Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Health and Safety Department

SMC Health and Safety - Who Are We?

Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC)

Directorate of Systems Acquisition

Acquisition Health and Safety (AXZ)

About Acquisition Health and Safety

The Acquisiton Health and Safety Division’s primary responsibility is to identify and assist our program offices in mitigation of health, safety, and environmental (pollution) risks associated with space systems acquisition. To accomplish this function, we are organized into three branches. A description of branch’s activities follows:

Bioenvironmental Engineering Branch (AXZB)

Bioenvironmental Engineering at the Space and Missile Systems Center supports system program offices, geographically separated subordinate units, and tenant organizations during the entire acquisition life cycle from concept to disposal. We anticipate, identify, quantify, and advise on physical, chemical, radiological, and biological risks which could disrupt a space or missile system’s development, procurement, deployment, and operation. We also provide technical guidance on toxicology, exposure assessment, hazardous materials, radiation, pollution prevention, environmental monitoring/contamination, predictive modeling, and risk management issues for SMC and Air Force Space Command organizations.

Operrations Safety (AXZO)

Operations Safety at the Space & Missile Systems Center ensures mitigation of safety, health and operational hazards in the workplace to prevent hardware loss and personnel injury. We conduct staff assistance visits at LAAAFB, SMC, tenants (on-base) and GSU’s (Geographically Separated Units) to insure process compliance with public laws, executive orders and special interest items. Elements we are responsible for include mishap investigation/reporting (space, missile, explosive, ground), management of workplace/ground systems hazard abatement, identification/control/elimination of hazards in the workplace, mitigation/elimination of risk at facilities associated with operations at space vehicle processing/launch sites, laboratories, test and storage locations, processing of explosive hazard classifications for SMC acquisition of weapons systems, provider of occupational safety training/awareness, and Base Operating Support (BOS) functions.

Our goal is to enhance our mission capability and the quality of life of our people through continuous improvement in facilities, infrastructure, services and the work environment while preventing/limiting the damage/destruction of our environment.

System Safety Branch (AXZS)

The System Safety Branch analyzes and advises on system design affecting the mission throughout a space or missile system’s life cycle (concept, design, development, procurement, deployment, operation, and disposal). This also involves evaluating the system’s negative effects on the environment, personnel, and equipment. They provide technical guidance to SMC and USAF Space Command organizations on system design factors of safety, hazardous system effects, explosives. electroexplosive devices, and safety zones from hazardous systems/components. Support extends into ensuring adequate system safety requirements are incorporated into RFPs, contracts, PESHEs, SAMPs, and other program documents to include ARARs, SARs, MSPSPs, or electronic data from contractors or other government agencies.

Titan II Missile fuels cause tumors in humans according to Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center, Acquisition Health and Safety Department

Click on link above to go to the documents page that have been converted to word documents.

Note: Some VA Physicians have said that this document means nothing as it does not specifically say what kind of tumors.

1. Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Acquisition Health and Safety Department: US Air Force was represented in meetings to discuss technical needs for monitoring the new lower level requirements of hydrazine vapors. It should be noted that these documents are no longer available online at the Los Angles AFB website: http://www.losangeles.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5318 . It may have been their mistake that the documents were online in the first place in 2003. (see the bottom of page for copies of the documents)

a. Technical needs 419, under Need Description, states “Such inadvertent release of the hydrazine’s to the environment are extremely hazardous due to their mutagenic nature, whereby tumor growth can be induced in humans years after even a low level exposure.” The word humans is not used very often and is critical language in the VA system. Although, the VA will not reconginize this document as it is not part of the medical community references.

i. I was able to contact Dr. Gary Loper from the Aerospace Corporation, in El Segundo, CA (310-336-5000). He is the technical contributor on Document 419,402, and 413, from the Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center Directorate of Systems Acquisition, Acquisition Health and Safety (AXZ). Dr. Gary Loper claims this information came from Wright Patterson Air Force Base studies.

b. Technical needs 402, under Need Description, states “Reliable dosimeters are needed to protect the health of launch site workers and to document allowable personal exposure conditions to protect the government and contractors from future litigation”.

c. Technical needs 413, under Current Cost of Process, states “Possible unfavorable legal judgments against the government due to adverse health impact to launch-site personnel unknowingly exposed to hazardous levels of hydrazines could be even higher (tens of millions of dollars)”.