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F-15 mechanic: ‘Value, don’t prioritize VPP’

  • Published
  • By Lisa Mathews
  • WRALC/XP
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Keith Hall knows that safety is a full-time job, and even though his position as an F-15 aircraft mechanic in the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's B Flight keeps him pretty busy, he didn't hesitate to step forward as the Voluntary Protection Program point of contact for the B-Flight's cells seven and eight.

Mr. Hall has a strong commitment to VPP and the wingman cultures. He said the VPP and wingman programs work well together; each is focused on keeping workers and customer's products safe and hazard free.

"It is very important to me that we do our jobs and keep safety in mind," he said. "I would hate it if one of our customers flew one of our products and never returned safety. I couldn't stand that."

Being safe is also something he strives for at home as well as at work each day.

"Safety is very important to me," he said. "I have a wife and two children, and their well being and safety is never compromised."

Although he's been here only 2.5 years, Mr. Hall is not a novice at VPP. Previously an employee of Brown and Williamson, he said that company also had a VPP program as well as the Take 2 program, similar to the Wingman structure the Air Force supports.

Soon after coming to work at the center, Mr. Hall volunteered to become the POC for the VPP initiative in cells seven and eight. He said he uses visual management, such as large signs with a few words, which workers can read quickly to remind them that safety is paramount. The flight also has safety walks and safety talks during daily roll calls.

His co-workers, especially the younger, new employees, are very comfortable with pointing out possible safety hazards, he said, and take immediate action to correct them.

"They are new and don't mind when they're reminded to wear their personal protection equipment," he said. "They also recognize things that others have missed simply because it has become the routine and is accepted as safe."

For Mr. Hall, VPP is not a priority. It is a value.

"I tell supervisors, 'Don't make VPP a No. 1 priority,' because priorities change. If there is a push in production, VPP drops from priority No. 1 to lower on the ladder. Rather, I tell them VPP needs to be a value. Your values don't diminish due to (the) unexpected," he explained.

Mr. Hall said the various cells in his flight, as well as other areas across the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group, share lessons learned and have cross talk sessions. If one area finds a safety risk that could also be present in another area, they share the information with others.

"The important thing is to keep safety as part of your daily routine so that it is ingrained in you," he said. "By doing this, it becomes (an) instinct rather than just another program."