-Based Safety at the DEN Safety Summit. (Photo by Carie Muirhead)

addition, SOHS Shepherd was invited to speak about the TSA BBS Program earlier this month to more than 200 safety professionals at the 11th Annual Denver Safety Summit and Stakeholder Celebration.

“Congratulations to everyone for making this achievement possible,” related SOHS Shepherd. “Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to safety are what makes TSA DEN a leader in safety excellence. Let's continue to build on this success and keep safety at the forefront of everything we do.”

Please join me in celebrating this remarkable achievement and in continuing our commitment to safety excellence. Well done, TSA One Colorado Safety Action Team!

To learn more about TSA OSHE BBS, click here: Behavior-Based Safety (sharepoint.com)

By Wayne Carey, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs