Army Regulation 385-10

Army Regulation 385-10
Name	Army Regulation 385-10
Subject	Safety
Author	United States Army
Published	Various editions
Type	Regulation
Jurisdiction	United States Army

Army Regulation 385-10

Army Regulation 385-10 is the principal directive used by the United States Army to manage occupational safety, risk management, and accident prevention across installations, units, and activities. It establishes procedures for hazard identification, risk mitigation, and mishap reporting to protect Soldiers, civilians, and property while aligning with interagency and statutory requirements. The regulation interfaces with operational planning, training, and command responsibilities to sustain force readiness and mission continuity.

Purpose and Scope

The regulation prescribes policies and procedures for safety management across Army organizations, tying into force protection, readiness, and personnel welfare. It applies to active duty commands such as United States Army Forces Command, United States Army Pacific, United States Army Europe and Africa, as well as Reserve components including United States Army Reserve and United States Army National Guard. The scope encompasses installations like Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, and Fort Benning, and activities ranging from aviation at Fort Rucker to chemical operations at Aberdeen Proving Ground and logistics at Joint Base Lewis–McChord.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Army Regulation 385-10 derives authority from statutes and executive directives including provisions tied to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as applied to federal employees, and interagency guidance from entities such as the Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It integrates with related executive and legislative instruments such as the National Defense Authorization Act provisions and memoranda from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The regulation also aligns with standards developed by consensus organizations like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American National Standards Institute where applicable to Army activities.

Key Requirements and Responsibilities

Commanders, safety professionals, and functional leaders must implement risk management processes, designate safety officers, and allocate resources for hazard abatement. Unit commanders coordinate with organizations such as the Army Materiel Command, U.S. Army Medical Command, and United States Army Corps of Engineers to manage occupational, industrial, environmental, and facility safety. Responsibilities include establishing safety committees, conducting risk assessments tied to operations like convoy movements and live-fire exercises at ranges including Yuma Proving Ground, and ensuring personal protective equipment availability as specified by logistics agencies such as Defense Logistics Agency.

Implementation and Compliance

Compliance requires integration into planning documents such as training schedules for schools like United States Army War College and operational orders issued by corps elements like III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps. Safety offices conduct inspections, risk assessments, and safety stand-downs in coordination with installation law enforcement elements like U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command when incidents involve criminal activity. Implementation pathways include hazard abatement projects coordinated with facility managers at locations such as Redstone Arsenal and coordination with regional commands during joint exercises with partners like United States Navy and United States Air Force.

Training and Certification

The regulation mandates training for safety personnel, leaders, and Soldiers, leveraging courses and certification programs offered by institutions such as the U.S. Army Safety Center and the Army Training and Doctrine Command-affiliated schools. Certification pathways involve classroom and hands-on curricula that reference standards from organizations like Federal Aviation Administration for aviation safety and Occupational Safety and Health Administration-aligned practices for industrial operations. Leaders are responsible for ensuring personnel complete prerequisite training prior to operations at facilities such as Camp Pendleton or deployments staged through Fort Bragg.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

Mishap reporting follows prescribed timelines and formats to support analysis, prevention, and accountability, with reports routed through safety chains to entities including the Army Safety and Occupational Health Office and higher headquarters. Investigations may involve multidisciplinary boards that incorporate subject matter experts from agencies like U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and medical review from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center when casualties occur. Findings inform corrective actions, lessons learned, and policy updates disseminated across Army networks and to partners such as Defense Health Agency.

Revision History and Amendments

The regulation has undergone multiple revisions to reflect evolving risks, technology, and statutory changes, with amendments issued following major events or shifts in doctrine influenced by studies from organizations like the RAND Corporation and directives from senior leaders including the Secretary of the Army. Historical updates align with broader modernization efforts involving entities such as Army Futures Command and incorporate lessons from incidents at test ranges like Edwards Air Force Base and training accidents cataloged by the National Transportation Safety Board. Ongoing reviews ensure the document remains current with interagency standards and operational requirements.

Category:United States Army regulations