VPP offers vision to meet challenges of 21st century

  • Published
  • By Robins Air Force Base
  • Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga --  When it comes to the Voluntary Protection Program, and in specific Star sites, 52 percent less people go home injured than those working in units not participating in the program, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration statistics.

But, even when folks are armed with that knowledge, some still question the validity of participating in the program and misinterpret the program's title to mean they can abstain from getting involved.

That's simply not true. The Secretary of Defense directed VPP be employed across the Defense Department in 2008, and the requirement is still in place; military members, civilian employees and contract employees are expected to participate. Employers submit an application for Star assessment to OSHA, which then performs an evaluation.

Union support is also required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit. Once recognized, Star sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections as long as they maintain their Star status. According to Col. Mitchel Butikofer, Installation commander, the program is imperative to the mission.

"People are our most important resource, and we're committed to protecting them," he said. "As our units strive to gain Star status, our people are working together on this compelling vision which will create the culture suited to help us meet the challenges of the 21st century. When our units gain Star status, we're making a pledge that each and every one of our employees' health and safety is necessary for success."

Brig. Gen. Cedric George, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex commander, agreed.

"Designation as an OSHA Star site is truly a major accomplishment," he said. "It carries with it the distinction that the organization's health and safety program has been thoroughly scrutinized by OSHA, and deemed as functioning in a world-class status. It also says that management, employees and union representatives are working in an effective partnership to prevent injuries through a variety of avenues."

Some of those avenues include: formal worksite analysis for the elimination or control of potential hazards; implementation of an effective occupational healthcare program; a plan for routine preventive maintenance; adherence to written safety processes; appropriate safety and health training systems and more.

"I believe our safety and health/VPP have taken on huge challenges and strides in creating an environment that well promotes our workplace free from hazards that threaten the well-being of federal employees," said Tom Scott, American Federation of Government Employees Local 987 president. "You can gauge this on several historical data and events, from abating 39 OSHA citations and coming off the top 40 federal worksites with the highest injury rates to having one area (the 402nd SMXG) recognized as a star site and another area (the 402nd MXSG) currently being considered for that same recognition."

Rusty Adams, International Association of Firefighters Local 107 president agreed.

"The IAF is committed to the safety and health of our employees," he said. "Our VPP efforts give us the direct line to affect safety in the workplace. For us this is evident in all three of our sites achieving and maintaining Gold status since 2010."

The Robins Air Force Base Safe Site Challenge is the local program for implementing VPP tenets across the base. Currently, only AFMC organizations are participating in the challenge, but it's hoped that all non-AFMC mission partners will eventually join or establish similar programs of their own.

A central theme of the Safe Site Challenge is management-union partnership and empowerment of employees to become full participants in identifying and mitigating hazards in the workplace and at home.

The VPP Office uses checklists to verify each site's level of progression in understanding and sustaining the Robins Safety and Health system in its area. Site employees are recognized as bronze, silver and gold as they mature in the program.

As of April, all Robins AFMC employees work in one of 345 safe sites. Fifty three percent of those sites have reached Gold recognition and 33 percent are at Silver.

"Even though significant progress has been made through the Safe Site Challenge during the last two years, sustaining VPP culture at the Gold level has had some issues," Allen Quattlebaum, Robins' Installation VPP program manager, said.

"Unfortunately some sites are not maintaining their safety and health culture to Gold expectations - complacency has crept in, and we have to overcome that," Quattlebaum said. "The VPP leadership team is examining ways to beef up Safe Site assessment checklists as well as introduce additional measures to capture and sustain a high safety and health consciousness."

Those enhanced checklists and measures are expected sometime in the next few months, he said.

Scott added, "The Union (AFGE) emphasizes the need for agency health and safety programs/VPP that prevent injuries and illnesses.

"While we have made huge steps in creating and changing culture throughout the command, I encourage everyone to help do their part in sustaining this trend."